The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-16 00:00:00

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my husband, 0 lia he is a peacemaker, and in- $e
cool and clear-loaded than many-an older man ; be-
sides, Daubeney is so much engaged in arranging his
family affairs, _that I did not wish to trouble him
and I like to have one of my own regiment to act for
me." • I then remarked that I thouzlit.he might have
written a more conciliatory letter, without leaving it
in any one's power to say that he submitted tamely
to'insult ; to which he replied, " that I. NN'as perhaps
right, and that-it was not then too late to do:so." He
again went to the club, and on his return read me a
copyof a second letter, in which he said that he never
intended
.to insult Mr. Munro, but that he turned
him- out" of his house for grossly' irtsulting.;him. [I
Write this also from recollection; as the:Copies of those
letters (the contents of which , are already known to
the public) are not in my posses4en.l
~He then re-
marked that 'I looked very dull Wild 'low-spirited, to
Which I replied, "How can -I- helpfeeling dull while
thii business is pending?" "-Oh,, he said, "as to
that business I consider it as Settled; my_last note
must have satisfied them ; it must hairs. Settled it."
Nothing further took place till about six o'clock,
when, as we were going down to dinner, Mr. Cuddy
came ini•looking pale and harassed. I -merely shook
hands with him, and returned to • the drawing-room, -
as I saw he was unwilling to speak before me. When
I was called cleWn, I found my husband very grave,
and he informed me that Lieutenant Munro would
not accept his last note, on the ground that it nra 3
then too late, and still insisted on a meeting,sbut added.
that Lieutenant Cuddy .was to see Mr. -Gsant once
more, and. weuld let him know the' result in the even-
ing; and on my observing.hOw happy 'ls-should feel
when it was amicably settled, he said, with a sigh,
" That he wished to Heaven it was." I then, as I
had repeatedly done before, entreated bins to endea-
vour, if possible, not to meet Lieutenant Munro,
which he was as anxious as myself to avoid doing.
He did not hear from Lieut. Cuddy till near mid-
night, when he received a note, a few lines of which
I read over his shoulder, and when 1 saw that their
purport was that Lieut. Cuddy had failed-in his en-
deavours to effect an arrangement, and that they were
to go out, I fell back on my chair, nearly fainting,
when my .husband said, in.a displeased manner, " Oh,
this is just what I feared—that you would fail inc
when I most required your firmness and obedience."
He then went to order a carriage to-cOrise early the
next morning, desiring me to get the servants to bed,
but observed, that as it was already so late, it would
be better for us.both to sit up. He soon came back,
and lay down on the sofa, whilst I sat by his side.
Thus passed the remainder of that sad night. He
occasionally dezed, but I saw he watched me
strictly, and was uneasy if I attempted to quit him.
However, I had no idea whatever of endeavouring to
give information, for I well knew My.. husband's
character ; although he never had any concealments
from me, and was kind, affectionate, and indulgent in
the highest degree, yet be would never have forgiven
the slightest interference on my part in a matter of
honour or duty. I also never thought that 'Lieutenant
Munro would fire at him ; and as I knew his own re-
solve not to discharge his pistol, I was. assured all
would terminate happily, though I had a feeling of
terror I could not then account for. I may have been
to blame for the passive part I acted, but had I at-
tempted to interfere, the world would perhaps have
blamed me still more, and I had the certainty of losing
my husband's confidence for ever if I did so; but if I
have erred by my silence (for I have nothing else to
reproach myself with), God knows my punishment has
been a heavy one—the destruction of the prospects
of myself and child, and the utter ruin of every
hope of happiness to me. But I must hasten to the
conclusion of my sad relation. Shortly after my
husband had dressed and breakfasted, the carriage
arrived (I think it was near fire o'clock), and he sent
me down to unfasten the hall door, lest the ringing
should rouse the servants, which I did. He then
said, on taking leave of me," " God bless you my
' beloved Annie, you have shown yourself this night to
be a true and devoted wife; and, remember, what-
ever happens, I go out with a clear conscience, for
they have forced me into this, and I will never fire at
your sister's husband." He then ran down the stairs
and let himself out. Little now remains for me say.
Of the fatal circumstances that afterwards took place,
those who peruse this statement know nearly as much
as I do, and I have now stated everything that passed.
to the best of my belief and recollection, up to the
time my husband left me. Of Lieutenant Munro's
feelings and intentions on going 0ut,.•1 will say
nothing, as they could only be known to, himself, and
the great God who will one day judge us all; nor
will I dwell upon my own sufferings, which were
rendered still more acute by being made a theme of
conversation to the world ; but, disregarding the fresh
anguish these details occasion me, 1 consider it my
duty to refute the odium thrown upon my beloved
husband's memory by the man that slew him, as well
its the odious reflections cast upon nvielf; for Lieut.
Munro is well aware that no person I(excepting Mr.
Cuddy, to whom he could not mean to allude) but
myself had any knowledge of what was going for-
ward ; and I now here most solemnly state that, front
first-to last, I never once heard my husband mention.
Lieut. Munro's name with the slightest agree of acri-
mony, nor did one word ever fall from my lips calculated
to produce that feeling, or prevent a reconciliation ; on
the contrary, as I have before said, I: many times
implored him in the strongest terms to avoid a meet-
ing, .which, he most earnestly wished to do. I also
consider it right to state, that Colonel Fawcett was
never before either principal, second, -or present at a
duel,, but to my own personal knowledge had upon
several occasions acted as peace-maker, when
called upon by friends. As to the "suspicions of a
most unhappy . nature," that were stated to have
been hinted at by Colonel Fawcett, I cannot possibly
imagine to what Lieutenant Munro-. pretends to
allude, nor can any of my husband's-family or friends,
to whom I have applied, throw any light on the
subject; I will, therefore, merely state that my hus-
band was most anxious to settle his aftlirs,.. and take
me on the Continent, as I had been suffering in health
and spirits ever since last April, when I had the mis-
fortune to lose my mother-m-law, who reside with
me ; and ever since our marriage we had bOn de-
sirous of disposing of the house in question, bilt had
been prevented from doing so until lately, on account
of my non-age and his absence from England.
Having now made this statement—and what it has
cost me so to do few can conceive—l am firmly re-
solved to be for ever after silent (if permitted) upon
this agonizing subject; nor will .any future endea-
vours succeed in drawing forth another line from my
pen, or word from my lips. . -
ANNE FRANCES FAWCETT.