The Sun.
London, England, 1815-09-21 00:00:00

THE DUEL.

The very ektravagar►t attempt which 1i s been
made to misrepresent Mr. Pim. in this affair is so
gross as to be undeserving of answer were it not
that we live in times when every assertion, how-
ever inconsistent, if uncontroverted, passes for pos-
setsing something of truth. We yes,terday spoke
ironically of what .we called the criminal sect esy
of thiS Gentleman; yet, though we cannot approve
of any breach of the law, we must be destitute of
common feelings were we not, o►► this occasion,

to participate in the general sentiment, that Mr.
PEEL has conducted hitn elf throughout with a
noble, manly, and fearleSS spirit—that if he has
erred he has erred on 'the right sire—and that,
though his enemies (if so excellent and promising
a person has enernies) may accuse him of for-
getting the Minister in the Man, they must at the
same time confess that helots acted with gallantry
and firmness worthy of a hater tHase.

Mr. PEEL, owlet the protection of Parliamen-
tary privilege, delivered an honest opinion On
certain proceedings in Ireland. Mr. O'CoNsELL,
in an Assembly barely legal, referred to the ex-
pressions employed by the secretary iu the exer-
cise of his solemn duty, and in the liraggaril lan-
guage suited to such a Meeting, asserted that Mr.
PcEL dared not to have used such language where
he might be called to account for it ; and to add to
this insult, he desired the note-takers to be par-
ticular in reporting these offensive threats to Mr.
PEEL. In a word, this was a challenge with an
It : and how did Mr. PEEL receive it .% Did he
shelter himself under his official Or pat lia-
mentary character as he might well have
done Did be even treat the vulgar and
brawling intemperance which assailed him, with
the contempt it merited ? No ! with more
of impetuosity than tesdont (but it was a brave
and indignant feeling) lie sent to the Thersites of
the Aggregate Mob and. deprived him of his If,
by avowing all the expressions imputed to hint ;
and what Alr. O'CONNELL had ventured to pro-
claim, he dared not say where he was liable to-an-
swer for his words, he did,- through Sir CHARLES
SAxToN,, say ill Mr. O'CoNNELL's Teeth—and
privately.
One would have thought that -the natural con-
sequence of would have been., that Mr. O'Cog-
NELL would have followed up his threat, and
called for tae answer to which he had so pointedly
alladud.
,But he was otherwise advised, and the
quirrcl was consequently blazoned abroad. It is
unnecessary to pursue the story further than to
;ay, that disappointed by their. adversaries not
fulfilling what they bad so• loudly vaunted they
tvoald do, Mr. PEEL aild Sir C. SAXToN felt them,
selves authorised, from tresli insults and equivoca-
tions, to redeem their honour from the slightest
shallow of suspicion by becoming the challengers.
The result has been slated to the public ; they led
the. way in the use of langtiage displeasing-to the
other side—in avowing it—in publishing what had
nasscd—in ia getting to the
Continent; where they have been kicking their
'.eels impatiently enough on the sea-shore, look-
ing-out, but in vain, with the best telescopes, for
the vessel containing the Chanipions, who had
promised to come and fight then). These Clwit-
pions, on the contrary, followed them iu ivords—
in publishing—and in accepting the challenges ;
but they unluckily failed in redeeming their If
threat —in escaping, the tardy vigilance of the
Dublin Magistracy—orahe more practised activity
of the Louden Police in !oohing Out for suspicious
Characters. In short, they followed their anta-
gonists every where but it) the Continent.
A Newspaper has arraigned Government for
suffering Mr. PEEL to leave the Country. Go-
VLVltlllent has not inter-feted .in the matter ; and
what would that Paper have imputed to Mr. PEEL
if it had, seeing what it has the impudence to in-
sinuate, even under the actual circumstances of
the case ? But the truth is, that Mr. PEEL'S MO-
(long were so secret, expeditious, and well con-
certed, that they eluded a watchfulness much
more anxious than that of Government, highly as
this accomplished young Gentleman is esteemed
by his Colleagues in Office : they eluded the
watchfulness of a Father justly proud of such it
Stm, and in an agony of apprehension at any
danger which threatened iii n : they eluded the
watchfulness of many friends who held' his life
precious—for we will venture to say that few in-
dividuals in the Country could have excited a
stronger interest, fur few .are More beloved.
We will not contrast the opposite proceedings
Nrith this course ; because we are heartily glad
that it was of a kind so public and notorious as to
lead to the prevention of fatal consequences. All
fear of this is at an end; for we conceive that any
attempt to violate the legal engagements entered
into by Mess's. LtDWELL and O'CoxNELL,, would,
by the law of tke land, sultject the party to a cer-
tain ignominious death, even were he only to
scratch his eat ersary in a duel. But, indeed, Mr.
O'CoNNELL's line of conduct is more obvious,
safe, and honourable. If he has a spark of ho-
nest feeling and generous principle in his com-
position, seeing that Mr. PEEL hat the courage
to avoty.
:at his ,peril what it was asserted be
thirst not so avow; it becomes Mr. O'C. to re•
tract the aspersion so hastily_ Uttered, 811(1 apolo-
gize fur au injustice,: Which is- proved to be so
undeserved.

One word more, ante' 'e dismiss the subject.
PE,I;S Conduct has; hOu: such as we are
sure must strongly recommend him to the na-
turally build and chiValrous feelings of Irishmen.
Generally brave themselves, they will duly esti-
mate bravery'in others, and from the characteristic
gallantry of. that people, we
and eonstituitional
arc much mistaken if the Secretary for Ireland
'has not, even among those who have been poli-
tically opposed to him, greatly endeared himself,
and augmented his popularity by his behaviour
throughout this contest.

Yesterday Mr. O'CinsINP.LL was conducted to
Mr. Justice Le BLANc's chambers, where he en-
tered into recoguistmees to keep the Tome, him-
self 100th. and his two sureties, A.lcssrs. PATE-R.
sue and (.1NL31.1.) iti &OQI. cacti.