Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-05-26

WAS put 10 these ieuds, characterized by |
all an;mosiiy less 10 be admired than The |
enmiiy of open warfare, but almost equal" i
~ fatal IN lis consequences. MAT. lac.
THURSDAY EVENING, May Is. 1870.
GENTLEMAN 1 have observed, With pain, |
a paragraph in Lans's Gazette OF the 18th. re-
ce,vsd this morning, purpor,ing TO be am ex-
tract from the Louden Courier, ia which il is
al,eg ed F" that the Governor of Gibraltar had
suggested To the commander OF tie American
squadron the propriety OF our vessels of war
not enteriu. that port and that this ptopUsi-
ton had heen acced.1 20 by Captain Brown,
IN consequence of tie Increased animosity be-
tween the 9th regime ut and tine officers of
the American squadron" The Courier is well
known TO he in the hands oil the BRUSH mill
isiry, aud whatever appears there, of IA ma
iioual or political character, is Considered as
almost official. IL is paper from which
some editors i6 this country quote with "a
peculiar eagerness. aud in the oraclIs of which
some readers. and American readers too hold
u merit To place an implicit faith. Whe-
HER this paragraph originated with the OH.
GERS AT Gibraltar, tue ministry at home, or
the editor of the Courier. il may safely be de.
nonnced as false aud malicious upon the au-
thori'y of the following statement OF facts
They are derived irsm mo ne slionabe autho-
mtg, and were transmitted Il this country
by an cid resident at Gibraltar " eli acouaint-
ed with all the parties, aud u gentleman Of
superior intelligence and teIiirg integrity.
Lieutenant Downing. OF tie GnerrieIe, Lad
Deeu tried by court martial, on charges fuun-
died. urona complaint of 1t. Smith of the "a ,h
regiment, aud acquitted, aud restored TO du-
~ by Commodore Stewart. Soon after the
Fras Kiln sailed, Lieutenant De- v MIN, accou,-
panied by his friend, Lieutenant Griffin Of
the Peacock, went on shore, in uniform and
10 Tie iness-houSe OF The 9th, for the purpose
OF giving notice io the officers OF that tcgi-
ment low improperly Lieutenant Smith had
conducted towards him, both before and al
the court martial. This is The only prsctica-
BILE mode in Gibraltar of posting or publish
ing Am English officer, aud il has been AMI
fotmly adopted, and without offence TO any
other than the particuIar officer denounced
he regiment was on parase. and Downing
and Griffin found only two capt aims OF the u ill.,
10 whom The object Of the visS WAS made
known. Downing said that Smith had behay
Ell unlike man OF spirit or honor, in max
iiig personal controversy, which lie had
promised should lie privately adjusted a sub
Ject OF public complaint and Judicial investi-
gatIon; that he did not consider him. nor
should he ueatkn, as au os:.cer or "a gem
tieman, Tor he had perjuTed himself a. wit
ness on the trial of his own complaint, The
captains requested that this communication
should be made TO Smith himself and an effort
was made by Griffin TO bring him TO the mess
house, bat he WAS on post ut tie Ragged Staff
and could not or would not leave il. He was
told a message would be left there for him
anu Griffin returned IL his friend and the cap
tains, and said that Lieutenant Smith could
not leave his post. Downing then requested
the captains TO make known TO Smith parlicu-
"A he
had said, aud added. that If Smith belonged 10
the american army or navy he would not be
allowed to disgrace il another day They
were received and treated by these captains
WIN the greatest courtesy, and parted on DO.
he terms: Downing aud Griffin took turn
or Two 10 look at The regiment, and soon after
went on board their ships.
ihe "eNtno'nng: Captain Brown Tin the
temporary command of the sQuadrou) receiy.
ed despatch from Gov. Don. coniaiuin- a
,cter iron, COone! Henry, OFF The 9Th. COM
p'tIniHr taGt Doanin2 had becn seen on sboyc
and OF ~ arrest. The Governor stated that
ne had not been advised OF the result of thar
trial. aud Therefore should bid Lieutenant
Dnwr'Us's being admitted TO garrison. Can
taiu Brown replied, that Downing had been
restored to duty by Commodore Stewart, pur-
shaht 10 The sentence OF court martial and
he conld not think ii just TO forbid his enter
ing the garrison merely because lie had appearcd
there out 81 arrest. The Governor reiciued il
was MOI on that account alone, bat because he
endangered the peace Of me garrison and
isisied Ca ptai" r. la order ID ,.ut 10 eifter II.
and this HaS done.
After Downing had been restricted in this
manner TWO days, and the fact was generally
known on shore, Lieut.. Shea OF the 27ih CAM.
on board the Guerrero, aud delivered Down
ing challenge from smith. This was refos-
| cd, BY the advice of D's friends that Smith
had forfeited his claim 10 the character of :,
gentleman by the conduct meutionen hnt
silica WAS assured that il aay friend of Smiths
would espouse his quarrel. he should lie ar-
commodated. Shea said he had not come 10
usbt tor Smith; that lie was esteemed I'm The
regiment as a gentleman and a brave man
aud able 10 fight his battles. This visit Was
re9e.ted the next day, aud HE day after AMI
nea'iy me same conversations took place
ht the SECOND interview, Shea said jha,
Smith $ conduct was approved bv General Don
ana tue regiment, aud at the third threatened
DOWNING with consequences, i4itiDIatipg that
10 would be published or posted. Still ID. re.
iHSed To meet Smith or acknowledge him as a
gentleman. When Shea had left the slim Ibp
last time, Lieutenant D said, in Down
ing S presence, that lie had 40 better ouinion
OF smith than he had. but, as he appeared 10
bc held gentleman hy tl.s .ifice rs about him
he world fight him himself sooner than have y
newspaper war about such All affair Down.
ing SAID, II 9ny gentleman would fight smith
ne was hound To do so, and, against the adj
wee OF all his other friends, sent Griffin to
Snea 10 inquire II Smith bad Il trit nd who yvas
willing IN Ibis case 10 fight for him, and if
there should lac none, TO say Downing would
meet smith l!mself.
They accordingly met tlIat afternoon AZ q
O'Clock, on the neutral ground aud y chaug.
ca three shots Downing striku. every fite
twice slightly, and ouce veIy severely: SmitI,
missed every shot. Here we're a number of
soldiers and citizens, and more than a dozen
British officers. present at this meeting and
III was known 10 every regiment IN the earri-
son 10 be about 90 lake place Downinsr and
MS attehddnSsP speak III terms of high conimen,
udtiOn OF lie conduct OF their antagonists on
the ground, aud especially IF the assistance
rendered them by The officers in passing and
rIepasSins their guards aud seutries TO regain
their boat.
Upon lis result, The Governor interdicted
all intercourse betwiXt the squadron aud the
garrison: THIS was submitted 10 10y the Ame-
ilc5h ohicerS, without complaint, aud by them
u was most scrupnlously observed. With re-
gard TO them, 100. il was enforced by the
Governor with the military ligour of "A place
beSieged. IL the commander Oi The squadron
wiSue" 10 communicate with the navy agent
or the consul OF his government al Gibraltar
ne mus row to the wafer port gate and report
himself TO the Inspector OF strane ers, and Ie-
que" permission To enter, the Inspector reports
the apPhcatiou TO the town maJOf, whose of
nee IS uear two miles distant tile town ma