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

LIEUT.-COLONEL FAWCETT AND
LIEUTENANT MUNRO.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE TIMES.
Sir' —Having seen in the public prints a letter,
stated to have been written by Mr. Munro, and ad-
dressed to Mr. T. Duncombe, M.P. reflecting (as it
appears to me) on the character and conduct of my
much-lamented nephew, Lieut.-Colonel Fawcett, in
the late unfortunate and melancholy transaction, I
have thought it my duty to call upon his amiable and
much-injured widow, as being the only person that
wa-s present, and consequently cognisant of the cir-
cumstances, to disclose all that she knows on the
subject. I herewith send you her statement, which,
with the accompanying letter to myself, may I beg
you will have the kindness to insert in your valuable
journal ? I shall make no remark on that statement,
but leave it to speak for itself.--I have the honour to
be, Sir, your obedient servant,

D. K. FAWCETT.
Bailinlass House, Ballinanion Bridge, April 10.
P.S. The delay in the appearance of this statement
has been occasioned by my niece's absence on the
Continent, where she was ordered for the benefit of
her health.

Ballinlass louse, April 9, 1844.
My dear Sir.—ln conformity with the request you
have made me, I now place in your hands a state-
ment I have drawn up of the circumstances that im-
mediately preceded that fearful occurrence, which
has deprived me of a gallant and fondly-loved hus-
band, rendering me at the same instant one of the
most wretched women now living.
I had resolved on voluntarily giving no evidence on
this wretched subject, or of saying anything likely to
increase the crime laid to the charge of my sisteer's
husband, but patience and forbearance will have their
limits, and the wishes of my friends must be obeyed.
You are, therefore, my dear Sir, at liberty to make
what use you please of this statement, in which I
have repeated correctly every circumstance that oc-
curred, to the best of my belief and recollection, not
from any impressions I have since received ; and I
have every reason to hope and think that I have not
made a single error or omission.
Many persons may deem the conversations that
passed between my husband and myself of too trivial
and light a character for one in my deplorable situa-
tion to repeat, nor do I make public the few sentences
(in my eyes sacred, and deeply engraven on my me-
mory) spoken in confidence by my husband, with his
well-known candour and openness, without doing
great violence to my feelings; but I consider nothing
else could half so plainly exhibit the absence of all
rancorous feeling towards Lieut. Munro on the part
of both my husband and myself. Until now I have
constantly regretted the knowledge I had of what
was taking place, but since I have seen the vile and
dishonourable imputations thrown upon the memory
of my adored husband, I rejoice from my very heart
that I am-enabled (from personal knowledge of what
did pass) to declare those imputations and insinua-
tions to be utterly false. and unfounded, and, as I hope,
have proved them to be so; although from the very
fact of my having this power; severe comments may
be made upon me by those who have never been
placed in a similar situation.—l remain, my dear Sir,
your very affectionate and dutiful niece,
ANNE FRANCES FAWCETT.
To Major D. K. Fawcett.

