The Duel (28 page)

—from
The Whole Works of The Right Reverend Jeremy Taylor, D.D.
The
Reverend Jeremy Taylor
(1613
–
1667) was an English clergyman and important prose stylist during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. Taylor’s vehemence against duels was in part born of the loss of his eldest son to a duel. Taylor is considered a Saint of the Church of England and was nicknamed the “Shakespeare of Divines” for his poetic and innovative writings on social and liturgical matters
.

Examine all the dictionaries of ancient and modern languages, search even the huge folio lexicons of the copious Arabick, and I am persuaded you will find no word which conveys a just idea of that monster whom, for want of a proper term, we call a DUELLIST.

When anyone has made us a present, tho’ ever so trifling, we keep and cherish it, for the sake of the donor. The Almighty has given us a body; into that body he has infused a living soul, a spark of his spirit; he has commanded us to keep them pure and undefiled, until, by his almighty fiat, he is pleased to reduce the former to dust and ashes, and dispose of the latter as be, in his wisdom and justice, shall think fit; for we are in his hands like clay in a potter’s vessel. It is he who gives, and it is he who takes away. But the Duellist arrogates to himself the right of disposing of his soul and body, how and when he chooses. He ungratefully disposes of the most previous gifts, which are granted him conditionally.

We all know that the soul, which presumptuously sins against its Maker, shall die, die the death eternal. Can anyone then, who is previously acquainted with his Maker’s will and decree, in open contempt of his declarations, temerariously rush into the Divine presence, loaded with guilt, horror and revenge? Dreadful, beyond conception, must be the situation of such a man! Was anyone unaware that for some capital offence, he was, during the tediously rolling years of a long life, to be confined in a dark dungeon, accompanied by those ghastly fiends, pinching hunger, gloomy reflection, and tormenting despair, with what emotion of horror and dread would he hear the awful sentence pronounced? Yet this, shocking as it is, deserves the appellation of a most exquisite felicity, compared to the severest punishment an omnipotent and angry GOD can inflict. It is like a bed of down compared to a heap of thorns.

Yet this is exactly what the Duellist has to expect, who comes to the field of slaughter, to murder, or be murdered. His soul, harassed with the passions of anger, revenge, and despair, he, with na impious temerity, defies that Being who has expressly said, “Thou shalt not kill,” and perhaps at a time when the burden of his sins is greater than he can bear, sinks with them into the lowest pit of destruction. And what do you think is his motive? To save his honor! A mere aerial bubble, a creature of the imagination, a term not understood by those who sacrifice their lives, and every chance of future happiness to this vain phantom!

Is it not astonishing, nay incredible, that there should be men, who, under pretence of preserving their reputation, should hazard all which they have dear in the world? But admitting this plea, is it the part of a man who is COMPOS MENTIS, to run the risk of forfeiting forever the love, favour, and protection of a Being to whom he is indebted for his existence, and everything he enjoys, in order to preserve the esteem of the ridiculous part of the world? No certainly.

But, the truth is, it is that abominable vice, pride, which is the root of this evil. If a man treats us with some coarse epithets, we must either send him unprepared before the awful tribunal of his GOD, or go there ourselves. Can a man seriously profess and call himself a Christian, who can forgive no injruies, bear with no insults, and receive no affronts with impunity? Does his Maker deal thus with him as he did, a myriad of lives (if he could be so frequently renovated in one person) would not atone for the common transgressions of a tolerably well spent life. But it is no less true than astonishing that it is now the highest fashion to value our own ideal honor, more than the honor of GOD. It, by inducing your men of HONOR to reflect a moment on the dreadful consequences of DUELLING, I should save but one nearly lost sheep. I shall esteem myself exceedingly happy, and bless that
merciful and long suffering GOD, who suggested these thoughts to me.

—An
anonymously
published sermon from the July 7
^th
, 1787 issue of the
Newport Herald.
One of the most consistent aspects of anti-dueling laws and literature is the idea that dueling is a secular crime against divine law
.

And finally, the court shewing a firm and settled resolution to proceed with all severity against these duels, gave warning to all young noblemen and gentlemen, that they should not expect the like connivance or toleration as formerly have been, but that justice should have a full passage without protection or interruption. Adding, that after a strait inhibition, whosoever should attempt a challenge or combat, in case where the other party was restrained to answer him, as now all good subjects are, did by their own principles receive the dishonour and disgrace upon himself.

—from
The Decree Of The Star-Chamber Against Duels.
The Star-Chamber was a supplemental but very powerful English court populated by Privy Councilors as well as common-law judges. The Star-Chamber was given the particular charge of upholding the law in cases concerning the nobility and personages of distinction. This particular verdict was reached after a suit was brought to court by the philosopher and lawyer, Francis Bacon. The entirety of Bacon’s charge is contained at the end of this section
.

The Richard, Ford, from Liverpool to Riga, is totally lost on the Rocks of Fern, a little to the Southward of the Isle of Skye, on the Coast of Scotland; the People were saved.

The Naval Force in the West Indies is to be reinforced by one 50 Gun Ship and three Frigates, which are now getting ready.

The Sally, Burton, from Jamaica and South Carolina, is put into Gosport, having lost her Main Mast, and received other considerable Damage.

Last Week a Remittance was made from Copenhagen to the Bank of £12,000. for the Use of the Queen of Denmark: The Allowance is always sent here, from whence it is remitted to Zell, according to Agreement, and is punctually paid half-yearly.

According to recent Letters from Gibraltar, we hear that all the Barbary Powers are fitting out Ships to join the Emperor of Morocco, from which, and the Dispositions of their Land Forces, the Dispute between the Spaniards and the Moors is not likely to be terminated speedily.

