The Press.
London, England, 1858-10-16 00:00:00

our daily contemporaries. On this occasion also the genus irritabile was
duly represented by an editor, while his opponent was "a State senator
from Sacramento county." What the cause of quarrel may have been is
not stated, but it must have been something very exasperating to account
for the deliberate bloodthirstiness exhibited—rare even in a Transatlantic
affair of honour. Yet, notwithstanding the desperate malignity displayed
by the combatants—always supposing the duel to have been really
fought—the affair seems to have partaken very much of the character of a
festivity. A large crowd was collected to see the fun, and the three hours
before it commenced were passed, we are told, " in talking, obtaining re-
freshment, and indulging in pistol practice." This prelude over, the
principals were placed in position, much more cool and collected than their
seconds. And now it is that the peculiar genius of the American journalist
begins to show itself. The attitudes, the dress, and the demeanour of the
two antagonists are carefully recorded. "'They stripped off their over-
" coats, buttoned up their coats, and turned up the collars thereof, FER-
" GUSON at the moment giving vent to one of his characteristic jokes."
Pif! it has perished ! The former hero, we are told, wore a frock coat;
the latter, " a sack." After this interesting piece of intelligence, we have
the results of the encounter. The pistol practice does not seem to have
done much good to either. For three times running each man struck the
ground with his bullet a few yards before his opponent's feet.
On one occasion, FERGUSON having fired too soon, was left
standing to receive his opponent's lead. On this occasion he gave " one
of his characteristic shakes of the head," and "braced himself up." How-
ever he escaped unhurt, and both then took a little breathing time, perhaps
liquored, chatted to their friends, and then recommenced their performance.
The crowd, however, had by this time grown a little impatient of their ill
success, and advice was freely tendered to each of them to " go in and get
killed "—an admonition which was at length so far complied with that JOHN-
SON broke FERGUSON'S thigh. The wounded man, still venting his " charac-
teristic " facetiousness, observed that though he was a poor shot he had
pluck enough to face. His antagonist made the usual formal inquiries after
his health, and he was conveyed away upon a stretcher, valete et plaudite.
The mob dispersed in high good humour, and it was generally admitted
that they had passed a most agreeable day.

The agricultural and political meetings of the past week have been of
average interest. The Times, of course, has had its periodical snarl against
the practice of distributing prizes to labourers. Every word that our
contemporary alleges against the system might be urged with equal force
against the distribution of medals to soldiers. Five pounds is a poor re-
ward for a life of virtuous industry! Then surely a little bit of metal that
is not one-twentieth part of that value must be a still worse remuneration
for a life of desperate danger and heroic endurance. The pomp and cir-
cumstance of the distribution may be as great in one case as the other.
From the speeches at the Maidenhead Association it is gratifying to
see that landlords are becoming more and more awake to the necessity
of increased cottage accommodation,' and to the error of such among
their own order as lent themselves to the practice of destroying them. At
the meeting of the Agricultural Society in Ross politics were not
eschewed, and several compliments were paid to the Emperor NAPOLEON,
and certain members of the Legislature somewhat severely taken to task
for their language on the subject of Cherbourg. At Merthyr Tydvil Mr.
A. BRUCE addressed his constituents in a tone of mildly-Liberal-Conserva-
tism ; but as his speech has been cruelly mangled by the reporter we
cannot comment on its details. The Conservatives this week have made
a great demonstration at Norwich. Both Sir SAM uka, BIGNOLD and Sir
HENRY TRACEY expressed the greatest confidence in Lord DERRY'S
Government, and the most favourable anticipations of any Reform Bill
brought in by the Noble Earl. While on this subject we cannot but
notice the foolish and intemperate attack of the Times upon Lord JOHN
MANNERS. Whatever that journal may choose to assume, there can be no
doubt that the recent strictures upon Mr. ASSHETON Smirit which ap-
peared in its columns, coupled with the present article, have excited both
the disgust and the derision of impartial people, and that the whole thing is
just one of those false steps which not even the Times can disguise with
any success.

At the time of the decease of the Great Duke public attention was
directed to the possibility of the Dukedom of Wellington becoming
extinct, and it was suggested that the title should be enlarged and made
hereditable by the collateral branches of the House of Wellesley. The
suggestion will probably receive fresh attention in consequence of the
lamented death of Lord CHARLES WELLESLEY. The Marquis of Doußo
is not likely to have a family, though the contingency is not impossible,
and preservation of the title of Wellington will mainly depend upon the
lives of the two sons of the nobleman deceased. The dignities o Marl-
borough and Nelson were made permanent by the wishes of the nation,
and " Wellington " is a title that ought to be preserved as one of the
greatest glories of the Peerage. It is a curious subject for reflection that
our great military and naval commanders have not been fortunate in
respect to their male issue. The laurels gained by CHURCHILL
had to be wafted on the stock of the SPENFERS. Neither General
Woci,E, nor NELSON, nor Earl ST. VINCENT had sons to inherit their
famous names. The male issue of OLIVER CROMWELL has long been
extinct. MONK, Duke of Albemarle, who played so great a part at the
Restoration, had no son. The direct line from Lord ANSON has also
failed, the honours being worn by a collateral branch. CoLut.Nowoop had
no son to en:,oy the title won with such courage and laborious toil in
command of the Mediterranean Fleet. There are some who lament that
the political title of "Chatham," so associated with national glory and
with successes by land and sea, should have been permitted to expire, and
that it was not made descendible to the female heirs of the " Great Com-
moner." Recollecting the uncertainty of human life, these considerations
are worthy of notice in relation to the " clarum et venerabile nomen " of
Wrzuziorox.