Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-28
ALEXANDRIA,:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL %, 1919.

Arguing few days ago upon the subject
of duelling with a tiny young gentleman
he triumphaniiy exclaimed, wha, should a
person like me do, if in.ulted by grea,
huge fellow as strong as three or four Of
me? | answered him, why, do nothing
you are no more disgraced by his insult
than by being obliged to take shelter in a
neighbor's house from mob of bravoes.-
But suppose your object to be reparation,
what assurance have you that he would moi
be as much an overmatch for you with a
, pistol, as with fists or cudgels. They are
in general the same kind Of reprobates,
who hector on the strength of brain, bone
and brazen fropt-who lounge in the pas
sages OF our theatres, not to see the play
but TO toy with diseased strumpetry, for the
ignomin;ous glory of the thing, and render
themselves conspicuous bIackguards, by
bullying, kicking up riots, disturbing the
audience and banishing sobriety from the
walls ofeur public anusements-and who
practice with pistols necessarily, for the
purpose Of preventing any man having a
fair and equal chance in fighting, and in the
most abject spirit of cowardice, acquire and
exhibit their superiority in shooting, in Or
der to deter others from fighting them
Such was celebrated duellist in the old
country, whom out OF respect 10 an exalted
house to which he was related, and an il.
lustrious name which he bore, forbear 10
designate, and who's. malignant passions
and turbulent irritability brought him al
last to an ignomnious death. This vile
man constantly boasted, and in two ins!an-
ces he confirmed it by bets laid previous 10
meeting, that he would forfeit his soul,
body and estate, if be did not hit any given
part of the human body, to the fourth part
of an inch. In addition 70 this unerring &C
curacy Of aim, it was custom with him, at
the moment representing his pistol to make
an immense elonge or outstretch, by which
he lowered his height more than fourteen
inches, bringing his hand and eye to d.
rect level with his antagonists pistol he
by this method, at the same time shielded
his head and heart, SO that the bullet, if
well aimed, must s>netrate the thick bony
part OF the palm OF his hand before it could
touch the one, and pass through the whole
length of his right arm, be fore it could reach
the other. Against protested dueIlist,
thus prepared, and perpetualIy practising,
what chance would headstrong, passion
ate young man, rushing forth flushed from
the tavern, the gaming table or the brothel,
have in duel with pistols. The wretch to
whom allude above, was known by many
to lie at bottom coward; but instgated
by vanity, led life of danger, turbulence
and shame, to get the name of fighting
man. For the security of his person, he
had net work made at Augsburgh, of the
minute chains which set watchesin motion,
which was discovered by some youths Of
Dublin college poking him Intellectually
with swords.
In our country, am sorry to hear that
our little boys are in the habit of early train
ing at the pistol exercise, in order to rem
der themselves accomplished murderers in
time. Oh the whole, if the practice of
duelling continues to increase IN quantity
and malignity it has done for few Vars
past, every good man will have cause to
wish that the government of the United
States should adopt and enforce the cele-
brated declaration Of the great king ofPrus-
STA on the subject. "Ipermit my subjects"
said Frederick, "to fight but it is on this
express condition, that unless one be kill
ed. will infalli5ly hang both the comba-
tants."
But il such be the guilt and irrationslity
of the principals in duelllng, who have at
least pretexts, such as they are, to offer in
defence of their murderous practices, what
must be the moral condition of seconds
Of instigatcrs-of connivers, without profit
to tempt, or passions 10 stimulate them?
Prospecting the mystery Of seconds, "
says a celebrated satirical writer, who fou-
rished more thana century ago, 81 must al
low it TO be such masterpiece OF base
ness and absr.diiy, that no description can
reach it." These understrappers in mis-
chief and destruction, are such kind, impli-