The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-04-27
TIE CLUB OF ST. JAMIS'S.
From As Nse Monthly n gqsiae
ny AN orTuGFNARIAN.
FIGHTING FITZGERALD.


FIGHTING FITZGERALD.
Whilst on the subject of a sinister adj
mission to the Club, the writer canno
do better than relate the very singular
and whimsical manner IN which Mr.. Ar
thur Fitzgerald forced his way int
BrookeS's. This parsonage il, Is vel
known, though nearly related to one oI
the FIRST families in Ireland (Leinstor, ]
WIS publicly executed in the year 1886,
for il murder which he coolly prtmedi-
tatcd aud which he and others perpclra-
ted in "A most cruel and cowardIy man
ner. The fame, or rather inlamy,
which encircled his browS, from having
been the survivor in a great many du-
els, became At length tho cause Of the
most forociouS hanohtincss, and greatly
increased his oyerbcaring and quarrel
some disposition. Ills ducllmgpropcn-
sites, however, kept him out OF all the
! hfst clubs IN London, and rendered him
al once an object of terror and Of hatred /;
and, even when he was introduced at the
Court Of France, where single combat
was not SO much reprehendcd as in
Great Britain, the Young monarch (the
unfortunate Louis ANl.) conld not help
| showing his adherence OF professed
| dneIlist, by uucring most deserved
sarcasm ON Fitzgerald, and by refusing
10 admit him a second time to his lcvec.
The gentleman who introduced INN 0he
English AMBASSADOR having said, |
have the honour 10 introduce 10 your
Majesty, Mr.. Fitzgerald, an freshman,
Of high descent, who, in his time, has
successfully fought no less than eighteen
duels, and always killed his man : the
king replied, Monsieur lo Ambas,a-
deur, have read your famous English
history of Jack hc CiaDt- hiHcr and |
think II may be greatly improved by
adding this irlshman's life, by way Of
appendix. Let him retire = Ills ma
jesty further observed to the Ambassa-
dor, in the dnollist's hearing, that If Mr..
Fitzgerald showed a disposition TO quar-
rel with any of his subjects, he should
order him TO quit France in u hours
But, 10 avoid farther DEPRESSION, the
writer has 10 state, that Fitzgerald hay-
ing once applicdto Admiral keilh Stew
art to propose Inn rs candidate fol
Brookes's, and the worthy Admiral well
knowing that he must either 6eht ol
comply with his request, chose the lal-
ter alternative. Accordingly, on the
night in which the ballotling Wa To take
| place, (Which was only "A mere fom IN
tins case, for even Keith Stewart hlm-
self bad resolved 10 biack-baH him, tn,
ducIlisi accompanied the gallant Admit
raj 10 St. James's street, and waited in
the room below while The snilragcs were
taking, in order 10 know the issue.
The ballot was soon over, for with.
ont hesitation each member threw in q
| bl0ch-5dH and when the scrutiny took
place, the company were not liulo n
mazed to find not even one white on,
among the number. However, the
point Of rejection being carried nem
con. the grand affair now was, as /,
which Of the members had the hardi-
| hood 10 announce the same 10 the ex-
pectant candidate. No Que would un-
dertake the Office, for the announce
mcnt was sure 10 produce a challenge
and duel with fighting Fitzgerald had
III almost every case been fatal 10 his OPP
ponents. The general opinion, howrv-
er,was, that the proposer, A dmiral Stew
art, should convey the intelligence, and
that IN as genteel terms as possible. But
the Admiral, who was certainly on all
proper occasions very gallant officer,
was not inclined to 20 on any such en-
bassy. No, gentlemen said he, |
proposed the fellow, because knew
you would not admit blm bat | have
no inclination 10 risk my life against
dat Of mailman But, Admiral,
replied the Duke Of Devoushltc, there
being no Whitc-boH in the box, he must
know that you hive black-ballod him as
well as the rest, and he is sure to call
you ont, al all events This was po-
ser for the poor Admiral, who sat silent
for few seconds, amidst the half-sup-
pressed litter Of the members ;atlcngih,
Joining in the laugh against himself, he
exclaimed, Upon my soul pleasant
Job I've got into.-D-nlho fellow No
matter II wont 90 let the waiter
tell him that there vas one black ball
and that his name must be put up again
if he wishes it.'-This plan appeared 50
udicious, that all concurred in its pro-
pricty; accordingly, the waiter was in
few minutes, despatched on The mis-
sion.
In the mean time, Mr.. Fitzgerald
showed evident symptoms ofimpatlencC
at being kept 50 long from his deal
friends' above stairs and frequent,
rang the bell to know the state of thc
poll. On the first occasion, he thus ad
dressed the waiter, who answered hi,
summons, Come here, my tight little