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
BETWEEN HIS R. H. THE DUKE OF YORK AND COL. LENNOX.
May, 1789.
On the 17th instant, a duel took place between the Duke of York and
Colonel Lennox. Lord Rawdon was second to the Duke of York, and the Earl
of Winchilsea to Colonel Lennox.
The dispute originated in an expression of the Duke of York, that
“Colonel Lennox had heard words spoken to him at Daubigny’s, to which no
gentleman ought to have submitted.” This observation being repeated to
Colonel Lennox, he took the opportunity, while his Royal Highness was on
the parade to address him, desiring to know what were the words which he
submitted to hear, and by whom they were spoken. To this his Royal
Highness gave no other answer than by ordering him to his post. The
parade being over, his Royal Highness went into the Orderly-room; and
sending for the Colonel, intimated to him, in the presence of all the
officers, that he desired to derive no protection from his rank as a
prince, and his station as commanding officer; but that, when not on
duty, he wore a brown coat, and was ready, as a private gentleman, to
give the Colonel satisfaction.
After this declaration, Colonel Lennox wrote a circular letter to every
member of the club at Daubigny’s, requesting to know whether such words
had been used to him, and appointing a particular day for an answer from
each; their silence to be considered as a declaration that no such words
could be recollected.
On the expiration of the term limited for an answer to the circular
letter, the Colonel sent a written message to his Royal Highness to this
purport—that not being able to recollect any occasion on which words had
been spoken to him at Daubigny’s, to which a gentleman ought not to
submit, he had taken the step which had appeared to him most likely to
gain information of the words to which his Royal Highness had alluded,
and of the person who had used them; that none of the members of the
club had given him information of any such insult being in their
knowledge; and therefore he expected, in justice to his character, that
his Royal Highness should contradict the report as publicly as he had
stated it.
This letter was delivered to his Royal Highness by the Earl of
Winchilsea; when, the answer returned not proving satisfactory, a
message was sent to his Royal Highness desiring a meeting, and the time
and place were settled that evening.
The meeting took place on Wimbledon Common. The Duke of York received
Colonel Lennox’s fire, but did not fire himself; the ball from Colonel
Lennox grazed his Royal Highness’s curl.
Some days after this Colonel Lennox made a requisition to the Duke of
York, as Colonel of the Coldstream Regiment, that his Royal Highness
would permit a call of the officers of that corps, in order that certain
propositions touching his conduct and situation might be submitted to
their consideration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account