The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Philosophy
The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)
Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Dueling
On Saturday, the 17th inst., Count Rice and Viscount du Barry, being
together in the house of the latter, a question arose between them about
which they disagreed; and in the heat of the dispute, upon an assertion
of Count Rice, Viscount du Barry said, “Cela n’est pas vrai,” to which
Count Rice immediately observed, “You probably do not observe the idea
that expression conveys in the language you speak in, and that it admits
but of one very disagreeable interpretation.” Upon which the other
replied, “You may interpret it as you please.” This ungentlemanlike
treatment having provoked the resentment of Count Rice, and Viscount du
Barry offering no apology, they immediately sent for seconds, who did
not quit them till they got to Claverton Down, where they remained,
together with a surgeon, till daylight, when they took the field, each
armed with two pistols and a sword. The ground being marked out by the
seconds, the Viscount du Barry fired first, and lodged a ball in Count
Rice’s thigh, which penetrated as far as the bone. Count Rice fired his
pistol, and wounded the Viscount in the breast. He went back two or
three steps, then came forward again, and both at the same time
presented their pistols to each other. The pistols flashed together in
the pan, though one only was discharged. They then threw away their
pistols, and took to their swords. When Count Rice had advanced within a
few yards of the Viscount, he saw him fall, and heard him cry out, “Je
vous demande ma vie.” To which Count Rice answered, “Je vous la donne.”
But in a few seconds the Viscount fell back and expired.
Count Rice was brought with difficulty to Bath, being dangerously
wounded. But he afterwards recovered.
The coroner’s inquest sat on the Viscount’s body; and after a mature
examination of the witnesses and the Viscount’s servant, brought in
their verdict “Manslaughter.”
BETWEEN A LIEUT.-COLONEL AND A LIEUTENANT OF MILITIA.
August 25, 1779.
A duel was fought at Coxheath between a Lieutenant of militia and a
Lieut.-Colonel, when the latter was shot in the left breast, and expired
immediately. The deceased had charged the lieutenant with exciting his
men to mutiny, of which he was honourably acquitted by a court-martial.
BETWEEN THE HON. CHAS. JAS. FOX AND MR. ADAM.
November 30, 1779.
Mr. Fox having in debate, one day in the preceding week, animadverted,
with some degree of asperity, on a particular species of argument,
frequently made use of by the friends of ministers, viz.:—“That bad as
the ministry were, it was not certain that the nation would be at all
bettered by taking their opponents”—a Mr. Adam, who had made use of that
argument in the same debate, called on Mr. Fox, some days after, for an
explanation.
The following letters passed on the above occasion:—
“St. Alban’s Tavern, Saturday, 4 o’clock, Afternoon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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