Star.
London, England, 1829-11-11 00:00:00

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COUNTY OF WATERFORD.

DUEL BETWEEN LORD GEORGE BEI
AND MR. H. W. BARRON.

FROM ♦ IMMO mostmi OF THE WATORFOOD CHSOWICLZ.
lo consequence of the late address of Lord George Beresford to
the electors of the county of Waterford, a communication was sent
to the Noble Lord by Mr. Winston Barron, the result of which
was a hostile meeting between the parties. which took place this
morning (Saturday. the 7th of November), about lilac o'clock. is
the demesne of Bishop's Hall, in the county Kilkenny; Lord
George Beresford attended by Joseph Green, Esq. Mr. Barron
attended by John Alcoa, Esq. The preliminary arrangements
being made, the parties took their ground. After an exchange of
two shots each, Mr. Greene stated, that both gentlemen having
proved themselves men of courage, be could sot allow the matter
to proceed farther and would therefore walk Lord George off the
ground. The parties then separated without any reconciliation
having taken place.
The following is the Address of Lord George Beresford above
alluded to, to which we add the Address in answer, published by
Mr. Barron, in which he " unequivocally stigmatises his conduct as
a base and profligate abandonment of every principle which has
heretofore been held sacred amongst Gentlemen" :--

07 VIZ COUNTY

TO Till OIXTLIMIII, comae, ANID
OF WATTLFOIIO.
GICKTLTUTO.—.MbeII the retirement of Mr. Henry Villiers Stuart
from the Representation of the County Waterford, enabled me to
renew my claims to the flattering distinction which it is my pride
to have enjoyed for so many years, I solicited. in person. at your
hands, the highest houonr an independent county can bestow. My
reception on that occasion led me to hope that you would be spared
the agitation of another contest. I find, however, that during my
absence from Ireland au active canvass has been commenced
against me, and that calumnies the most illiberal and malicious
have been circulated, to the prejudice of my interest and the dis-
honour of my name.
Gentlemen, my opponent, Mr. Henry Winston Barron, has an.
nounced himself as the champion of your independence, and has
stigmatized my family and myself as an ambitious and corrupt
Oligarchy, anxious to convert the County of Waterford into a
close Borough. Had this gentlemen confined himself to those
general assertions, it might possibly be thought that he only used
the permitted license of electioneering declamation. But when,
instead of relying on his own merits, and confining himself with-
in the limits of fair and manly competition, he permits a specific
charge of the most dishonourable traffic, and the foulest corruption,
to be circulated against me, and scruples not to derive advantage in
his canvass from the stain which has thus been cast upon my name,
though he is conscious that it should have been attached to his
own—l feel that such a return for my long forbearance has ab-
solved me from all scruples of delicacy towards Mr. Henry Win-
ston Barton ; and i will now follow the only course which is left,
to clear my character from an imputation, which, if well founded;
would for ever disqualify me for representing the County of Water-
ford in Parliament.
Before Mr. Henry Villiers Stuart retired from the representa-
tion of your county, Mr. Henry Winston Barron proposed to some
of my family and friends to give me the support of his own influ-
ence and that of his connections in the county, on condition of our
assisting MOO in the claims be then set up to the representation of
Waterford. His overtures were respectfully but firmly declined.
When Mr. Stuart's retirement bad rendered such support an ob-
ject of vast importance to any candidate for the representation of
the County of Waterford, Mr. Henry Winston Barron renewed
his proposal, representing himself as holding the keys of the county,
and able to insure my return without a contest. 'lbis proposal was
again firmly declined in a written communication to Mr. Henry
Winston Barron, which he, no doubt, retains.
And now, Gentlemen, permit me to ask, whether Mr. Henry
Winston Barron or myself is best entitled to assume the proud title
of the supporter of the independence of the County of Waterford?
and which of us has formed the most correct estimate of your cha-
racter, and of the means best calculated to gain your suffrages ?
He, who thus audaciously attempted to convert your County into
a close Borough—or I, who declined all participation in this project
of corruption, preferring to rest my claims upon a fair and open
appeal to the Electors, although they bad so lately rejected mt.
If, Gentlemen, I now advert to the question which separated us
at the last Election, it is only to express my anxious hope, that as
t hat question no longer exists, the divisions it created, and the feel-
ins it excited, may be buried in oblivion—and to assure you that it
will be my constant endeavour, as I am confident it will be that
of every member of my family, to restore amongst us the harmony,
and kindly feeling, which its discussion interrupted. Amongst
other imputations calculated to excite prejudice against me, it has
been industriously circulated that I come before you with
changed principles. This I deny. My principles are, what
they have ever been, those of firm attachment to the British
Constitution, and to the Protestant religion. I always considered
the late question as purely political; as such, while that question
was under discussion. I openly and conscientiously opposed it. The
Legislature has, in its wisdom, judged differently, and has passed a
Relief Bill ; the law of the land is thus essentially altered—to it I
bow—and I hold it the bounden duty of every good subject to co-
operate in bringing about that happy result which the Legislature
contemplated, and to obliterate every trace of the divisions which
have too long kept Irishmen asunder.
I trust, Gentlemen, that much prosperity is yet in store for Ire-
land ; nor is any thing more likely to promote it than the continued
residence of our Landed Proprietors ; and it is with more than
ordinary gratification that I am enabled to assure you, that the pre-
sent head of my family is at heart an Iriehman—that be has already
expressed his determination to reside at the seat of his ancestors—
and by cherishing his tenantry, and studying the interests of our
County, to deserve the good opinion of all those whom I have now
the honour to • address. My family is identified with this great
County by that community of interest and feeling which property
and residence must always produce, and I trust there is sufficient
energy and independence in the County of Waterford to repel tbe
noisy interference of those meddling strangers who trade in agitation.
I have already trespassed too long on your patience, and will only
add, that if I shall be the fortunate object of your choice, you may
always command my service to promote the interests of Ireland in
general, and of the County of Waterford in particular. And I feel
confident that I shall be able to satisfy you all that my great object
is to be the independent Representative of an independent County,
with a firm determination to avail myself of every opportunity to
forward the interests of aU ranks and classes in the County of
Waterford, without distinction.
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
With every sentiment of respect and esteem,
Year faithful sod devoted servant,
GEORGE THOMAS BERESFOID.
Curraglunice, November 5, IWO.
TO Till CLUOT, WPM rases
or wataareaa.
Gastranse,—l have this moment read the Address of Lord
George Beresford to yots. His Lordship's Address, as you have
perceived, is not so meets an avowal of any polltlieleprinciples on
his own part, as a violent personal tirade against me. His Lordship
accuses me of having tendered oohing my support in the County.
Now, I de candidly avow, that, acted upon bythe ream of
conciliation which so generally revelled in the fir,st moments of
cavitation, I deceived myOrlf.late the opinion, that an honest mats
night, without compromising his public virtue, entertain the idea
of suppoetiag t Deresfued and I will not be Irma stopandid as to
deny, that I might not !wit been also impelled by an object of
legitimate ambition. Actuated by these feelings, I did amnia
his Mends- Gotha. points Lion only te, web du; I caeca agY
error, I acknowledge my guilt. I Was yreng bower, for ame
meat, entertaining the thought of supporting any of the Beresteld

