The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-22 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 22, 1865.

THREATENED DUEL BETWEEN MESSRS.
W. OONINGRAN, D. URQUHART, AND N. R.
ROLLAND.

BRIGHTON, SATURDAY.
This morning Mr. Somers Clarke, solicitor, ap-
peared before the borough ►each of ntagistratos to make as
application on behalf of Mr.W.Coninghant, of lErnsp Town,
late a candidate for the repreeentation of Brighton is par-
liament. This application, ha Mated, was rendered mem-
sary by an attempt on the port of Mr. D. Urquhart and Mr.
S. E. Rolland, to (amok • ►reach of the peacw. Mr.
Clarke said he was instructed that in Totratry or Marsh of
1864, Mr. Urquhart invited Mr. Conlogham, Mr. Rolland,
and other gentleman to join him in the formation of an
amociation, w►ich was denominated an Asaordation for the
Protection of Tarim and other coauthor from partition.
The society was formed, and Mr. Rolland was appointed
chairman, Mr. Coning Lem treasurer, and a Mr. Walpole hon.
secretary.

The *misty was under lb* sanction and control of a own-
=Mae of eighteen or twenty gentlemen, there being bet
one paid officer, and that was • salaried secretary at two
enineas per week. A. subscription was entered into with a
view of defraying the expenses of the society. That sub-
scription amounted to 1001. or 1161., out of which Mr.
Coninghaen ematributed as his subscription 261. This alonoy
was expended in the test of public meetings, printing, and
other expenses incidental to the carrying out of mush an
association. In the course of a communication which oc
curred between Mr. Coningham, Mr. Rolland, and Mr.
'Urquhart, ft was mentioned to Mr. Coningbans on one
occasion by Mr. Rolland privately (which be felt now justi-
fied in using, as it would appear afterwards, by the letters
to be referred to), that Mr. Urqubari was under loss pecu-
niary embarrassment, and a sump mica, he believed, wen

made that either • subscription should be raised or some
other means resorted to for the purpose of providing a
fond for Mr. Urquhart. Mr. Coningham disliked that
, mode of proceeding, and expressed an opinion that be ob-
, jetted to paid agents. He at once declined entering into
such arrangement, or having anything to do with such a
proceeding at all. The same subject was afterwards men-
tioned by Mr. Urquhart, and treated by Mr. Co-
ninghans in precisely the same manner. He believed that
shortly after March or some time in the beginning of April
a public meeting should take place at Stafford to carry oat
the principles and objects of the Athociation, and Mr. Cass.
wieskain and Mr. Urquhart were invited to attend, he sup.
pawl as • deputation from the Association in London. Mr.
Oeminebsea intended to go by rail to Stafford, and had pre-
shed to all for Mr. Urquhart at the Clarendon Hotel. He
called in the morning at 9 or 10 o'clock, and there foetid.
Mr. Urquhart in a state of perturbation, walking up and
down the room. He at once said he could not leave without
• soon of pounds. Mr. Coningham was very much disin
dined lending money to any one, but being much pressed by
Mr. Urquhart, who stated that it would be impossible for
him to attend the meeting at Stafford unless he realised •
loan, Mr. Coningham consented to advance the mosey, end
drew • cheque for 201. on his bankers. Mr. Urquhart paid
the cheque over to the clerk of the hotel, who—deducting
the amount of Mr. Urquhart's t bill 51. 25., headed
him the balance, for the purpose, an Mr. Coningham sato•
sally supposed, of defraying his personal expenses on the
journey. Mr. Clarke produced the cheque which was
drawn on the 10th April, on Hoare and Co. Mr. Cooing-
ham had since been to the Clarendon Hotel to implies Nat
wok place among the servants or the clerk to the betel, sad
he found that the person to whom the cheque wee paid woe
dead, but an entry was made in the books of the hotel to
the digit, that David Urquhart, Esq., paid his bill by a
cheque. The entry was in the handwriting of the deceased
person. Therefore, it was pretty clear that on that occasion
Mr. Urepthart's personal tavern bill was paid out of the
money lent him by Mr. Coningham. In consequence
of some transaction, at the easuisg election for the City
of London, Mr. Coningham was displeased at the course
Mr. Urquhart pursued on that occasion, end he thought it
right to retire from the treasurership of the association.
