Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1820-04-01
From the Metropolitan.
Georgetown, March @

=
The Duei.-Yesterday morning "a
duel was fought between Commodore
Decatur and Barron, which has termi.
mated, we fear, in the marital wound of
the former, while the latter was Sc,
yerely but not dangerously injured
The ball having struck his hip and
glanced, was all that saved him, howe
yer, FROM the like unhappy fate ofhis
antagonist. Cnmmodore Decatur was
supported by Commodore Rogers, in
whose arms he was sustained from The
hattie ground to his residence. I'm.
inense crowds Of persons were around
the house Of Com. ID during the day,
acquiring after the state of his wound,
and the probability Of his recovery
An event Of this kind was so uuex.
pected, and its unhappy termination
burst upon us SO suddenly, that it has
oceasioned no Uncomfortable degree of
agitation in our metropolis. 1t GER
fainly was managed with II secrecy
which would have hidden defiance 10
the most vi2iIant police.-Of all The
particulars relating to this mechanically
affair, we have not been informed; the
distance is stated at eight PAGES and
that both were wounded at the first fire
As TO the certainty of the origin of this
dispute, we are mt fully acquainted:
II Is said that Com. Barron had de-
manded to be restored to his rank and
emoluments; it appeared however that
some representations had been made TO
the Department relative to his absence
from this country during the war, or
An other words that his absence was
voluntary; which representations he
supposed 10 have come thr.ush Com
ID This, together with some remarks
INDUCED in by that gentleman, was
the occasion of this mourniui catastro-
phe.
We should feel deep regret at the
loss OF Commodore Decatur; it was ne
whs gave that additional iustre to the
star spangted banner. which has made
II sbiee SO gleriousiy.-lt was uuder
his command the second naval victory
over England was achieved, which
gave confirmation Of our superior skill
Al seamanship, aud our determination
to beat tie British, s'man for man, gan
.jor gun" Com Barron has not been
90 fortunate; but we do nut believe
that had the same opportunities offered
ne would have been less worthy. The
surprise and indecisios which he eyiu-
eed when the attack was made on the
Chesapeake, and which left him in
doubt how to act on the occasion, has
never ne believe, by his worst enemies
been imputed to cowardice; and we do
not hesitate To say, that in the whole
business he has been ,oToRged and in
cured man. The whole navy admits
him to be a frst-rate seaman, an in
telIisent and accomplished gentleman,
why then has his restoration to his
former hnDors been so long delayed?
There seems to be disposition in our
country to crush the unfortunGts, what
ever may be their talents or merit.
The case Of Com Decatur was at
tended from the fist with thpse alarm
ing symptoms which Indicate ap
preaching dissolution, vomiting Of
blood, hickup, &c. The sympathy
this moarnful tragedy has occasioued,
Is indiscribable. Mrs. Decatur was
in an agony of despair. What con-
ISOLATION can be offered to this very emi
able lady in her grief
The assassination of the Duke Of
Berri is looked upon by many as preg
nant with great political turmoil, and
as the acf Of some Brutus, who had
rather "Cesar Were dead, and line all
.5reensn," FOR oar part, we are rathe,
disposed 70 view il as the deed of some
poor phreuzied wretch, who acted
from the impulse Of the instant, with
out looking 20 Consequences. It is ex-
trenely unlikely that If it had been an
aharr where conspiratOrs were engaged,
the ASSASSIN should have disclosed so
frankly his view and intentions. The
BoDrbops have indeed been an unfortu-
nate, nay, II petseeHted race, whether
justly or not, time has not yet fully
Determined Tbe gDillotine robbed
Levi XVI Of his life; the knife of The
execu;ioper robbed the Dake Of Bsrri
Of his. How long the present Lewis
Buurb n, AMI the last we believe OF all
that unhappy name, Will he free from
dagsers or d.throDcmeni, who will
pretend TO tell? metropolitan.
Mr.. CHARLES NICHOLAS, late
Clerk in Tie 81, S. E nix at p,iiiadel.
~IhIa. has besG appointed (bv the mo-