The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-12-21 00:00:00

FATAL RESULTS OF DUELLING.

The 71st regiment was stationed, in 1807, at Armagh.
Major Campbell, while sitting after dinner one day at the
mess-table, bad a slight quarrel with Captain Boyd about the
mode of giving a particular word of command. After the
altercation the Major went home, drank tea with his wife,
and, having made some arrangements, returned to the hotel
where the mess was bell He ordered lights into a small

room, and then sent a message to Captain Boyd, that he
wished to speak to hitn. Boyd shortly entered the apart-
ment, the door of which was instantly closed. In a few mi-
nutes shots were heard, and the waiters ruishing in, found
Boyd writhing on the ground, mortally wounded. Lieut.
Macpherson, who was accidentally at hand, hurried to the
spot, and was witness to the conversation which weighed with
such fatal effect against Campbell on his trial. Ile heard
Major Campbell say, "On the word of a dying man, was
everything fair ?" Boyd replied, " Campbell, you have hur-
ried me. You are a bad man." The Major repeated the
question with still greater earnestness, and Boyd again an-
swered, "Oh! Campbell, you know I wanted to wait, and
have friends." The Major repeated his question a third
time, adding, " Did you nut say you were ready ?" To this
Boyd assented, but, as before, added, "Campbell, you are a
bad man." He subsequently declared he forgave the Major,
'and expressed great sympathy for his situation. The real
circumstances of the duel are few and simple. When
Boyd entered the room, he complained of the suddenness
with which he had been summoned from the parade ground,
and expressed a wish, that the matter should be deferred un-
til friends were provided. The Major made a passionate
answer, accompanied by a threat of proclaiming Boyd a
coward, unless he instantly made a choice of the pistols that
were produced, and took his stand in the corner of the room.
Boyd, it is said, continued to remonstrate, until he was cut
short by Campbell's stern question, " Are you ready ?" and
his agitation prevented him from having the same chance.
Campbell made his escape from Ireland and resided for
several months, under a feigned name, at Chelsea; but his
mind became so uneasy, that he resolved to surrender him-
self and take his trial. The duel had been the theme of
much conversation, and the privacy of the rencontre gave
room for the invention of calumnious reports, which the Ma-
jor's flight tended to confirm. Ile was first cousin to Lord
Bredalbane ; and his surrender, instead of being viewed
as the result of penitence and remorse, was regarded by
too many as a mockery and bravado of justice. Utterly
false as such a view of the case was, Campbell confirmed
the prejudices against him by incautiously declaring,
" He was sure the verdict would be manslaughter." The
misrepresentation of those innocent words produced a strong
effect ou the minds of the Presbyterians of Armagh. His
modest and contrite deportment on his trial, and the excellent
character given him by officers of the highest rank, went far
towards turning the tide in his favour. But one of the wit-
nesses for the defence is said to have exhibited a dictatorial
air, as if his simple word would decide the verdict—and this
circumstance is reported to have had fatal influence. The
verdict was " guilty of murder," with a recommendation to
mercy on the ground of good character only. Sentence of
death was pronounced, but, by great exertions, a short respite
was obtained • and M rs. Campbell, who was tenderly attached
to her husband, resolved to proceed to London and solicit the
royal mercy. She hastened to the sea-coast; but found that
unexpected circumstances threatened to frustrate her hopes.
Steam-boats were not yet in use. It blew a perfect hurri-
cane; and no reward could tempt the captain of any vessel
to venture to sea. While she was running up and down the
shore in a distracted state, she met a few humble fishermen
and these poor fellows no sooner heard the cause of her agony
than they offered her their services and their boat, in which
she actually crossed the channel. Her brave companions not
only refused to receive any reward, but attended her to the
coach-office, and followed her several miles on the road, pray-
jag God to bless her and give her sccess. On arriving at
Windsor with her petition, it was past eight o'clock, and the
King had retired to his apartment; but the Queen, compas-
sionating the afflicted wife, presented the memorial that
night, and Mrs. Campbell received the kindest attention from
the whole of the royal family. The case was anxiously de-
bated in the council, but after a full review of the circum-
stances, it was finally resolved, that the law should be per-
mitted to take its course. Mrs. Campbell, in the meantime,
proceeded to Scotland, cheered with the hope of obtaining,
at least, another respite. She reached Ayr, her paternal
home, on the very morning that her husband's corpse was
brought thither, to repose in the sepulchere of his ancestors.
When Major Campbell heard that his fate was decided, he
prepared to meet death with the fortitude of a soldier, and the
resignation of a Christian. A change had come over the
public mind, and universal sorrow for his fate had taken place
of the prejudices which inaccurate reports of the duel had
produced. By a strange concurrence of circumstances his
own regiment mounted guard round the scaffold. A vast
miltitude occupied every spot from which a view of the place
of execution could be obtained. The crowds displayed the
unusual show of the gentry from the neighbouring country
assembled in deep mourning. Precisely at noon Major
Campbell appeared on the platform, supported by his father-
in-law. Instantly the brave Highlanders took off their mili-
tary bonnets, and with streaming eyes, joined in prayer for
the spirit about to be parted from its mortal frame. The vast
crowd stood uncovered in solem silence, so that the giating of
the falling drop was heard to its remotest extremity. One
groan from the thousands of spectators, for an instant, broke
the profound silence, and proclaimed that all was over.—
United Service Journal.

THE IRON TRADE.—Iron has experienced a slight advance
'during the last fortnight. The demand has now continued
very brisk for some time, and the present prices are easily
obtained. Many orders have been received for exportation
within the last few days.—Sta.fibrd Advertiser.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, DEC. 17.—The
market has bee❑ thinly attended to-day, and business had
been but slack ; but prices remain the same as on the pre-
ceding Monday. There is little change in the. wool market.
except, perhaps, that low wools (which range from £l6 to
t 24 per pack) may be quatecLa little higher.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.