The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-25 00:00:00

THE " GERMAN PRINCE."

The Industrie, a Liege Journal, gives the following
singular details of the duel we mentioned a few days
aO-0, in which Prince Puckler Muskau was a party
few days since, a stranger went to one of our
most eminent surgeons, and asked him if he considered
himself competent to perform every species of opera-
tion. On receiving an affirmative answer, he inquired
if he bad a whole day at his disposal. The surgeon
again replied in the affirmative, and then ventured to
inquire into the nature of the services required of him,
but received only evasive answers, and a request that
he would be ready at a given time the.next morning,
when a carriage would call to take him a few leagues
from Liege, where his skill would be called into action.
At the time appointed the carriage came, and in it was
the unknown of the preceding day, and with him an-
other person of .gentlemanly mien, to whom the un-
known seemed to pay great respect. The surgeon was
haStened into the carriage, which immediately took the
road. At first a profound silence prevailed, and then a
few words passed on indifferent subjects. After a while,
however, the principal personage made excuses to the

surgeon for the mystery which had been observed, and
the manner in which he had been hurried away, but said
that the time was come when it was necessary he should
know where he was going, and on what occasion. lam
not perhaps altogether unknown to you,' said the gen-
tleman, for some literary productions which have been
received with a degree of favour, may have made you
acquainted with the name of Prince Puckler Muskau.
In one of my romances I made use of the ordinary
means of giving interest to the scenes of my drama,
and represented my hero as giving himself up to vio-
lent passions, and all those irregularities which are
.their inevitable consequences. I gave him a name
chosen at venture, for you know in every fiction the
principal actor must necessarily be invested with one.
By one of those strange perversities of chance which
cannot be foreseen, there happened to be in the North
a person of great consideration, bearing precisely the
same name, and into whose hands my work fell. He
took what was a mere production of my imagination for
an intended and outrageous personal insult. I was then
at Paris. Severe complaints wereinade to the Diplo-
matic Agents there, which at lengtlireached me. I gave
every possible explanation in my power, but they were
not sufficient to satisfy the susceptibility of the party
offended, and a reparation by way of arms was de-
manded and granted. For this purpose we are now on
our way to A—, where I shall see my adversary for
the first and, probably, for the only time in my life.'
They soon arrived at the place for changing horses.
The Prince proposed breakfast, which they partook of
cheerfully, and with good appetite : before resuming
his journey, the Prince was desirous of making trial of
his powder, and he discharged his pistols in succession,
dexterously firing his second ball into the orifice made
by the first in a tree fifteen paces off. What think you
of that ?' said he turning to the Doctor. Why,' said
the latter, I think your adversary must be very dexter-
ous, if the game should present equal chances.' They
continued the journey, and at length arrived at the place
Of rendezvous. The adversary was beforehand with them.
He was a man of noble carriage, and of a serious but
prepossessing exterior. All the conditions of the meet-
ing had been foreseen and regulated beforehand.
The combatants were kept at a distance, and only
approached in order to exchange shots. Not a word,
not a look established the smallest communication be-
tween them. At the given signal they advanced to-
wards each other, and at the instant which had been
previously agreed on the two pistols were simultane-
ously discharged. One of the champions was wounded
in the throat—it was the Prince's adversary—he im-
mediately received the eager attention which his wound
required ; fortunately, it was slight. A declaration
previously agreed on, and expressing reciprocal satis-
faction, was immediately exchanged, and the parties
separated with the cold and silent ceremonial which
had prevailed throughout the meeting. The noble
duellists, each of whom had travelled more than 100
leagues, in conformity with a ridiculous custom which
is called a point of honour, returned to their respective
homes, one. to Paris, the other to Berlin, doubtless not
a little pleased to find themselves alive, after this little
trial at mutual destruction."