Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-09-18

insanity ends withlife, public May continue
for ages, as in the present case. !.
Duelling originated with men hvlns ~ =. !.
state Of british nature, more governed ~
ypreiudices and passions, than by the exer-
'scise of that noble faculty which Distinguishes
them from animals.
The practice was introduced into the
middle and southern states Of Europe by a
swarm Of barharians, that rushed from the
Hyperborean regions, on the decline OF the
of the Western or Roman Empire, and
s.storrent ike, carried devastation wherever
they, spread, blending liberty, or rather IL
centioaswess, with slavery the FIRST in their
own persons, the other in the conquered ;
! yet too naughty to submit to the ruler OF
| their own choice, uatess his decisions cor
responded -siii, their desires, or could be
enforced by superior power. These petty
tyrants, rugged as the climes they came
from, considered military proves rs tho
only virtue; horsemanship, and the use OF
the sword and lance as the only objects OF
education too naughty to submit their
differences to civil process, they acsno"-
lodged no court but the listed field, where
cased in steel, strength and experience,
sometimes accident determined the litiga-
ton. Possibly the practice received coun-
tenance from the challenge between Charles
the 5th, and Francis King of France, which
though it did not produce q combat was a
bad Sanlfle, exhibited by two monarchs
that made figaro in historic pages, and
whose duty it vas to suppress such Prac-
tees. Mr.. Russell remarks, that the En-
peror aud King " had frequently in the
course of their quarrels give each other the
lie, and mutual challenges had been sent,
which, though productive Of no serious
consequences, had a powerful tendency to
encourage the pernicious practice Of Duel
ling. Mod. Eur. 2 vol. p. 255.
Other motives which BIASED the Hy-
perboreans so much in favor of private
combat, was a prevalent opinion among
them, that the souls of those who Perlshed
ip battle, or by violent death, were admit
ted to the hall of Oden, their paradise:
To die in battle was deemed blessing, to
expire by sickness diseraceful. Another
opinion, founded on superstition, that ty-
rant of the human mind, was that such
combat was an appealto the divine unerring
Judge; which may still operate on weak
minds, though numerous instances might
be adduced to shew the fallacyof this idea,
aad that the innocent party, at leas: in hu-
man eyes, is often the sufferer. In evil
dence of which select one Of many in
stances, because just come under ray no.
tice.
In debaucha Mr.. Trisel, at 1 O'Clock
IN the morning, from inebrety or some
other cause, declined drinking more, which
SO offended Mr.. Clark, that next morning
he sent him challenge. Trisel offered to
make an apology for eny just cause of Of
fence he had given through inadvertence,
which, not satifving CLARK, he persisted,
a meeting ensued, Trisel fell, and the in.
quest brought il waful murder, which o.
bliged Clark to absyond. Ann. Register,
priuc. Dec. p. a. Thus one, without
having given any just causeots Offence, died
premxturely in the commission of a crime,
aud the other was obliged to become an
exile, deprived ofcountry and connections,
probably with a guilty conscience.
Modern improvements IN the art Of
war have rendered defensive armour use
t.s, leaving the cruel practice more bar
o4rous by increasing the danger: comba-
tants mast now necessarily expose their
naked bodies 20 as much, if not more dead
ly weapons, thsnthose formerly used, not
withstanding the improved sense of an en-
ighteped ,agr. Attempts have been made
in every civilized county to suppress the
practice, though as vet Intellectually, a.
wong seuse of honor absorbing every o.
ther consideration.