91 WWI COUNTY

OWly. Ms was a political crime of the deepest hue, and one, to
the expiation of which, my whole lift, whether in public or pet-

vete capacity. shall be devoted.
I feel that the consideration of his Lordship's Address &Ades
itself into two distinct parts : the first as between myself and the
county; the second as between myself and Lord George Beresford.
As far as regards the County, my feeling is, that I cannot
sns-
ciendy excuse myself for the fault I have committed. It is the only
act of ow life I have to regret, and I certainly shall sever cease to
regret it. The same fault, it is true, may in times put have been
committed by others; but I shall not seek to shelter myself under
this consideration—l shall not endeavour to acquit myself by any
retrospective allusion to others—l ant not inclined to justify my
guilt, nor even to extenuate it—l confess it in the most aggravated
degree, and I sincerely regret it. In the step which I took, I
acted in my own private capacity as an individual, without the
knowledge of many of my nearest coonezions and friends, and
contrary to the strongly expresood opinions of them with whom I
aid consult. To these friends I feel I can scarcely atone. My
conduct was rash, imprudent, and, I fully admit, unpardonable.
And now, as regards the second consideration of the Address—
namely, the (induct of Lord George Beresford towards myself.
The simple fact of my having held any conferences with the Berea
ford family is not to be justified—and Ido not seek to justify it ;
but this forms no excuse for his Lordship's dishonourable violation
of a private and confidential communication ; and I therefore most
unequivocally stigmatise his conduct as a base and profligate aban-
donment of every principle which has heretofore been held sacred
amongst gentlemen. He has for his own purposes, endeavoured to
pull me down; but in the attempt to do so, he has sunk himself

