Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-24


mode consonant To the sensitive. feeling OF
gentlemen. To tn. aid of each, in the cha
racter oil seconds, the yassals were frequently
summoned. Contests which had their origin
I'm disputes between two indi,i duals, not un-
frequently involved At last numbers, i'm all the
Consequences of strife and destruction
With the virtuous intention of suppressing
these private wars, coniinued in defiance orihr
laws of the land, chivalry was Instituted with
several orders al Knights.
These associations Were formed for thu.
purpose of restoring order sgreeably To the
iaw of awarding Justice by the constituted a,-
thorities-of carrying into execution the de-
clsions of the courts--Of preventing violence.
and protecting the defenceless. But unhap-
pity, these societies, organized for purposes
wise and humane, did not long continue to he
governed by the principles proftssed to b.
the soul at their existence. Pariialties form
ed by one Knight for persons and families,
towards whom, another INDUCED sentiments
Of emily, produced collision between breth-
rem of the same fraternity.
Their dress WAS armour, their daily business
war; To descend from the high e,ninence
on which they stood, to the humble court of
civil rights, WAS beneath that dignity which
they were sacredly pledged to maintain
The field of honor and the test of arms were
the only tribunal to which they, in consis,ence
with their characters, could resort. Regular
rules were established for conducting these
duels by challenge and acceptance. Many or
these contentious grew out of circumstances
nightly calculated To confer honor upon the
advenfurcr and perpeiuate the association of
ideas which connected the character of the
gentleman, with the title of duellist
The objects which most frequently con.ti-
t"ted the subjects of contest, were defence
less females-too frequently the being who
was anxiously protected, vigorously and brave
iy defended by one party, was an object pur-
suedb the other, stimulated by all the force
OF savage passion To he avenged for som. ina
ginary insult.
Asrerably to the laws of chivalry, the
Knight who became the champion, at once
took upon himself all responsibility in the cha.
racter OF representative. To him every -
nemy waste look for ed ess--hr stood plrJy
ed To MAINTAIN al arms. his every pretension-
with the event of the day nf hattie, terInina.
ed all hostility--the timid and dpfrnceless
being who had lived in fearful apprehension
ot savage violence from ruthless foe, was
rendered safe and secure. Is il thea "a matter
OF surprise that even at this day. when under
the saluiary influence of wise laws regularly
executed, when all necessity for those appeals
Ia arms which unharpily existed has passed
away, that we still find the softer poriinn of
our race formed by Heaven, for spreading the
mantle oi peace over th. jarring elements nf
harsber compound, giving coun,enance TO
this sanguinary practice?
In proportion io the advancement Of civil.
iZhtion, IN consequence of the diffusion Of
knowledge, the laws of social life berame bet
ter understandable ties which bind man 10
habits Of peace were sirengihenrd-and the
military spirit, if such it can be called, which
so long disturbed the public tranquility, gave
place To the rule of equitable laws. This ap-
plies however, only as a charat tcristic of the
great body of society To which there existed
tween Barons, accompanied hy their vassaIs,
had ceased as early as the end ofthe eleventh
century. The spirit of Knghihnod continued
10 shed its influence on the wealthy orders of
men To much later period. In the reign of
Henry i. of England, we find this practice of
private dnels producing evils sufficiently great
to require the inierpusitiOD of Legislative an
th"rlty far lis suppression. Such however,
was the effect which long habit had produced
IN iIvefing the mind to the standard nf fashion,
that numerous petitions were presented pray
ing that the parties might still he permitted 10
decide their quarrels by private battle. The
wise policy of England was adopted by Louis
7ihof France. Denmark, Germany and MANY
of the smaller Kingdoms Of Europe found it
imperlously necessary to pursue SIMILAR
course IN order to put stop 10 "A practice
winch was daily proving destructive IN valua-
ble SUBJECTS, and filling with gloom, sorrow
and Indebtedness, hdbitations lately the a
bode of peace. These wise and prudent a
doptions banishrd almost entirely from the
kingdoms, where they were carried into ex-
ecuiion. the disastrous evil.
Unfortunately for the world, during The con-
test brtween Francis |. King of France, and
Charles V. Emperor ofGermany 10 attempt
ing TO effect suspension Of h0stilities, -
personal alteration having arisen between
these Monarchs, challenge was gwen and
accepted Notwithstanding il was never
carried into effect, such was the influence
at royal example, that duelling soon became
the regning fashion of the day under the in
flnence of this mania, SD far from evincing any
disposition To avoid contests of this nature.
preiexis were drsiSnedy made and opportu-
mites diligently sought, To produce AN appeal
To arms
IL was deemed an essential requisite 10 the
character Of man of fashion. TO the pow
or of example given by incumbents on the
throne, was added AN influence more efficient
than the charter of royalty itself. The re-
preventative descendants Of Heavens last best
work those whose applauding smiles wave
reslstless sceptrr aver the mind 0f every
man, "ho is attacbpd TO life and TO honor, by
one remaining lie; whose frowns consigu
him Ia pitlless exile, more intoerabe than ST.
berIan banIshment- gave their support TO
this example: An inpeIIing force Of sbch
power soon diffused This destructive fashion,
again over the rest Of Europe. Such were its
dreadful effects in France, 1T period too,
when the fame of that kingdom for letters,
arts, science and civilization had,nevcr been