The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-10-23

he still remained as if waiting for his
stamp, and Immediately placarded him
on the court house. in the following
terms: "GreenUilie, 5fh Sef.t. 1899
"Mr. George McDuffie having virtu-
ally denied me tive satisfaction demanded
OF him, and which he promised 20 give,
pronounce him an eq1rpocafing scoun-
DIR ct and base coward.
WILLIAM CUMMING.
When this gentleman is called cow
ard, his frs, thought is always of his ink
stand; accordingly one or two hours af-
rer. he placed under nv posting the
following precious handful, OF which
would not have altered single word,
had been admitted to consultation
with the evil genius by whom it was in
spired.
81 gratuitously offered col. Cumming
the satisfaction due to gentleman, When
in the estimation ofthe whole community
he was disgraced and unworthy o. no.
tice. Iappointed . day and place and
forewarned him 1 would meet him on no
other. He actually refused to meet me,
seeking under false prctences, to obtain
/
am perfectly convinced, that from inqui-
| ries, which no gentleman would make, he
ascertained my mode Of shooting and
therefore refused TO meet me until he
could obtain further time to practice. |
have seen col. Cumming on the ground
of combat, bracing his cowardiy nerves
by artificial s,imulants. know him to
be coward, who has been driven only by
desperation to the course he has pursu.
ed; and am satisfied that he will not meet
any man unless he supposes he has de-
cided advantage in the contest
GEORGE McDUFFIE."
| What sublime of impotence must
that man have attained, who ventures to
talk in this manner of public opinion,
when for more than two months he has
been the subject of general derision +;
when his lutcs,ring doublet, his ground
shot and mastery righta6ont face have
been the commonjest of streets and high
ways. One scarcely knows whether to
be most astonished, or diverted, wher
such fellow, with infamy and ridicule
at his heels, can gravely assure his fellow
| citizens that in the opinion of the whole
community, his adversary is disgracet
and unworthy of notice. There are some
ialsehoods which il would be almost a:
ridiculous TO coBiradics~as to Tell. -
He says that public sentiment did no
require and even forbade the acceptance
Of my challenge that he offered me sa
tlsfaclion graluitously. What then wa
mis- motive 4? it was the pure love o
fighting--bioody minded savage how
did escape him f! or are we to believe
that the courteous Nj. McDuife was in
| fluenc,d simply by disposition TO obiig'
me He has probably tried more, aDt
much rougher experiments on the popu
lar throat than ever | did; but he Ger
tainiy overrates his capacity, if he ex
poets such absurdi;ies to be swallowed
Before passed HIM through my hands
the only fault imputed to his courage Wa
t It's fiery and uncomfortable spirit Eve
, ry body knows that after his iaauspiciou
/, rencontre,the public was at frst astouDd
/, ed at the pathos of his catastrophe. BIZ
D in short time the multitude laughed {
him his enemies eXulled over him; an
J., his graver friends lamented that so Iii
. tinguished hero ON trust, should eve
: have been subjected to the cruelty o!
e trial. A few adherents more zealo,
is and sangaine, still hoped that foriur
: alone had been to- blame, and IT they d
is not feel, at least affected sincere pie
], sure, when | presented their chatppiC
IS with all opportunity Of mending his gras
a However,let the world say what II Wi
!, Mr.. M'Dufiie is "satisied that will n
a meet any man unless l suppose ! have
n decided advantage" Other persons 10
ID not be quite so easily satisfied, and
lie will do them particular seryice,by sho
IS, ing what advantage possessed on the
u. of June, or could expect to possess on
id 9Th of September. Hitherto, he has +
to even pretended to state one.
IT. He is "perfect!y convinced that fr'
ne enquiries which no gentleman wo'
an make, ascertained his mode OF shooti
,r. and refused 70 meet him until could
tain further time to practice" My
no notion Of this passage was derived fr
IN our negotiation concerning terms.
IN had refused his assent to provision
inv IneIther horty should make any moven
os. calculated TO eUade tie fire ofhis anf
ha- onist. presumed therefore that he
led been practising har!enquiD tricks, Tor
Ii,v conservation Of his wholesome new {
lis. slve twist, or infaIlibIe dodge, which
file feared had been betrayed But j.
Oh. pears in his last publication, that NO
lat. Carolina magistrrte informed me oil
TIA. accurate shooting, and in answer 4
nj inquiry on the subject, had replied tina