The duel of Wilkes with Lord Talbot was one of the first that occurred in the beginning of the reign of George III. Hostile meetings had now assumed a different character. Swords were no longer drawn in bagnios, taverns, and chocolate houses, on the spur of the moment, and public broils had ceased to become fashionable: since the wearing of side-arms had ceased to be customary, duels assumed a more regular and civilised form. The desperate conduct of the “bloods” and “bucks” of the day was no longer considered a proof of gentlemanlike bearing, and a man might be looked upon as fashionable without being what was called _a hell-fire rake_. The violence of party had now succeeded trifling dissentions and tavern quarrels; and political differences not unfrequently excited high feelings of animosity, which could only be tempered in the field: and in the following chapter we shall see that duels were but of too frequent occurrence during this momentous reign, a circumstance which we shall endeavour to account for. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER II SUCH was the frequent occurrence of duels in this long reign, that _one hundred and seventy-two_ were fought (in which three hundred and forty-four persons were concerned); _sixty-nine_ individuals were killed—in _three_ of these fatal cases neither of the combatants survived; _ninety-six_ were wounded, forty-eight of them desperately, and forty-eight slightly; while one hundred and seventy-nine escaped unhurt. From this statement it will be seen, that rather more than _one_ fifth of the combatants lost their lives, and that nearly _one half_ received the bullets of their antagonists. It also appears, that only _eighteen_ trials took place; that _six_ of the arraigned individuals were _acquitted_; _seven_ found guilty of manslaughter, and _three_ of murder,—_two_ of whom were executed, and _eight imprisoned_ during different periods.