At that time on goiag into the accounts, it appeased that
as overpayment to the extent of V. or N. had been made by
Mr. Coningham, so that the society in troth owed him that
amount. Nothing further transpired on the subject till the
month of December, when Mr. Coninpham received • letter
from Mr. Urquhart, to the following effect:
" 9, Bennet-street, St. James's, Sunday night.
" My dear Coningham,—Why do you not come up ?
Ever yours. (Signed)
" W. Coningham, Esq."
In the interval Mr. Conwgham had no
Mr. Urquhart, excepton one occasion, with • mutual friend
who brought Mr. Urquhart to Kemp Town at lunch.
Mr. Coningham—No political intercourse.
Mr. Clarke believed this was all that the intercourse
amounted to. When Mr. Coningham replied to that letter,
apparently the letter of • friend, he did not_press Mr. Ur-
quhart fur the reps meat of the money. The following
was the substance, if not the actual wording of Mr. Con-
ingham's reply to Mr. Urquhart, of which he kept no
copy :
" Kemp Town, Dee. 18 (or 19), 1854.
" My dear Urquhart,—l have been p ted by severe
indisposition from going to London, but hope to have the
pleasure of seeing you when Ido go up. By the way, have
you forgotten that you are 201. in my debt. which I lent you
at the Clarendon (or to pay your bill at the Clarendon).
Would you, therefore, be kind enough to send me • cheque
for the amount, or to pay it at my bankers', Messrs. Hoare,
Fleet-street.—l remain, he., " W. Cobuttnuat.
" D. Urquhart, Esq."
The next letter is the course of the correspondence
came from Mr. Rolland, and it was to the following effect :
" Army end Navy Club, Thursday, Dec. 21.
" My dear Coningham,—l have tame on myself to stop •
letter of Mr. Urquhart to you, offering myself to be its
bearer, which I have done in the hips that this matter has
arisen out of some forgetfalnas or misappeeheasion. lam
sorry that this involves a delay of a couple of days. It will
be very inconvenient for me to get away, even for half a
day. I shall be at Brighton on Saturday at 4 p tn. I
must beg of you to meet me at the train. If not there,
please appoint me some bete sad place near it.
" Messrs. iiVestosecott will send you the money.—Believe
nu, dear Coningham, yours sincierelb
(Signed) " STIWART EDMUND ROLLAND.
« p.s.— cannot allow this letter to go without re-
marking to you that I shall also have • matter to settle
With you if I should be under a mistake in my judgment
Nave expressed."
Mr. Clarke proceeded. Mr. Coningham did not conceive
that this letter contained anything dictated by an unfriendly
iplrii, and he wrote back iamediately,stat log that he would
sheet Mr. Rolland when be came dowa to Brighton. This
was on the 21st Dessather. The same day Mr. Coningham
received • letter tram Misers. Westmeath and Blake, the
gentlemen referred Isle Illy. Relleadre letter.
" 21, JobatimeklioefoNrow, Dee. 21,1854.
"Sir,—We are to tresimil to you WI., in re-
payasentofmoney by you he expenses for public
*2
objects.—We are, obedient mt' ean,
(Signed) " nalitacorr_, BAIA, and BLaxa
" W. Coamgham, Rm., Kemp Town."
Mr. Clarke said it wield appear that this matter was
placed la the hands of the Meets. WaMmeeett sad Blake;
sad no doubt it was Intended to adill die branseetim, if
pasible, ammo the aspect that the paymeat by Mr. Con
inseam to Mr. Urquhart, at the Claseadem Hate), was not
• km. but • seaWboem to the expose, of the amosiation.
AM this eiscamstean had bees eadareemed to be eau-
meted into • gronadwark der • swims quagga. 11r. Coa-
st case fete what wag the &swathe of them parties,
the messing of Mr. Rellaad's letter, then. • little
inept up la gam. The following was Mr. OaNaaham's
9407 ,
"Be liewierespare, Kemp Town, Dee. 11,1N4.
