Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-05-30

DiiuS mile 10 TIE Held against tDem. L
claim the right, as the party assailed, to
select my antagonist | take the com.
mander Of your regiment, Colonel NJ
Combe now bring him TO the field as
soon as you please | am ready TO meet
him Oh your Own terms.-This was OBJ
jected 10, because M'Combe was an old
man, and man Of family.
The reply was, he is not an old man,
and you have paid no regard TO me, gen.
tlemeD, as man of family. Lieut.. Cor
don, in point Of rank, now claimed Dick
Z sou for his opponent, and Lieut.. DulaDy
rendered his services to Johnson both al
two PAGES, or two inches, and as soon as
they liked. The English officers were
not prepared for this overture they
could not accede to it; they would com
munieate it to the officers OF the Gath, aud
return Immediately With the result be-
fore noon they left the ship, and did not
return during that day. Captain Brown
was ignorant of this transaction on board
the Gaers.ese, but, as an evidence OF his
own pacific disposition, he ordered that
ship and the brig Spark to sea, remaining
in the Peacock alone. The Guerrero
got under weigh 10 the morning, but was
becalmed under the Algeziras shore till II
5 o'clock, where she was visited by an
American gentleman, aud many of these
facts were ascertained. Capt Thompson
aud his officers we're surprised that John
son had neither returned nor commune
Gated with them upon their proposals.
This gentleman brought letter from
Capt. I. to Col. Nc Combe, advising
him Of all that had transpired /; disclaiming
again the feelings aud wishes imputed to
him giving him notice Of the selection
he had made of an antagonist, and making
him the guardian of his good name during
an absence he could not avoid. He also
brought letter from Downing to johnson,
acknowledging his polite remembrance of
him the day before, and promising a
more just return to his good manners when
he should get back TO Gibraltar.
The triumphant civilizations and hearty
congratulations and shaking Of hands thai
ensued upon the sailing of the Guerrero
never was paraleled in the streets OF Glib
raltar-- Trafalgar and Waterloo induced
no such excitement or citation. Colonies,
majors, captains, suhalterus, non-comnis-
stoned officers, musicians, priyates, and
civilians, great aud small, were grouped
at corners of streets, upon side walks, in
shops, in basement entries, any where,
every where, all ENDURING, do you know
the Guerriere's of, aud do you know the
reason? Her officers have all been chaI
lenged 10 fight at two PAGES, aud she's off |!
1t was now discovered that the "war'
was not confined to the Gath, but was I'M
dertaken and carried on by all the un-
married officers of the garrison, amounting
to two hundred. These gentlemen enter
ed into combination to call out all the
officers of the Guerrero, and all Of the
squadron, should it prove necessary
They resolved to begin with Thompson
and Downing to fight at two PAGES, to
begin as soon as possible, and to cast lots
for who should begin. The majors threw
for Thompson, and Dickson of the Gath
won it; the captains for Downing, and
johnson of the Gath was lucky enough to
get it.
A remark upon General Don's Conduct
may not be deemed impertinent. At his
instance, Downing was restrained 10 his
liberty, aud as soon as this is well under
stood, one of the generals officers seeks
him within his limits, and provokes him
TO leave them. Another lieutenant OF his
meets and fights him, aud gets severely
wounded. Twenty British officers and
soldiers are present, and openly assist
him in repassing their sentries TO regain
his boat.
Under non-interconrse Of great rigoE
betwixt the squadron aud the shore, a
captain aud surgeon of the generals are
allowed to pass and repass their sentries
from the garrison to the Guerrero, and
upon errands of Kindness and amity like
that to Captain Thompson. All this, how
ever, might be endured but that Gov.
Don, at his time of life, and in the post
he holds, should so far enter into these
controversies as TO complain to his gov
eminent 10 terms of bitter reproach against
the conduct of the American officers, bis
guests in degree, and at the same time
overlook entirely the outrageous. bullying,
and disobedient conduct Of his own, is
straDge-but, am sorry to say, as true.
A notorious combination of 200 officers, 10
a garrison not 5000 strong, has been en-
tered INTO for the purpose Of trying to
kill captain aud four lieutenants, in the
naval service Of a friendly state. This
end might have been achieved, and was
almost begun, aud failed from no unwil-
lingness Oh tbepart Of the captain aud his
lieutenanis to try the issue. This COM
bination is boosted Of as a noble and gal