Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-02
nation, on your own "e.elusive r esp.

,ation. on YOUR own aexclusive respohsi''h'y'
O decline acceding to the use OF rines
Without pretending 10 be skilled IN inc ru'e1
" which contests Of this kind are regu'a'eu'
nus, say. tina, have always understooa a"u ~
ieved n 10 be the undoubted right OF '"e P".tE
challenged. to name the weaponst 10 DC u'eu' "e
lime when. and the place where, ana me mo"
,er in which, the affair should be eonoue.ea'
In this case. Mr.. McDuffie has req"es'e d"
with General Metcalte IN inc u.ua'
terms. and unconditional, and without meh''o",
ing any disability, AS such, II was a"Ie
by General Metca.Ge, without kno"ieose VI
such disability as that which you en'e -,
lieving that he would have the right VI ~.
ms ,bc forms He owes il 10 himself, ana 10
his family, 10 insis, upon the riSh' o' na'
the weapons, and this right cannon oe ''e'G.n'
abstain from making any other propoS,'io"
than what is contained in.the terms n"'e ~ r..
tofore furnished YOU with, because you say, az
mentioning the disability OF Mr.. McDu','''
"were no, this disability Of my friend conciu'
"sive and snfficien, objection, other eohslae'a'
",ions would decide me TO decline the proposal.
"They res, on the known and approved grou
"of The sentiment and usage which have assign
"ed the pistol as the appropriate weapon LOT
"lhe decision of Jntroyersies oil lhls cnarao'ei'
Switch admits Of an entire equality IN all re-
aspects" -,
The known dex,erity Of Mr.. McDuGie in the
use of the pistol. and General Me,calie's en'ire
want Of it, having never fired one hall dozen
times in his life, would, as am persuaded you
will readily perceive, make the contest oe'"ee"
them, with such weapons, altogether unequal.
Had YOU not stated your objection IN such
terms as to exclude the use OF all weapons e1'
cent pis,ols. Gen. Metcalfe would, without ad-
hitting the rife 10 he an improper one, nave
proposed the broad sword, and thereby nave
manifested additional evidence OF his sincerity
10 afford the interview which has been request
ed
In conclusion, must say, that General Met
calre, being the party challenged, denies 10 .Mr'
McDuffie the right to insist on the use Vi '"e
pistol.
With great respect, have the honor to be,
your obedient servant, JAo' NLAnhH
Major ]. Hamilton.
WAsHlscrox, hnif past lc o'clock, P. NJ
February u, 1927
SIR: Your communication OF this morning
has Just reached me.
| Having taken, on my own responsibility, ths
grounds on which | thought properIo deciihe
the acceptance Of the proposal OF Gen Met
calGe, to use rifles in the adjustment OF his alter
cation with Mr. MoDufie. l have nothing &c
add 10 my letter Of yesterday, except TO tnrnist
YOU with an explanation of what mean, whe'
/ saw that ga pistol admits of an entire equality
in all respects"
II is bri. hy this: That l am willing that m.
friend should meet yours, either with one PTS
toll, or Two, al any distance, from twenty pace
10 one pace, TO fire in any time, from one Sc
cond to twenty minutes, and in mode which
on the solemn obligations Of my honor, vii
engage ,hai. my friend has never practised, Q
! fbca&ht ~ e1n1re' want Oft, having never FIRE.
one half dozen times in his life, would, as
am persuaded you will readily perceive, max
the contest between them, with such weapons
altogelhe unequal"
The argument which you here urge, in be
half Of your friend, applies with equal force ,t
mine, who, believe, never fred rife in hi,
| life
But the grounds have previously assumed
render all discussion on this point superAuous
and itmerely remains for me to say, that any
skill which may have been attributed to him five
years ago, though at that time absurd!y exag
eerated, may, with equal justice, be supposed
TO have been lost, from the fact Of his moi hav.
"S p'oSNSSN oiHS', VI CNSu udu piStUl III his
hands for two. And moreover deem it impor-
tant that you should know, that such has been
my desire that the utmost equality should BE-
reached in the expected combat between Gen.
Metcalfe and Mr. McDrffie. that the pistols
with which he would have fought, are yet in my
possession, nor would he have touched one,
until had ascertained from you, whether you
desired that the parties should have gone out
without the exercise even Of a preliminary shot.
have the honor TO remain, very respectful
iy, your obedient servant
J. HAMILTON, Jun.
Hon. JAMES CLARKE.
WASHINGTON CITY, FEB 2Sth, 1927.
SIR: have received your commune alton, in
to mine of yesterday, in which you give
an explanation OF what you meant in your for
mer note, when you said "a pistol admits of an
entire equality in all respects
That you believe that the medc alluded 10,
by you, would, in the use Of pistols, produce
such equality, | do not doubt. Whether the
assertion be correct or not, is not now needful
to be determined: But, if correct, is i, not ap-
parent, thst the use Of rifles may be made, in
every respect, as equal? 10 effect this, let each
OF the combatants, who may think proper to
use II, have prop, on which TO place his rife,
which, by riflemen, is commonly called rest.
!, therefore, for General Metcalfe, make this as