Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-10
MISCELLANEOUS.

presence OF tive hundred spectators.
at was z lorious morning in September; the
sun shining strong, but the ar rather cold. Bate
man, who was the first man that put pistol
into my hand, asked to 90 with HIM to tho
ground merely, as he SAID, that might the
sport.
"Thcy old stagcrs, prime shots and Uamc
TO the backbone. One of the two, however, Kill
goblin, was the most famed for the pistol; and had
never gone out without knocking down, or at
least winging his man. They well knew each 9th
ers powers, and that made them less disposed to
an accommodation, which might be attributed TO
wrong motives. Besides from the nature Of tho
quarrel as IT was taken up by the appellant, it
could not but have serious result to one or both
of the parties.
1.-The knight was rough, rather coarse ruddy
comploXlonCd man, about forty, with scar under
his eye, which lie got in Il sculle with cavalry
officer, III the pump room at Bath Beau Bateman,
as he was called, from his peculiar STYLE of dress
was tall handsome fellow, evidently Younger than
his antagonist, full of gaicty and good humor and
remarkable for that propensity to Joke which is
much the characteristic of countrymen.
earnestly observed his countcnance when we met
in the morning, but all was calm and steady; his
eagle eye as bright and brisk ever; he even
more talkative and jocuar than usual He had
been particularly attentive to his dress which was
ways IN the extreme of the fashion; and in
short, he manifested in his whole demcanor such
perfect SaRg frOid, that had it not been for n sght
trcmor of the upper lip, when turning aside TO me-
he told me IN case Of accident, to give his piltols
to his nephew chum of mine, in college, (who
by the by, was afterwards the first man | wounded
with those very pistols)-had it been saw for
til light tremor and pressure of the hand with
which he accompanied his directions nobody
would lave supposed that he about to present
himself as target to the best shot in Ireland
ON arriving at the ground, he the knight and
his party III conversation, and Il number of persons
scattered aboG: i d stance.
"Batcman, politely lifting his hat said, Good
morning, gentlemen, hope we have not kept YOU
waiting French answered, BY means we
lnt,,r
gracious way replied to his adversary's salutation
SIT your most obcdcnt.' The others shook him
cordially by the hand, for his ocular ma nncrs made
| hun general iNYoritc.
1.-The seconds were about TO measure the
diSta3cC-ninc PAGES, when Kilgobbin remarked
that we were i'll view of some cabins on the right.
THIS seemed an odd objection, there was no in
tcrrupton 10 he aPprchcndGd from such quarter,
and many of their Inhabitants collected round
TO see tie sport. lie suggested, however, that we
should remove about quarter of mile further TO
Il Tine level turf, the banks of n pond called
Browns hole, from the name of fool who thought
Int TO jump in.
"As we proceeded, | occasionally observed the
knights countcnance, and thought hc appeared
TO be flushed, eager and somewhat restless LOOKING
round frequently with an unqulet eye, and paying
only sort of yawning attention TO what was said
to him
''All this time, Bateman was as gay and agreeable
ae ever, cracking his jokes and sometimes pleas
dntly pointing them at the sully air ofhs adversary
tcGIdTlllg ne saw why old friends should
not shoot each other in good humor, when their
honor required that they should resort to such GER
emony.'
by the time we had reached the spot and the
ground was measured out, the spectators had he
come so numerous, that it was necessary to appoint
TWO gentlemen to keep the lines, as ii were and
warn the lockers out OF the range of the bullets
"hIIgobbln, perceived, had, during the arrange
mcnt, so manGuvrCd to get at that side which
would enable him to stand with his back to the sun
Every thing nearly ready the pist OILS
loaded, the Hints examined, and the seconds settling
apart the order of proceeding; when, to my sur
PRISE the knight took off his coat and gave it to
his servant TO hold, then barring his right arm up to
the elbow, and stepping few PAGES to the side off
the pond deliberately plunged it into the water |
and held it there.
90 Good GOdn exclaimed D'Arcav svbot n vim
dictivc spirit that displavcd'
80 1t was felt, l assure YOU replied O'Hara;
and a murmur of disapprobation ran through the
whole party. The knight, however, was not InHu-
cnccd, though he seemed mortified by the manifcs
totlon of feeling which had broken forth; and
Batcman, observing him, exclaimed, in Laughing
tone, wv hat Nnight, arc you ncrvous'
Yes, answered klgoEbn, sneeringly, 'you
Brighten me, and cool hand is a good Safeguard,
&" y cool head is better replied Bateman
" "A cold heart may make it so, Mr.. Bateman' re-
tortcd the knight: and leave you all the benefit
that is to be derived from it,
'IIere of the country pcoplc STANDING no,
with small bottle Of the native in his hand TO
comfort him in the freshness of the morning. con-
cciving, ] suppose that Kilgobbin was complain
ing OF the GOODNESS Of his heart, which he conclu-
dcd was very unlucky feeling at such moment
with equal simplicity and good nature said-
'Ah, then, may be your honor would take
drop of dramp
. How can he, my good fellow said Batcman.
don't you see ne is mt II spirits This 7uoyuiug'
"Ihls sally produced general laugh, notwilh-
standing the seriousness OF the occasion, for Pat
you know, can't resist Joke, even when the rome
is about his neck The knight looked like thuu
der, and his old croncy, Col. Cavanagh turning to
BatcmnD, exclaimed, well, Beau, | will do YOU
the justice TO say, that you as ready with your
pun on your pistol. any that ever stepped on
the Currah Of Kildarar
Gas challenger the knight was TO have the first
shot: the signal was given, and nc fired without
effect BItcman now received the word, and in
stautly discharged his pistol, the ball striking the
ground at his antagonists feet The seconds now
delivered another pistol to each, the groups around
hardly breathing, absorbed were they in the in
crest Of tho scene.
"Agaiu the word was given, and at the same
moment, Blcman's second cried out TO the knight.
stop, sir, you have advanced a pace on your
ground ktlgobbiu, in drawing back, said, Il beg
pardon, was not aware ofit.-Somcbody AMONGST ,
Inc spectators cried out Keep your ground
knight, upon which nc Immediately said u am
willing TO waive my shot, to atone for my irregular
y'
"'Gy no means answered Bateman; 'but i'll
Nilgobbin wishes TO shorten the stance, let him
advance, / have objection
Ono no. exclaimed the seconds, keep vour :
ground, gentlemen! The signal was now repeated r
he knight fired, and his ball took of one of the
Drcast buttons Of Batcman's coat. r
That was we'll intended, Kilgobbin, said
3atcsnau, and in your best style.