Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-11
THE DUEL.

" In my travels through life, have often
been convinced of the uncertainty OF mans
calculations, and of the reverses Of fortune,
which are certain to attend him. And the i'll
cidcnts that l witnessed whilst at Leghorn,
have proved, that the hopes, the prosperity,
and even the Joys of mankind, are as cvanes-
cent as vapour; and that whilst we possess
warm attachment TO principles inculcated Ly
false education, the moment hat We Try them,
we revolt, and turn fiom thes, with anguish"
NojkOuse's Letters from Greece.
AZ the close of the year 1924, Oh Il dark
and chilly night in December, post-chaisc
stopped at the door of the Franklin House,
Providence, then kept by Mr. Eorat:o Eakc;---
and the postlion jumping from his box, in a
tone of thunder, yocfcrated FOR the landlord;
and whilst waiting for reply, he was heard
to mutter an oath, and curse the cold blpGts-of
a northern winter, which had already impress
cd indeliblo evidences of their existence, on
the long and slab-sided nasal organ Of tic
luckless knight Of the whip and curry~comb.-
1t was past twelve O'Clock, and according 70
the we'll calculated rule; OF TIE house, the doors
;yere clnseI those Nho hang around bar
room in winters night, had proceeded home; +;
and the inmates of the dwelling, weary with
the cares and fatgucs of the day, had yielded
themselves up to the dullness and norbdness
Of the midnight monarch. IL was in vain that
the postillion beloved, and rang theIbe, for
no entrance was to be had; and as he stood
shivering in the wind, lie knew not what to
other hotel; when the occupants of the car
riagc, who had not until that moment awoke
from gentle sleep, demanded OF the postllion
the reason of his standing still, and the why
and the wherefore lie did not enter the hotel
The driver, in very few words, told his
story; said that the doors were closed, and he
could not gain adnAttGncc, and suggested to
his master the propr!e'y oi ,hclr repairing 10
some other house Of entertainment. II do
that, said the inmate of the carriage, may l
never have the command Of a slp again, or
the rank Of Captain in the service Of my
counry;--n no, may Neptune visit me with
his iro ifl stir inch from this house 20 night -
so open the door coachco, and I'll soon make
way for all entrance; II! board the rasca!s, in
less time than 'twouid take 10 strap dead
eye. The door Of the carriage was hardly
thrown OPEN, when ogt Jumped the inmates,
and commenced an assault and battery on the
closed doors Of the hotel.
The one was apparently about the ago Of
sixty; he was clad in the undrcss costume of
an olnccr OF the United States Navy, over
which was thrown drab pea-jackot and
camblct cloak; and the button that glittercd
on his coar,as the last rars Of the glin.merng |
lamp shona upon it, bespoA him 10 b. u man
Of some cminencc and distinction, who had
conquered less hescts than enemies, and whose |
days had been spent, in opposing the enemies
of the republic, and Ike pillows of the ocean
His sinister LEG, was made of timber; and
though il was not on most Occasions very
uscful m. mhcr, in cases Of assault and battery,
il had "a thousand times performed wonders,
and prcs,ra,cd the opposing party. The 9TH
or Gentleman, was also, u nautical command |
or; some years younger than his companion,
but unlike his travelling friend, lac belonged to
the service orhis Britannia Majesty, and wore
upon his bosom the insignia ofSi' George lie
toe, had los; member, and as his cloak Few
from h. shoulder. it discovered the stump OF
n arm, the useful part of which had been lost
at Trafal gar or Cape 81. Vincent But lew
words passed between the parties but what
were n;crlarded with cJaculaiions oi proiani-
ty; and whilst the one, rayod at the slumber-
inc landlord. the other vented his Indignation
byraying at the winds of mid-win,cr' which
chilled his porsor and reminded him Of those
d,v. toll and trouble which he had witnessed
whist traycrsng the pathlcss ocean.
The veterans and rostll'oni were uuccasing