In a second letter, Mr. Grattan begged to say, that he was not
accountable for any opinion or expression in Mr. O’Connell’s speeches.
As he had not alluded, in any speech of his, in any way to Lord
Londonderry, he requested his lordship would distinctly say, whether he
intended that the words ‘base’ and ‘infamous’ should be applied to him?
In answer to this letter. Lord Londonderry observed, that, unwilling as
he should be to fix upon any individual the responsibility of having
uttered such sentiments as those reported in the public accounts of the
meeting to which he alluded, he must adhere to the opinion he had
already expressed, as applying to any individual who was prepared to
avow such language. The epithets complained of were, he said, applied,
not to individuals, but to injurious accusations reported to have been
publicly uttered against a political body; and since there was no
disavowal, on Mr. Henry Grattan’s part, of the language and sentiments
reported to have been used, Lord Londonderry regretted he could not
recede from the opinions he had already expressed.
In consequence of this correspondence, a meeting was arranged, which
took place this day, at three o’clock, on Wimbledon Common. Upon the
signal being given, Lord Londonderry received Mr. Grattan’s fire, and
fired in the air. Mr. Bodkin, on the part of Mr. Grattan, then expressed
himself perfectly satisfied, and the affair terminated.
BETWEEN LORD POWERSCOURT AND MR. ROEBUCK.
February 28, 1839.
A hostile meeting took place this day at Coombe Wood, between Lord
Powerscourt and Mr. Roebuck; the former attended by the Honourable H.
Fitzroy, and the latter by Mr. Trelawney. On the ground endeavours were
made in vain to prevent proceeding to extremities; Lord Powerscourt’s
second insisting on Mr. Roebuck’s retracting, or apologising for,
certain words delivered in a speech at Bath. Mr. Roebuck received his
adversary’s fire, discharged his pistol in the air, and, advancing to
Lord Powerscourt, said, “Now, my lord, I am ready to make any apology
your lordship may suggest; for certainly, in my speech at Bath, I did
not mean to imply anything personally offensive.” With this declaration
all parties being satisfied, the affair terminated.
BETWEEN LORD GEORGE LOFTUS AND LORD HARLEY.
December 10, 1839.