" Gaidemeal
_lam to acknowledge the receipt of •
=ea the Leaks and Westminster Beak for 201., for-
loy yea et
_Ms. Urquhart's request, ' la repayment
Nowayohmage by yea O. e. me) fee expenses for public
rfiTlds mime wee &deemed by me to Mr. Urquhart
lhatl immediele payment of his pormaal expenses at •
litieles—the Chemins la Bond-street--aad go far may be
mid Wham bosaakeased for ' public objecte.'—l as, pa-
Gallia, your Mullis unsay
rnbint
" Wruaux Committals
"Mears. Weelmaisek Blake, and Blake."
Thus, continued Mr. Clarke, the matter rooted until Mr.
Rolland came to Brighten, and Mr. Cadmium met him,
be believed, at Mr. Fatkorp's Library. They than walked
to Mr. Wallis's, in the. aeighboarbeed of the Towa Hall,
whim they went into • pa-vsti room (so conversation har-
k( passed during the period of the walk), on purpose that
Mr. Coningham might hoer what Mr. Rolland had to say.
The Mtn-dew did not lest snore than fear or fee =Mutes.
It wee from what had sines transpired that Mr.
might have said something to have inereand
Ike anent, if any existed before, in the beesst of Mr. RA-
lisadlygrAwas quite altar that Mr. C Sham when he
met Mr leThied wee in • state of esadderalle sager. The
keleview, se be said beton, lasted km or am minutes l
mouthed to • eqt
*eel or requirsineat m the part of
Bella that Mr. amid retract what be
millWilk mead 'stinks. alaiummuy. Mr. Coning-
km et meemid he had to mina, sad said," Howl
this gabfest
is it mosible? You that you
war, Mr.e
sot Uwe Rel sem know
talothreast
when the
took plass. It bookplates *sly between nos and Mr. Urqu-
hart at the Christina Had. It is perfectly impossible
gar yea ta knew as of Nat that warred, and it is
net mmyy imeatha the statement I have made."
Mr. elated to Mr. Holland that if any matter
of this Wed were game fate new, he should require that it
should be beiges witateess. Mr. Reiland pat on his out
tad went away, psalm down the letter, of width be had
been the bearer, teen Mr. Urquhart. The letter wee
without date er pima from whist' it was sent, and although
that it malelool a ohm's for the Wil. the cline
tit assiareillneewldshes :legit be unmated fir by
teat hh
(O•PY4
"ffiri—l mad= a Nom OBS cheque sent by Masse.
Iffeamaselt) hr Mee gamey to which . yea rake. It I
Mali tomato the potability of the aneurisms having
esseped year mammy, I should endeavour to mall it to
yea; be sot balladry that to be possible, sod being the
!Zia

D. UI4aIJHAZT.
oteattinication with

further pomaded of a purpose of ireful misrepresentatiOn
by n speolleatio• of • oirommstamos otherwise sraperanous,
I have sow only to call spot yes to tetra* the false state.
most yes have made of leaving feat mosey to me for hay am.
" I have de homier to M, sir, your obedient servant.
(810801) "D. Usettram.
" Ws. Comingbani, Esq."
Mr. Coning's.= bad treatoi that letter with silent ma-
tempt. He beard no more co the subject, tub bids the
24th Deeember, till the 9th January; then cane a letter
from Mr. Baud :
" Worthing, Jae. 9, 1665.
" Ihr,—The sudden death of. very near relative of mine
last week has sommelled me to delay addressing you tin the
preen* manes*.
" I /waived last week a letter from Mr. Urquhart, statiag
that you had MAO Se reply to that letter of hie which I
placed is your hands, and that having accepted the position
of wilful SiMptellfttl4ol3 he takes so kother step in refer-
ence to year letter addressed to him, which was the subject
of his oommunicatlon. But the same 'misrepresentation
hay ag bees made by yea to Messrs. Weelmacott, h. Galled
upon me as the party im that transaoticia with whom he
alone had to deal,' to protest him from its sleets.
" I consider Mr. Urquhart's opinion perketly justified.
Indeed, it was for me to hava settled this matter with yea
in the Ant instaacies. I now, therefore, call ma you to with-
draw that letter to Mears. Westmaeott, which I cannot
omissive you can hesitate one moment to do, seeing that
your silence on the receipt of Mr. Urquhart's letter is the
admission of the falsehood of its contents.
