Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-12-02


flung 1t on the table, the ground, which will not
absolutely affirm. broke it, and flung the hiit TO the
other end of the ROOM He exclaimed at this. took
nour Ming sword from Mr.. Ewart, and presenting him
with mine gave my honour that what had passed shond
never be mentioned by me, and lac might now right
himself again. He replied, that he 'wculd neyer draw
sword against the man who had given him his life'
but on his still cXcaiming against the inignity Of
breaking his sword, which he had brought upon himself
Mr. E"art offered him the pis u.s. and altcrca-
ton passed between them. Mr. Matthews said that
he could show bis face if known how bis
sword was broke; that such thing had never been
doDe-ttat II cancelled all obligations, &c.
You seemed To think it was wrong, and we both pro-
posed, that II he never tnisrcpresented the affair
should not be mentioned by then asked Mr. Ma
thews whether las lie had expressed himself sensible of
and shocked al the injustice aud ndignity hc had done
in his advertisements il did occur to him that he
owed me another saisfacton and that as IT was now
in ms power tn do il without dscrctlit supposed he
would no, hesitate. This he absoluel, refused unless
conditionai!y insisted it. and said would not
leave the room Till IL settled After much a,crca.
ton and with much i'll grace he gave tic apology which
afterwards appeared. We parted and returned i'm
mediater 10 Bath there, TO Co,uuo. Gonl,; Capain
Wade. Mr. Crcaser, and others mentioned the af,ir TO
ir. Mathews crcdit-sad that chance having given
INC the advantage, Mr.. Mathews had consented TO apo
osize, and mentioning nothing Of the sword MIR. Ma
thews came down, and in two days found the whole
affair had been stated in q different light aud insnua
tons given out To the purpose as in the paper
which has occasioncd this trouble. had un,oub cd
authority that these accounts proceeded from Mr. Ma
thews, and likewise that MIR Knight never had any
share IN t'em then thought no longer owed Mr..
Matthew's The compliment 10 conceal any circumstances
and related the affair 10 several gentlemen exactly as
above.
81 am your very humble servant.
"R. II. SHERIDAN.
"Itwas not ill Tuesday MOI ming the Young ladies At
Oath relieved from iicr suspense by the return of
the Two brothers, who entered evidently much fa,rued
not having been in bed since they left home and pro
dnccd Tic apology of Mr.. f.athews, which was instant
sent 10 Cruwc!l for insertion. 1t tho follow
! ing teru.s:---
being convinced that the EXPRESSIONS made usc or
10 Mr. SherddnS disadvantage, the effects Of Pas
sion and rnisr representation, retrac what have said 10
that geGcmans disadvantage. and particularly hcghis
Parcon for my advertisement in the Bith Chronicle.
"THOMAS MATTHEWS.n
'Niti the olo,Ir of this transaction fresh about him,
Alr Mathews retired TO his estate i'm W*les and as he
might have expected, found himself universally sbuD.
ned An apology may be according TO circumstances
either the roblest effort of rnanincss Tie last re-
source Of fear; and it evident from the reception
winch this gentlemen experienced every where that
HE 9rmer, al least was not the class 10 which his late
retracio1 had been referred. In this crisis OF his cha
racer a Mr. Barnett, " lao had but lately come 10 re-
side In his ncighbourhood, observing with pain the nor
tihca'ions to winch he was exposed, and perhaps think
ing em IN some degree, unmeriied, took upon him TO
urge earnestly the necessity of second mestine with
Sherdan as tic only of removing the stigma left
by the first and with degree of Irish frendness moi
forgotten in the portrait OF SIR Lucius C'Trcge, of
tered himself 10 he the bearer Of The challenge The
desperation OF persons in MIR. Mathews circumstances
Is IN general much fCnda Bile than the most &C.
knowi9dgcd v2onr, and may easily believe tbat il
was with no ordinary eagernoss lie accepted the propo
sal Of his ally and poceece,. with linn fniI oc on
t geancc, to Bath.
The account Of the duel which shall here .li,,oin
was drawn up some months after, 10y al" aecond Of Mr.
Mathews, and dcposiicdi in the hands OF Captain Wadc
The master o! the ceremonies. Though somewhat par
tally coioured. and according hir. SlCrdans re.
marks upon III incorrect IN particulars 1t is: upon
the whole re!aps accurate saicnar! as could he
expected.
Copy paper left by Mr.. Barnet in the hands OF
Capt. William Wade, master of the ceremonies NJ
oath.
Son quitting our ciaises at The Top of King down
entered into conversation with Capt. Paumicr rci;
tiVc 10 some pren'narics thought ought be settled
IN an affair which likely 10 end very scr)usIy.
particularly the method Of using their pistols which
Mr. Matthews had repeatedly ssnied his desire to us
prior &c swords from conviction that ~. Sheridan
would run IN on bun. and an ungcutlcmanIiEc scuElc
probaty be the consequence. This, howey, vas rels
ed 5r MIR. Sheridan, declaring lie had no pistols Cac
Paumier replied, he had brace fwB IA knew wero
oa'cd) BY my advice, Mr. Matthew's were n Il load
ed, as imagined II was always customary to load or
The heid, winch mentioned 10 Captain Pau.cr at the
White Hart before went out and desired he Womb
draw his pistols lie replied, they were already load
ed and they going public road that time Of tl.
morning, lie might well let them remain so till we got
TO tic place appointed when hc would his honour
draw them, which cOUTiuced he would have dane
bad there been time; but Mr. Sheridan imtne5a.oIy
drew his sword, ard in Wanting manner desired Mr.
Matthews TO draw (tbeir ground very uneven and
near The post chascs) MIR. Mathews drew Mr. She
rdan advanced on him at first MIR. Mathews in turn
advanced fast on Mr. Sheridan: upon hch he retreat.
Cd, till he very suddenly ran in upon Mr.. Mathews Law
ing himself exceedingly open. and cndeavorug 10 get
hold of Mr. Mathews's sword; Mr.. Mathews received
him on his point, and believe dsengaged his sword
from MIR. Sheriians body and cras him ,vo,
which suppose must have been either against one of
his ribs or his breast bone his sword broke which
Imagine happened from the resistance il met with from
orc Of those parts but whether was broke from that
or on the closing, cannot aver
"'Mr Mathews, think, on finding lIs sword broke
laId hold OF Nj Shcrdans sword arm, and lripped IN
lis heels; they both fell; Mr.. Mathews was uppermo5;
with the hilt Of his sword in his hand having about six
or seven inches OF The blade 10 it, with which saw him
give Mr. Sheridan, as imagined, skin wound or tgo
IN tue neck. for il could be more the remaining mar
o the sword being broad and blunt; he also beat him
~ the ACE either with his fst the l OF his sword
Upon this Turned from them, and asked Captain Pan
iner II VIC should not take t'.em ut; but cannot say
whether be beard inc or not, there was good deal
o noise; however, lie made reply. ! again turned
to thc combatants, who much in the same stua.
f.g.