Yesterday a Dispensation passed the Great Seal to the Rev. John Courtail, M.A. Chaplain to Earl Cornwallis, enabling him to hold the Vicarage of Burwash, in Sussex, together with the Rectory of Woodchurch, in Kent, worth £500. per Ann.

On Thursday the University of Oxford conferred the Degree of Doctor of Laws by Diploma, on Mr. Samuel Johnson.

By authentic Letter from Paris we are assured, that Captain H—n, an English young Gentleman of Family and Fortune, who has lived in the
Bon Ton
at that Metropolis for some Time past, unluckily falling into a Dispute with two Officers of the Black Musquetaires, a Rencounter the next Day happened near St. Cloud, when Captain H—killed his Antagonist upon the Spot, and his Second wounded his Man in a dangerous Manner. Mr .. H—was soon after taken, and sent to the
Conciergerie
, and notwithstanding the English Resident and many of the Nobility have exerted their Interest in his Favour, we hear the French King is inexorable, and determined to shew no Mercy to
Duellists, however distinguished by Rank or Fortune.

A few Mornings since a Duel was fought in Hyde Park between Capt. W—r N—t, and Mr. S—, in Consequence of a Dispute which happened the Evening before at the Bedford Coffee-House. The Captain arrived first in the Park, and Mr. S—coming soon after apologised for having made him wait, and desired him to choose his Ground. “Take as many, or as few Strides as you please, my Dear, said the Captain, and fix your Spot; but I shall stand just where I am.” Mr. S—soon after fired at the, Captain, and supposing his Ball had not taken Place, requested his Antagonist to discharge in his Turn, which he immediately did in the Air, and called upon S—to fire again, but the other penetrated with this Act of Generosity refused, and by the Interposition of the Seconds the Parties shook Hands. Mr. S—then expressed his Surprise, as he had been generally thought S good Marksman, that he should miss the Captain, especially as they stood so near. “O ! for that Matter, returned the latter, you need not be concerned, I have got your Ball here in my Hip,” and immediately shewed the Wound, from whence it was soon after extracted by a Surgeon, and this gallant Officer is in a fair Way of Recovery.

A Letter received Yesterday from Maidstone, mentions, that Mr. Baron Perrott has recovered his Speech, and the Use of one of his Arms, and is expected in Town next Week.

Yesterday Morning a Jew was found dead in his Bed at his Lodgings in Moorfields; on examining him it appeared a Bullet had entered his Body between the Shoulders, from whence it is imagined he had been that in attempting to break open some House; a Number of Pick-lock Keys, a Tinder-Box, and all the Apparatus compleat for that Profession, were found in his Apartment.

Married
. Thursday last, at Streatham, Mr. Jesse Gibson, Surveyor, of America Square, to Miss Weston, of Tooting, in Surry.

—from the April 1
^st
, 1775
St. James Chronicle, Or The British Evening News.
It might be somewhat inaccurate to characterize this news-bulletin as being “anti-dueling,” as the author is clearly possessed of a romantic attitude when it comes to the subject of dueling. It is amusing to note the juxtaposition of the French monarch’s harsh ban on dueling with the English newspaperman’s description of the dashing exploits of British officers, one of which was against a pair of French Musketeers. It is almost as though the journalist is portraying the monarch as a sore-loser. It is ironic that the English officer should have got the best of a series of these foreign soldiers, as the following year Louis the XVI disbanded the celebrated Musketeers, citing budgetary concerns
.

BOSTON, November, 28.

The five following Acts have been passed by the General Assembly of the
Massachusetts Bay
in
New-England
, at their Sesson on Adjournment at Boston, July 24
^th
, 1728, which His Excellency the Governour was pleased to give His Assent unto, viz-

An Act for Repealing An Act, Instituted
, An Act for punishing and preventing of Duelling, and for making other provision instead thereof.

An Act more Effectually to Secure the Duty on the Importation of Negros
.

An Act for the Encouragement of Making Paper
.

An Act for Regulating the Ferry
between Bristol & Rhode Island.

An Act for Altering the Time for Holding the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and Inferior Court of Common Pleas within the Counties
of Essex, Middlesex and Plymouth.

—Announcement from
The Boston News-Letter,
November 28
^th
, 1728. It is worth noting that the law against dueling cited in the piece is being revised in order to offer alternative provisions for duelists. One of the difficulties faced by anti-dueling advocates was the accepted status dueling and “points of honor” enjoyed at the time
.

Paris, Jan. 12
, N.S. The Earl Stanhope arrived here the 9
^th
Instant from Great Britain, and waited on the Regent, who received him in such a manner as evidently shewed his great Regard for His Britannick Majesty, and that his Lordships Person and Negotiation in which he is employed, are very acceptable to him. His Lordship has had several Conferences with his Royal Highness, and the Abbot Dubois, Secretary of State, and intends to return in 3 or 4 Days. An Express from America brings Advice that the Spaniards in August last, having retaken Penzacola on the Coast of Florida, which had been taken from them by the French, the latter possessed it again in October last, taking Five Spanish Merchant Ships in that Port.

Hague, Jan. 12
, N.S. The States of Holland and West Friesland, have resolved that the States General should be moved to come to a determination, that unless the Grievances of the Protestants in the Palatinate and other places, under the Dominion of Roman Catholick Princes, are redressed within a time to be prefixt, all the Jesuits and others of the Regular Romish Clergy, shall be banish’d out of the Territories of this Republick, and that if within a further Term to be agreed upon, no Redress is obtained for the Protestants, all the Secular Polish Clergy shall be likewise banished, and their Churches shall be shut up, and this Proposal was accordingly made this Day to the States General who have taken it into Consideration.