" As I have to start immediately for Belgium, I beg that
there may not be • moment of unneoessary delay in bring-
ing this matter to issue.
• I have the honour to be your obedient humble servant,
8111W/ULT 11111511.111. ROLLAXD.
‘' W. Couiogham, Esq."
Mr. Clarke said the answer to this, sent by Mr. Coning-
ham, was as follow.:
" Hemp Town, Jan. 12, 1866.
" Bir,—l have nothing whatever to retract.
" In not replying to Mr. Urquhart's letter, I have to in-
form you that I acted under advice.
" Both you and Mr. Urquhart must be aware that no re-
petition of violent language can affect the truth of so simple
a ease. It is, perhaps, but fair to warn you that the
banker's book of the Clarendon tallies precisely with my
eau.
" Further proceedings in this matter will leave me no
no other alternative bat the publication of our correspon-
donee. " I am, sir, your obedient servant
" S B. Rolland, Ilsq." "W. Conitronam.
Mr. Clarke said Mr. Coniagham received the following
litter in reply :
"Army and Navy Club, Jan. 18, 1865.
" Sir,—l have received your answer to my last commu-
nication. It has filled me with unboanded astonishment ;
and, to remove all possible miaapprehension or =Jacek. on
the part of any one, I endow the reply of Mr. Urquhart to
a letter which I immediately wrote to him, and the accu-
racy of which in all the statements in which las con-
cerned, and that is in all theasentials of the case, I declare
upon my haloes to be tree.
Now, sir, I must all you that you mistake our relative
positions. It is for me to 11l for you, and not for you to
choose alternatives ; and failing to retract your letter to
Messrs. Westmacott and Blake, and pay the 201. into the
hinds of some charity, you have to elect between giving
me a meeting or my posting you as a swindler, a coward,
and a liar.
_ .

"Most limpet domestic matters compel my departure to-
morrow for Belgium, after having delayed ft for the last
week. I have, therefore, to postpone the matter till my
return on the following week. I make no apology for the
delay, es you alone have occasioned it by leaving one letter
nureplied to, and waiting three drys in answering the
second, even in face of my annonnoed necessity of
departure.
" In the event of my not finding your retractation on
my return, I shall send a friend to you to apprise you of it.
" I am, air, your obedieet servant,
" STZWAST EIUILIXI HOLLAND.
" W. Coningham, Baq."
Mr. Clarke then reed Mr. Urquhart's letter to Mr. Rol-
land, a copy of which was sent to Mr. Coningham's on
the 16th :
" My Dear Sir,—Under the pretend circumstances I have
no hesitation in answering your question, and detailing the
facts without reserve, out of which the correspondence with
Mr. Coningham has arisen.
" In the smooth of March last you and Mr. Coainghsre
simultaneously joked me, • large plan of operations was
sketched. Several other gentlemen having at the same
time newly Joined the movement, and the centre of opera-
lions was London. Shortly afterwards I informed you of
the necessity I was cruder of retiring into the country.
You were surprised at my allowing any private matter to
interfere with so great • public' object, and that surprise
increased to astonishment when I was unable to specify any
paramount necessity for my retirement.
" The real cause was this :—Several friends who bad un-
dertaken to defray the espouses of various objects bad been
usable to fulfil those engagements, and I had to come for-
ward to make them good, exhausting my funds for the
moment to the last shilling. This unexpected demand had
come upon me after a campaign throughout the provinces
of some six months, which had entailed an expecte, of nearly
2,0001. I was orksequeatly under the necessity of retiring
from Loudest in order to curtail ay personal expenses. The
unexpected charge amounted to about 3001., and was ad-
vanced by me tower the obligaties taken by the gentlemen
at the time working with me of its repayment from the first
money that might be available for publics objects.
" I must here observe that the expenditure connected
with than proceedings had not comateneed with the six
months to which I after, but bad been ping on for many
years, during which I had reduced myself down to the
point which barely sufficed me for independence. I should
hold it u shameful to leave unemployed a pound u I
should an hour.