On the evening of the 29th of last June, hetween
the hours of eight and nine,-Lieutenant Munro called,
uninvited and unexpected (as I fully believe) at the
house in Sloane-street which' Lieutenant-Colonel
Fawcett and myself had occupied since his return
from China, and was shown into the drawing-room,
where I was receiving a lesson in singing from a
gentleman of the name of Romer, which I proceeded
with while Colonel Fawcett and Lieutenant Munro
conversed ; and when my lesson was finished, Mr.
Romer took leave, although, to the best of my recol-
lection, I requested him to remain and take tea with
us, as he had sometimes done on former occasions,
but I think he declined on the plea of suffering
from tooth-ache. Affairs were then entered upon,
Lieut. Munro commencing the subject. As I was writ-
ing a note, I did not pay much attention to what
was passing, but it struck me that my husband was
rather annoyed. I then made the tea, during which
Colonel Fawcett, folding up the papers which were
on the table, said, " Well, it can't be helped now;
but I must say Mrs. Smith has bamboozled us both
most thoroughly; though, had I beenfacting for you,
I should most probably have acted as you have done."
To which Lieutenant Munro replied, "I tell you
what, you have several times insinuated that I mis-
managed your affairs, and I have attended to your
interests as I never did to my own, and I say I will
not stand it." My husband observed, " No, Munro,
I never said or thought that you mismanaged my
affairs." "I say you did." "I did not, Sir. "You
did," again rejoined Lieutenant Munro. Colonel
Fawcett then rose for the first time, and ringing the
bell, said, " A flat contradiction I will take
from no man, and, Sir, I must request you
will leave my house." " Yeur house," in a
most taunting and sneering manner. "Yes, Sir, my
house." Colonel Fawcett then opened the drawing-
room door, and called out to the maid-servant, who
was coming up, " Open the door for Mr. Munro."
Lieutenant Munro then said, " I say, you had better
tell your servant to shut the door." " No, Sir ; it
shall remain open till you leave," replied my husband.
Lieutenant Munro then shut the drawing-room door
himself, and returning, sat down and finished his tea,
speaking at the same time in strong terms of Colonel
Fawcett's want of gratitude, and its being a different
return from what he expected. All this time Colonel
Fawcett stood with his back to the fire, and did not
walk hurriedly about, as has been-stated. Lieutenant
Munro then left in an agitated manner, and I said to
my husband, " There is an ending to our friendship,
but I am sorry he should think you ungrateful for
what he has done for us." " So am I," was his reply,
" but it was impossible to bear with so gross an in-
sult." In about five minutes Lieutenant Munro again
knocked, and on entering said he had returned, having
omitted to wish me good night ; then, turning to my
husband, he said he wished him perfectly to under-
stand that he did not leave the house because he was
ordered to do so, for if he pleased he would remain all
night. He then asked if Colonel Fawcett perfectly
understood him ; to which the latter replied, " Per-
fectly." Lieutenant Munro then said a- good deal
more about ingratitude, and added, that if it were not
for the family connexion, he would fling him neck
and heels down his own staircase; to which Colonel
Fawcett replied, with the utmost coolness and self-
possession, " Pray don't let that prevent you; but this
is not the way in which gentlemen usually settle their
differences." I do not think Lieutenant Munro made
any reply, but soon after left, slam Ming the doors
violently after him; and all the time he was in
,
the room he kept his hat on, and swaggered his stick
while speaking. I never spoke 'during the whole
time but once when I remarked, "My husband said,
Munro, that had he been acting for you, he would
most probably have acted as you did." When we
were alone, my husband said, "What would you
have done, Annie, if during my absence Munro had
acted in this way in
your house, and refused to leave
it?" To which I answered, "What are the police
for ?" Nothing more was said . between us on the
subject until the next morning, when we were at
breakfast, about eleven o'clock, a card was brought
to my husband with the name of Grant on
it, which he handed to me, saying, " Do you
know who this is for—l don't. Although I had
heard Lieutenant and Mrs. Munro 'speak of a
person called Grant, it did not then strike - me,
and I replied, "No, but itis doubtless one of your board- .
ship acquaintances ; any rate, let him be shown'
up stairs," to which Colonel Fawcett objected, there
being some coats left upon the drawing-roona table,
for which the tailor was to call, but directed the ser-
vant to show the gentleman into the back parlour,
where he joined him; and if they had talked angrily
or loudly, I must have heard them, as they were only
separated from me by slight folding doors, but I did
not. Mr. Grant remained, I think, about ten minutes,
and when he left, my husband returned to me and
said, " Why, what do you think it is ? Why, a chal-
lenge from Munro." "Nonsense," I cried. "It is,
indeed," he replied. To which I rejoined, " But you
surely won't go out ?" "I don't know that," he said.
I replied, " Why, you could never fire at each other."
" At any rate," he observed, " I must be off to
the club, and get Daubeney's opinion (a Major
in the 55th Regiment), and I will come back and
tell you as soon as anything is agreed upon." But
before he left he requested of me to tell him candidly
if, in my opinion, lie had acted temperately the night
before or not ; to which I replied, " Why, in the first
instance I think you were a little hot, but in the
second I was astonished at your temperance." He
then quitted the house, and returning about two
o'clock, told me it was not yet settled, and showed
me the copy of a letter he had written for vhis
friend. " Munro," he said, " still demands a meet-
ing, but Cuddy will see Mr. Grant again."
" Cuddy !" I exclaimed, " Oh dear, I am sorry you
fixed upon so young a man." " He is young,,' said
my husband, " but he is a peacemaker, and is more
cool and clear-headed 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 thought 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 was perhaps
right, and that it was not then too late to do so." Ile
again went to the club, and on his return read me a
copy of 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 insulting. 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 possession.] He then re-
marked that I I'joked very alai and low-spirited, to ,

which I replied, " How can I help feeling dull while
this business is pending ?" " Oh," he said, "as to
that business I consider it as settled ; my last note
must have satisfied them ; it must have settled it."
Nothing further took place till about six o'clock,
when, as we were going down to dinner, Mr. Cuddy
came in, 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 down, I found my husband very grave,
and he informed me that Lieutenant Munro would
not accept his last note, on the ground that it was
then too late, and still insisted on a meeting, but added
that Lieutenant Cuddy was to see Mr. Grant once
more, and would let him know the result in the even-
ing; and on my observing how happy I 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 him 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 lie received a note, a few lines of which
I read over his shoulder, and when I 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 me
when I most required your firmness and obedience."
He then went to order a carriage to come 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 dozed, 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 he 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 five 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 de, 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 out, I 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, I consider it my
duty to refute the odium thrown upon my beloved
husband's memory by the man that slew him, as well
as the odious reflections cast upon myself; for Lieut.
Munro is well aware that no person (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, from
first to last, I never once heard my husband mention
Lieut. Munro's name with the slightest degree 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 affairs, 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-in-law, who resided with
me ; and ever since our marriage we had been de-
sirous of disposing of the house in question, but 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.

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