Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-17

to expain he prepared his second letter. and sent II
Mr. CiIley by the Honorable Mr. Menefee, as ne mas
since informed know nothing Of what passed oe-
ween Mr.. Cilley and Mr.. Menefee
During the sitting of the House the 22d betweenthe
hour, of3 P NJ and 2. M, think, MIR Graves came
to with Mr. Cilleys reply, in which ne oeh'ea .ns
right Of Mr. Graves 10 PROFOUND he question ~ MS
cond note, and requested me 10 bear 10 hlf III,
enge, which he had already written, anu WIZ - he
placed in my hands. expressed my reirc'ahct ~ oe
the bearer; Told him would confer Win nun aSn up
on The subject and returned to my seat 10 auesu ~ 's
discussion of the bill in relation to the disturbances OH
the Canadian frontier. addressed Tie ii"uSe
niny; soon after which il adjourned
Mr. Caves walked with me from the Capitol 10 my
boardin g.louse then repeated my objections 10 pe
the bearer of his challenge and insisted mat ~nuo
not bear it that evening"; that wanted Tune iof irnre
lion. that could not do that service, under any crcum
stances EXCEPT for an intimate friend who woult. make
like sacrifice and incur like responsibility TOR me
,ha, regarded him such Trend, VINO hau !" iue'
shown every disposition to stand ny me upon Uy"E ".
cosions but hoped that something might YET oe oon.
N avoid the alternative he had chosen and that mns'
be petni,ted 10 delay The delivery Of il until Inc heH
dav. if delivered it at all prevailed ON him to wat
until the next morning, when he called upon me aga'
said that nothing had occurred To change his de'efm""
,ou look the challenge, and changed It's phraseooSy
Il have mt copy Of the first he put into my hanos, nor
do recollect it's terms;) and insisted tal sh'uu
yer before the House met, the 23d OF feoTuay
was prevailed do so; and nccnrdngiy,a It" MN
ulp before
Cilley's boarding house. and handed HIM The paper;
When went into the sitting room at MIR. Births
mel a gentleman whom took 10 be MIR. Williams The
Senator from Maine. We converseda few minutes and
in short lime MIR Pierce, the Senator from New atnP'
.hire came in followed BY Mr.. Ciley. Directly alter
salu,ng these gentlemen, Mr. Williams first, and MIR.
Pierce soon after him, retired into adjoining ROOM
leaving Mr. Cilley and myself alone informed nun
that bore to him a note from Mr. Graves ~ SAID, ~
will receive it, Sir" handed him The challenge; ne
- I'D Mr. r,
will hand Mr.. Graves my answer. bowed, ana we
parted went Immediately 10 the House, and, 10 the
evening, after its adjournment Mr. jones came 10 my
room and handed Mr. Cilley saccepiance TO MI Graves,
described in our joint statement HI "faVes' e.
pec,ng to have 10 fight with pistols, had cone to my
room to examine pair had. and see whether they
would suit him. He had not been practlsed 10 The use
of any weapon he told me- and desired me to have my
pistols put in order 10 60 out with HIN next morning.
and instruct him how 10 use them.
Soon nileI Mir Jones furnished me with the terms OF
the meeting, left my room with Mr. Menere, who had
come in Just as Mr.. Jones AMI were parting ABOUT
p NJ Il think show The terms TO some OF MI Graves
friends, and submit TO them whether they should DC
accepted They were condemned rs barbarous, and
such az might properly be declined; but il was thought
that they were intended TO nldals; that the distance
was so great as measure 10 mitigate the severity
of the weapon, and therefore, was advised that they
should be accepted indeed, it was thought that The
pance of such might avoid the duel aogeth.
err nasmuch as the plain object Of such propositions was
either 10 make the duel fatal TO deter MIR. Graves
from accepting them and if the latter the object
The party proposing most likely to fly from the terms
himself.
