The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

THE DIPLOMATIC DUEL AT MADRID.

Our Paris correspondent writes:

1 learn to-day some further particulars relating to
the duels at Madrid. Then were, as I wu informed yes-
terday, two duels—that between M. Soled, junior, and the
Duke d'Alba was the first. The other between the Alms-
rine and French ambassadors did not take place for several
days afterwards. They both grew out of one and the same
affair. At a ball, gine by the French ambassador, on
the ljth of November, some young exquisite noticed the
dress of • lady as being exceedingly decolleti. The
Duke d'Alba, it is said, observed in reply, that the
American anibusadress, who was buttoned up to the chin,
was not therefore to be esteemed virtuous, because that was
the dress of Margaret de flourgogue. M. de Souti, juniors
heard this observation, and demanded explanations, which
led to a correspondence. It was thought by the friends of
both parties that all was satisfactorily arranged. But one
of the Duke d'Alba's lotion appeared, accompanied by cont-
inents, in an English journal. lam not at this moment
aware of the contests of this correspondence; but it ap-
pears that when it was known at Madrid, a hostile meeting
took plus between M. Smalf, junior, and the Duke d'Alba.
This Spanish Don—who, as you are aware, is by mar-
riage nearly connected with the French empress—
exhibited great magnanimity on the occa►ion. He
found the young American a mere tyro in sword
practice—(the duel was fought with swords only)—and
might have run him t►rough the body over and over again.
Feeling his advantage, he was unwilling to take the life
of his adversary, and after fencing merely in sell-defence,
he willingly accepted an arrangement proposed by the
seconds, consisting, as I am informed, though on this point
I cannot speak so positively as I do with regard to the
main facts, in the delivery of certain letters.
After the events just related, M. Soule, pert, wrote to
the Marquis de Turgot a very violent letter, telling him
that it was not the Duke of Alba and M. Soule, file, who
ought to fight; that it was he who ought to avenge the
honour of his wife, which had been attacked by the jokes
which the ambassador of France had permitted himself to
make. The parties met, as has beta stated, and M. de
Target was wounded by • pistol-shot is the knee. His
wound, as I learn from • friend of the family, is
not so serious as has been stated. It is not
even dangerous, and the ball has beta ex-
tracted. The seconds were Lord Hoyden. the English
minister, and the French visual CalIN, a member ol the
boundary committee between France and Spain, who hap.
posted to be at Madrid at the time. The Indipsnthuice &fp
nastier a fact, of which then is also private confirmation,
namely,—a third duel, arising oat of the same affair, was
expected. The French Consul at Santauder had high words
on the subject ol the quarrel with Mr. Perry, the Salutary
of the United States legation, and ono of them had chal-
lenged the other. Author story in circulation, is refer-
ence to the above utraordinary affair, is that X. do Soule,
being as unhandy with a pistol, as his son was with a sword,
the Marquis de Turing Wowed him three days to metals.
It would seem from the result that the American (who by
the way is a Frenchman by birth) turned his lessons to good
account. It mast not be forgotten that the reports here
are all French. Justice requires that the American state-
ment should be hoard before judgment is funned.
_ _

Letters fro• Madrid, of th; 20th, state that M. de Tar-
get's situation suited mach Menem. The local inflames-
doe and fever had goes as commatly inereastag. It is
npormd that M. do Targot has bees restaged oy his go-
vernment

-11. Lind Mercier (brother-ia-law of Mr. Seidl) has
neat the following letter se the editor of the Sited:
" Paris, Dec. 2.5.-84,—1n the versies whin you have
give& today of the dads which have takes place, essithe
one part between the Duke d'Alba sod M. Seidl, nu.,
sad es the other betimes the Marquis de Target sod 11.
Scull, sea., then are three neon. The family masesios
which suites so closely to M. Small imposes it ea use se a
duty to testily them
" It is eumpletely loosest that Madame &WA applered
is the dress of llsegsmita of Borguady, at the hail gives
by tlw mehoseador of Frame. My sister wore a dark blue
velvet dome, low es the seek, mid t Wised with gold lace ;
die ales wen a bead-dress of gold lace. What is true is,
that the sagnesion which led to the shallow from my
nephew to the Duke CUM was Shit, •Thsee pee Mu.
goodie of Derguedlimseso:swideklll. desdk feme believed
ke heard uttered Ike Doke Ciao, eel veld& Mat
ease wok op. The .s beams them Seek
plan es Deeesaber 11, sod Mee et mama of kW ea bear
without meal; the nesse Marten& mid deelered that
boom see ambled.
bas. Thu 'enlist ekes ceased, sod the ad-
vsmodee &Ba