bier than he before stood.
His late despicable dissimulation of his political principles, has
tuned for him, as a public man, the contempt of an parties. Hie
present violation of honor bas reduced his private character to the
same level as his public. With respect to his public character, he
'opposes the great measure of concession to Ireland with the most
desperate persevering virulence up to the very last moment, but
that measure being carried, he instantly deserts his party, and flies
over to the liberal interest, believing that interest to be the stronger
in the County. He crouches to the Catholic Bishop of Water-
ford—he crouches to Mr. O'Connell—he crouches to Mr.
Shell. By these acts of diuimulation, and by professions of a
corresponding character, be hoped (but vainly hoped) to impale
upon the party at whose feet he prostrated himself. Finding him-
self, however, rejected with contempt by that party, be again IBM
back to his old friends, and he now sounds the tocsin of " Preto..
tent 'principles," by which he means nothing else than Protestant
Ascendancy. On commencing his canvass be professed a total alter-
ation of principles. Acting under these false pretences, he applied to
the late Catholic Bishop of Waterford—employed Mr. Shell, and
sought to seduce Mr. O'Connell. Deceived by these acts, be
procured the conditional promises of a few liberal gentlemen,
who, no doubt, will now feel themselves absolved when they
'find his Lordship, in his present Address. declaring that “ his prin-
ciples are what they have ever been." The troth is now out. lie
has never changed; but his love of palaces and pensions induced
him, in the hope of retaining them, to feign a change. I ask you,
Gentlemen, if this is a man to be trusted? He tells you that much
prosperity is in store for Ireland. I ask you, is it by sending men
of his stamp to Parliament that this prosperity is to be attained?—
He says we should not countenance agitators. Why did he hire one
agitator, and offer a bribe to another?
Many of the particulars connected with my offer of support, as
stated by his Lordship, are perverted and exaggerated. The para-
graph relative to my *bolding the key of the county," &c. so far
from being truly attributed to me, was, on the contrary, the iden-
tical language held to me by one of his Lordship's friends, when
soliciting my neutrality. I might expose many other points in his
Lordship's address ; but I shall not, for the present, descend to any
more minute analysis.
And now, Gentlemen, having expressed my opinion of his
Lordship, I address myself egain to the question as resting more
immediately between you and myself. It is true that you have
called upon me to stand for the county, and that my coming forward
has been in ohedienee to that call. Sine's the sense of the County
was declared, I never for a moment hesitated ; but I freely avow,
that under existing circumstances, it is just and fair that the County
should have an opportunity of Peeonsidering its decision. Whatever
the result of that reconsideration may be, I shall most willingly sub-
mit to. My first and main anxiety is, that the inde-
pendence of the County should not suffer in my person,
or from any imprudent error of mine. Should your decision
be that I am to continue as your Candidate, I am ready
and prepared to go on with the contest—should you de-
cide on putting forward any other gentleman, I can only say that
the independent interest shall have my must strenuous support in
every possible way. This is but a small portion of the atonement
which I feel that I owe the Electors. After having canvassed the
County, I have the satisfaction to announce, which I de most
unequivocally, that the independence of the County is, beyond
all question, secure, and that a member of the Beresford family
cannot by possibility be returned. The feeling against that family
in every part of the County, and among every class of the
electors, is so overwhelming, that any independent candidate, from
she simple fact of being opposed to them, would be certain of suc-
cess. To this success I shall, in whatever capacity lam placed,
most strenuously contribute. But during any Interval that may
occur before the sense of the County be taken, I would respell-.
fully, but most earnestly, warn the Electors to be on their guard
against attempts to delude or ensnare them. I can tell deenethsp
have the County in their hands—let them hold it.
To those friends from whom I have met with the kindest mad
most warm-hearted support, I beg thus publicly and sincerely to
offer my most lasting gratitude. The recollection of their kindness
shall never be obliterated from my heart. Should I not be the re-
turned representative for the County of Waterford, I shall bear iu
mind that the fault is not their's, but my own. I have committed
an error, and I am willing to submit to any sentence with which
the Electors may please to visit it.
My first hasty and inconsiderate step in public life was rather an
unhappy one. I have one act to regret, but lam far from think-
ing myself, by that one act, lowered to the level of the Noble
Lord, my opponent. every act of whose public life has been a
continued series of bartering is one way or another, and foe the
most mercenary of motives. Bat laying aside, for a moment,
every other act of his, I would ask, can public honesty be ex-
i peeled Irons a man who is now found, in the most abandoned
manner, violating the most sacred principles of honour in private
life ?—I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, with the most sincere
respect, your faithful and devoted servant,
H. WINSTON BARRON.

Belmont House, November 4,1849.

The Washington Telegraph received yesterday says :
—" In relation to France instructions have been given
to our minister to leave no effort unemployed by which
redms may be obtained for the spoilations on our com-
merce; and for relation to England, the President is
earnestly desirous, and has sincerely undertaken, to
arrange the difficulties, between that government and
ours, as may be mutually agreeable and advantageous,
and lay a foundation of lasting concord between them."
Accounts from Egine of the 6th October state, that
since 'the conclusion of peace, great anxiety prevails
amongst the people, as it was expected that England and
France wou'd abandon their cause ; and the only hopes
that remainel to them was in the Russian Government.
Tile troops on the continent of Greece have not made
Say movements for these two months past ; and the Turks
also remain quiet,•owing to the troubles in Albania. All
the shipping in Sirs have sailed for the Datdanelles, the
moment they learnt the conclusion of peace.