consented to accept the terms reluctantly and, be-
fore did accept them endpavored TO ascertain whe
Their they could be complied with by procuring weapon
within the appointed time rode four different places
10 inquire where fit weapon could be got, and after
vain search tor several hnurs, went Ia MI Jones S
ROOM and handed him my FIRST note about 8 o'clock,
In ,atp | ~ q
should he but ball. aud I" lessen the chances OF
fatal shot, by cnnEnng The parties To the downward
horzu nial position until the word sire, thus shorten
ing the time in which they could take aim; and, not
knowing where to get rife, whether could be
ont the main object Of the note to gain time.
wished 10 gain time, only to procure I'll rifle but to
afford opportunity, if possible, to prevent the meeting
Indeed remarked to MIR. Jones, verbally that knew
of m person 10 whom could apply with certainty OF
getting tried weapon in the city Of Washington and
expected to be obliged to send 10 Philadelphia for one
He seemed TO intimate that the time could not be post
pinned for that purpose said that there must be tit wea
pms here asked f could not procure one from The
orsepal replied that shuud not risk untried rife,
aud told him tha would be obliged if he would inform
me where fiji rifle could be got fixed upon the hour
Of II A. NJ. the next day. as The latest period when
would inform Mr. Jones whether MIR. Graves could be
rendy. informed Mr.. Graves OF what had done, and
retired 10 rest.
About 2 o'clock, at night, Mr.. Menefee came to my
room sw"ke out Of sleep, and informed me tsat hlr
Gravess friends had procured for him rifle, but he
said it was in exceeding y bad order. The owner OF ii
has since told me that il had been used for than
eighteen months, and it very rusty directed MIR
Menere to have it cleaned early possible, and that
it mus, be tried in the morning before Mr. Graves life
was hazarded on it.
Early the next morning, went TO the room of the
Hon. MIR Halves. where according to appointment with
AR Menefre the night previous expected to meet Mr.
Graves Not finding MIR. Graves there, | returned 10
Miss QUEENS my boarding house, TO breakfast, and
found on my table about o'clock, A M the note Of
Mr. Jones' informing me that he would be at DR.. Rel
ley's until IL o'clock, NJ on the 24lh
At 10 o'clock A. NJ y, went to Dr. Reillys, and wrote
Mr. Jones note that Mr. Graves could not lie ready by
~ NJ and that woul4 inform him by l2 l.2 N when he
could be ready was still anxious 10 delay the meet
ing and DESTROYS throw obstacles in the way of for
that dny At about 10 2 A Nj. | found Mr.. Graves al
the arsenal where he 10 have the rife cleaned, aud
| saw him try it several times at mark. He
trempr awkward, shot badly, and by means liked
The rifle he had. feared very much the Consequences
Of gning with him under such total want Of pre- pa.
ration and skill and still than anxious for
delay, as were his other friends But on my return 10
my rnom ahont IL 2 A. NJ, found two notes from
MIR Jones' rife powder flask, with powder and ball
in il. lying on my table.
The first n",p. dated 10 20 NJ in reply to mine of
10 NJ stated that MIR Jones hnd ''the pleasure in
form me tiat he had an excellent rifle, in good order,
which at the service OF Mr. Graves The second
nnle which had been delayed for answer to the
dered 10 the, 'for The Of Mr. Graves the rife
ferrpd to- and there the rifle and It's appen-
dagrs. These notes and tina, rife fastened the mrelng
| dared delay longer, without danger of uunt for
cowardice. Nj Graves should have gone upon the
ground, after this under every disadvantage but he
should have used the rife sent him. because though
Fan excellent rifle. in good order, Mr.. CilIey had, or
course, preferred another to it; and if Me Graves had
missed with it, and been killed. would have bee Justly
chargeabIe with his death The meeting was then to be
had as soon as Mr. Gravess rifle could be cleaned as
surgeon c"uld be got, and the parties could reach
field out Of The District OF Columbia saw Mr.. Jones
Immediately, and we agreed upon o'clock, P. M , as
said in our joint statement
returned to Mr.. Hawess room, where Mr.. Graves
was and informed him Of The appointment. He then
selected the Hon John j. Crtenden Of the Senate and
the Hon r. Fl. Meneee, of the House, the friends
whom was 10 consult. Ms Graves retired, and while
the rifle was being cleaned then submitted to Mr. Crit
ienden and Mr. MsneGee the question dsiinctIy-what
should be done in case the pnrlies missed: We were