" One morning you came to me and stated your suspicion
of the mown for which I was leaving town, saying that in
so grave a cue all delicacy must be dispeased with. Upon
this I told you the facts. Yen proposed to me a loan. That,
I said, could not be ; bat if the sew comers discharged a
portion of the outstanding debt I should be enabled to go
on. Yen returned and stated that the matter was arranged,
and that a portion of that money should be repaid. I had
afterwards conversation es the subject with Mr. Coning-
ham, but only in reference to details. The arrangement
was, however, not carried rout, u far as I recollect, for I
did not look into accounts, empties the cheque of Mr. Con-
Ingham's, which I did happen to use for the servants of the
Clarendon, though what he means by referring to that see
is past comprehension.
" Mr. Coningham continued to co-operate unigthei London
election, when, on my proposer and seconder being hocussed
away from the hustings, he took fright and ran away. After
a few months he however reverted to his former state I
law him in.
" Some time afterwards, on reading letters of his in the
Monate/ Adeerfiese, is which there was much that was
good minded with mach that was confused, I wrote to him
a lies to the effect that he should come up to London to see
what was doing, and to be able to form his judgment for
himself. To this I received for answer three lines requir-
ing instant payment of the money he had Mat to me for the
paymeat of my bill at the Clareeden.
"If Mr. Coningham wasted the mosey be had only to
say so, bet it was another thing to imply that he had lent it,
and even if he had wanted to insult me, the commonest
delicacy would have revolted against a retinue toe matter
each as this. I sent the money, and in referenee his note
I also took &deice.'
"The unanimous and instantaneous conclusion was that
I could not do alien,* than send a challenge myself, or
refer the matter to you as the arraagement had been made
through you.
" I determined to deel with it myself, and warned by the
past woes such • letter as to force the matter to instants-
. noose tam by charging him directly with ' wilful misre-
presentation.'
"The letter you took charge of open, and delivered per-
sonally into his hands. To it Mr. Callaghan' gave no
mower. After waiting a week I again sought advice.
That given to me by • gownl aim, as prettified in such
matters as any one is Europe, was that I could take no
further steps, as Dlr. Coniagium bad put himself out of
the pale of gentlemen, ashes the calumny was repeated,
when I might post him as a toward and a liar.
"There had, however, boom a letter written by Mr.
Coningham, two daysafterthe letter to me, to Menne.
Westmaeott t
and Blake, is as.. t for their cheque
for the 201., repeating the end that with
startling grossness. As this la enured Imauquently
to the receipt of my letter, I Aid net feet Justilel la taking
the former course, but as I milt not allow that letter to
remain au-withdrawn, I called upon you to take those
steps which you had wished to take at the beginning for
my protection against a wrong of which you had been the
innocent cause, and for which neither the laws of the land,
from the nature of the can, nor the laws of honour, from
the nature of the aggressor, afforded me any.
"I am. ite., "DAVID URQUIAZT.
" 8. B. Rolland, Bsq."
Mr. Clarke added that this was the termination of the
correspondence. It appeared to him that there was • clear
and evident intention on the part of Mr. Urquhart either
himself to challenge Mr. Callaghan' to fight a duel, or
there was that intention on the part of Mr. Rolland. He
submitted that the magistrates, as aseervaton of the peace,
scald, under the circusastaseee, .properly interpose their
authority by issuing a warrant masa those who by in-
ference might be fairly ocumidtwid to contemplate • breach
of it, and bringing them before thobeseh to pat in safeties.
If they thought that his opening statement disclosed ground
for magisterial interference, Mr. Coningham would step into
the witness box and verity that statement on oath.
The magistrates having consulted.
The Mayor maid—The beach is of opinion that there
is so doubt that the object of than gentlemen is to cause a
breath of the peace. The language used is sufficiently irri-
tating to predate that effect ; and we es oonservators of the
peace, will be happy to hew anything to which Mr. Co-
Bingham may depose.
An information sworn by Mr. Mainsheet was subse-
quently tendered, embodying the subdues of the above
statements and correepoadenee, and the lankiest's issued
thereupon their warrant for the apprehend= of Kr.
Urquhart cad Mr. Rolland.

We ere informed that the entreat between the
goverment and Munn. &askew and Venetia, of Mid,
ilesborough. for eausou-balk. his been caueelled, It befog
found that the Clevelaud Iron dale sot *Wain the peculiar
quality necessary for that Mir parpose.—Nespesetk
Chromiti.