The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-01 00:00:00

THE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

We regret to perceive, judging at least from internal
evidence, that the Smiths have of late been somewhat
sparing in their contributions to this popular periodical ;
they are men who know town well, who possess a quick
perception of its follies, and who consequently never fail
to amuse the majority of light readers. The " New
Monthly" too, being from its nature peculiarly adapted to
please town-folks, the absence of these brother wits is
more to be regretted. However, in lieu of better, we must
put up with the present contributors, among the most dis-
tinguished of whom, we recognize Leigh Hunt. " The Dic-
tionary of Love and Beauty," is manifestly from his sprightly
and discriminatingpen, and is written in his first style of ex-
cellence, purified of all cockney alloy. From the very de-
lightful an ecdotical paper " The Clubs of Saint James's," we
quote the following extract :•^
FIGHTING FITZGERALD—LORD Castxtroan•—After the
scene at Brookes's, between fighting Fitzgerald and the member'
of the club, already detailed, it may not be amiss to follow the
duellist to the last of his exploits, and his final exit. Those
reader who are not aware of other particulars in Mr. Fitagerald'f
history, will wondor at his extraordinary success as a duellist; and
that, too, not so much from his prowess, as that he should so con-
stantly have escaped, almost without a hurt ! Could this era
hoomt-ehbaNeeenceoxopvleayi.endedsoi noltohceheaterrlyropratrot ofth ehihseaeartgreeorf, hthisolamwelaa.owd.
the misfortune to fall into his company. Arthur Fitsg J
bean compared to Lord Camelford; but there
1 it is well
semblance, for, though the latter fought several. duels,
oghhUurldsa.
known that he generally had sufficient provocati
thy of public
received many insults which he never thougslituiwi or
on, a n
b: :01 ' irvt.
ebh laemt rehet
ie..
'ld and he never
notice; in short,. his general deportroen
was on the constant look-
•sought a quarrel, for which Fitzgerald
)gioftsoYollaiohwiye
the attention of the fashionable. world
many private cha-
centricities, he was iu the habit of performing
who were ashamed to beg.
That Mr. Fitzgerald
invariably administered under an assumed
el fate
rHoiutiats.btlethaCaricatmtsiu,aelmfi,r:deg,rethlikoeswei
of the
thhaedp ao
oirnlod most generousa taken heart
op r!iftohr ,hwisheeilst
failedt Nv
who
of
tttlhl:
eerii threaten
salary,tbeneeta,c thoseitfc,
trh was.
. whose
daredc uHr iet
0,
went on such such expeditions at night; and he has often left a
crowded and brilliant assembly to dress himself in an old brown
r
gileYneilirositt,
coat and slouched hat, in order to visit somNitlheohiebrpsiileeoofunnnruaeotefnia-mstatPa,
crowded courts between Drury-lane and Charing-cross. In such
hsnuialieet ore anddtried with
v i
he
het
to efisvnue i pension
ou
deeds as these, and at the expence of several thousands a-year, did
this unaffected philanthropist pass the hours which he stole from
the dissipation of high life ; and his protegees were not aware of
y ( put
athe
periodname t
oo rhi
s qualityoi o,,iefifctehoeti r
donations.beriefae t o r,
Tuhn;at
like his countrymen generally) was totally devoid oi sun-
no one who ever knew him will doubt
here is no
point of resemblance between him and the
tioned, not even in the mode of meeting his
ford came into the field with all parts of
h.antagoniat. Camel-
posed, and really braved death. Indeed t is
person equally ex-
i
memory to mcnt,on them together. Arthur an insult to his
occasions, had his chest, &e. cased i r Fitzgerald, on all such
fol-
lowing circumstance will prove, and n a steel cuirass, as the
it will at the same time suffi-
ciently account for his extraordinary success.
Being at Newmarket, lie
provoked a gentleman (an old friend
of the writer's), to fight him.
The weapon agreed on was the
small sword, and both parties, for some time, appeared to be well
matched. At length, a judicious)y aimed thrust at Fitsgerald's
right breast.would have laid him dead upon the turf, had not
hs
middle, owing to the
gentleman's sword bent
• the round and snapped in two, r
De:fished
point striking forcibly against a polished
hard surface
• Enraged at each a dishonourable and cowardly re-
source the gentleman pulled off his hat, and flinging it with all
force
in Fitzgerald's face, exclaimed " You infernal rascal !•—too
this is the way in which you have been enabled to overcome so
many brave men; but I shall take care that you fight no snore
duels—cowardly dog !" As he uttered the last words, he rushed
desperately towards him, in order to despatch him with the re-
maining part of the sword which he still held in his hand; but
Fitzgerald, turning round, took to his heels with all his might, and

running across several fields, took shelter in a farm-house.
opponent eagerly pursued him, followed by the amazed seconds
who could by no means comprehend the cause of this mysteriou,
chase. When they arrived at the cottage, the gentleman mounted
the stairs, and searched all around for several minutes ; but thk
redoubted hero was nowhere to be found ;—he had escaped b‘
jumping out of a back window at the very instant his antagonist
had entered the-house.

Thus terminated Fitzgerald's fighting career in England, when
he never again showed himself in public. He embarked some
months after for his native country, where he soon fell a victim t►
his ferocious disposition, perishing by the hands of a commo►:
hangman; and, ►n his wardrobe, after his death, were found se-
veral cuirasses, constructed of iron or steel plates, and lined with
pasteboard and flannel ! Thus the whole conduct of his life con-
firms the opinion of a celebrated philosopher, that " Whatever
may be the physical strength of a bully, he has no moral courage;
for, however fierce his demeanour, he is surely a coward at
heart."

Our limits will not allow us to say more on the subjec
of this number, than that it is every way equal to its pre
decessors. The passages marked in " Montaigne's Me.
moirs," possess a deep, general, and strong 41tttest.