" M. Weald. ma., did net take up
.agaba the affair of his
sea. km bis aellemps to the Manna de Tempo was sent
the monies of the day eta whisk the duel was to mho
ppilnaeass hewers the Dub d'Allia sad my Nephew.
The
lam le the Marquis de Target, of cab the fallewing is a
oopsontierostim the maims of the shame:
el • the Mims, whisk has trim
Wilma the Dalt= sad say sea originated is your
hell-rosat. It WM Si yeelbliMet, when my family and '
self were guests, and ea the oesmien of &fete, of which, by
a sort of tidalrepeenmeatim. the Duke d'Albs weld look
ea himself as ths bre% Oat this latter met as liberty et
iesultiag Madame Oen" iilthent eaythiai brass up teas
present time time to effe bombing le ebessesie you of the
solidarity whirls that eiremmames anew ea yea.
It hoe eras bees eineelei that Isms year Was fell ori-
gladly the sameive eagrendem. gennemeed atoms/de by
the Dube CAN% and es loft weft u tri isa.
" • Thatiobolliemossliewarariblbmaks, I here a right
te go bask to the sea mune Mita Oases the swords the
heads of the Duke d'Alla end of my NM, to make the
quarrel my own in what ngards you, sad to demand frees
you persomilly the satisfactioa winch you cannot refuse so.
" Mc Perry, my fated, aad ea America closes, is
aura to mein your sawn.
" I hare the hearer, lloasirar le Marquis, to be yam
vary humble sernat,
" Pizzas Boma, Chines of the United States.'
" M. de t has &dared on his hastier, *tough Lord
Bowden sad Calla, kis sescads, that he did sot
make nee of the eityreados imputed to him, bat he refused
to gin say satisfastion, be this mama, that the hunk bas-
in takes place in the hall-roma of the embassy, he was
booad to 'oak, ea 'yaw to the lady tememsod. Then M.
Would iodated oa M. do Turgot apyearlag os the ground
with him. The not is kaown. Ronne, meadeur, the ex-
pression of my high rosaideration.
A 1.71111) Mumma, Bus Notre Dame des Chimps, No. 31."

PoLmce Ix THA RANILL—The Lorienletie of the
Bth, says :—" Womanly' from Belle Isle, under date of the
3rd and tin, sham acts which have taken place
in the state prison tfraw :--0• the 30th alt., at the time of
monatieg guard, s Wan or the 37th regiment of the line,
who wee placed as NNW before the *lend, which sue-
meads the yard et iike sells of the prisoners Barbee and
Albert, wee pereelowi by the keeper on duty making a sign
to those primmest* h him, in order to receive from
hint the newspaper saliad the PAare de lo Loire. The
turnkey wee able beeelmi the newspaper, and be made a re-
port to the direeber.Tboeoldier was immediately questioned,
sad be mid, whit post boat, that he had meted as described
beaus he losimpsi le the same political petty m the
'prisoner., and emoldiewed it a glory so to do. He wee
ar-
rested, but +ma he was being conveyed to the citadel, he
was able to Met up • paper end throw the pieces into the
sea. Two other ssidlook, on whom suspicion fell, were also
arrested. Oa the 4ta a conflict took place between several
primers. It appears that a library is being formed in the
prima by means of a voluntary subscription, in which the
prisoners are allowed to take part. Two parties bare been
formed on the occasion ; the first consists of thoroughgoing
democrats, the second of those who hare demanded their
pardon or intend to do so. The latter, it appears, will not
give money to buy books. This difference of opinion led to
• fight, which rendered necessary the intervention of the
authorities. Orderis now re.established."

CONVICTS AT HOBANTON.—If a gentleman wu
walking along the street, one of these blackguards, after he
had pseud, would suddenly call oft, " !" when he
I would mitosis tura round to He who called, and the fellow
would point at him, and say, to the great amu.ement of his
oaalgoallota, 0 ! that dewed you," or, "I thought I'd
slaw you, which became at last such an intolerable Doi-
sane', that P— determined to stop it; and one day, ob-
serving a convict at this game, he had him up nest
morning, and without telling him the reason, gave him two
months' hard labour on the roads. The man grumbled, and
waisted to know (or what offence he was so severely
punished ; but P—, without answering, ordered him to
be taken out of court ; and just as he was making his
egress, called oat, " II; I" The man turned round imme-
diately, when P— said, "Ab, that slowed you. Now do
you know what you're punished for 1" Of course the cul-
prit bas utisfied, and departed amid.t shouts of laughter.
—A Mather's Tour Round the World.