Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-07-25
WHOLE No. AT.
THE CILLEY DUEL.

shOJect ol SO nuCu spcCuIalioh dl tho luie u
occurred.
1t appears from this statement, which bears
upon lis face every appearance of authentci-
ty, that the true reason of the cbsllenge sent
BY Mr. Graves TO Mr.. Cillcy is 10 be found in
un impeachment OF the veracity OF Mr.. GrsSes
on the part of Mr. Cilley's political friends,
which impeachment, Mr.. Cilley himself saw
fit Ia couhtCnunce.
4 II is perfectly clear that Mr.. Graves, in the
beginning Of the affair." had no idea OF being
drawn inlo any difficulty, aud that hc took
special precautions 10 prevent any such re-
! suit. 1t appears too that an explanation took
! place between himself und Mr. Cilley, IN
! which the affair, so far as Mr. Graves had
any concern ~ IT, was satisfactorily arranged
! Unhapwly, however, this explanation was
! merely verbal and when Mr.. Graves version
of II was called lulo question, and he applied
to Mr.. CI,ley to put what he had eaid inlo
writing. Mr.. Ciiiey's written reply 10 this re-
quest was of such kind, as 10 leave upon
Mr. Graves the Inpntatun Of having gwen
false version ui the explanations which had
passed between them. This did away with
all those explanations, and II challenge was
sent, nomlnaly, because Dir. Cilry, had re.
fused 10 accept Colone! Wcbb's letter from
the hand ot Mr. Graves, but III point of fact,
because Mr. Cillcy chose 10 disaNow the eX-
plantations winch Mr.. Graves understood him
10 have made. and thus cNposed hlm To tic
charge of having made n false statement re-
spccling what had passed between Mr.. Gil.
ley ard himself.
! After all, however, :he duel may be rr-
gardcd as having turned on point oi ch.
quetlc. 50 exceedingly rciincd aud abs'ruSc,
that Mr. Graves had no idea of II nj the tn'e
he carried the note of Colonel Webb. iie
knew that If he were the bearer of Il chal.
lrngc he would be likely Ia get into troub"
lie, therefore, positively declined 10 be the
bearer of The note IT II were challenge, aud
/ only took 1t upon the assurance that II was a
mere letter of inquiry, aud that II challenge
was 10 be sent, some other bearer should DO
found.
Il Upon Mr.. Cilley's refusal to receive tie
letter. Mr.. Graves found upon inquiry. tltat
according to The iairS Of honor he was bound
to take this refusal as a personal offence, un-
less accompanied with such explanations ~
to do away the implication IT any dIsrcspect
to his principal.
II lie then eXerted himself TO the grcatcst
degree to obtain the necessary explanation
/ nom Nj. CIllcy. In this he supposed hat
! self successful but when question was
1 made about IT, and CIlley was called upon 10
/ put his answer ~ writing, he failed 10 include
~ IT the explanation III question.
\ However absurd aud ridiculous We may
Judge the lar Of honor respecting tins niailcr
10 bc.--aI assuretiy Il ~ m, Il ahsud, -
Mr.. Graves. after tins explanation, must ba
wholly acquitted OF any wish, attempt or de-
sign 10 Inveiglc Mr.. CIIley into duel We
are confirmed IA the opinion which VIC have
always entertained, that Mr.. ClIIey's friends
and advisers were the principal promoters of
! the dncl IN which, under all The cIrcumsiar-
| ces of the case. they reasonably expect tbst
Mr. Cllcy would be successful, and whirh
they intended 10 use as a means Of uwing
aud inlmdating their political opponents.
II The following Is the extract Ia which we
have above referred, and which will repay
an attentive pcrusal -- Boston .MdS.
met Col. Webb one day in Wash
lngton, and having expressed the most
marked and unrcmiilcd clvllitics from
! him some time before IN New York, du-
ring my visit to that city, ] naturally ieh
T disposed To extend to hun that courtesy
which one gentleman owes to another
under similar circumstances. Alter talk
ING for some time, he SAID that he had d
favor To ask of me. replied, that any
thing, which one gentleman might ask
of another, and which | had II ~ my
power To grant, would chccrully do
! for him. lie then handed me paper,
and said he would feel greatly obliged
l'if would deliver that from him to MIR.
CiIIcy. Aware of Mr.. ClIIcy's previ-
Gus remarks on Col. Webb, ii Instantly
struck me that the paper was a challenge,
and hesltaied to take IT, asked Col.
.Il oh h,r \ .lnll nd
told han, iha, It II was, ] should decline
having any thing to do with 1t, being op.
posed IN principle 10 dueIlng myself,
and acting as the Representative of d
District which | believed opposed to it.
| also told him, that | was totally ignu-
ran, OF the etiquette Of ducling, aud
therefore very unfit person, on that
account, IT even had not insurmounta-
bic objections of another kind to prevent
me from interfering. Col. Webb then
assured me that the paper was not u
challenge that II was merely note OF
inquiry, to which definite answer was
required. lie also assured me that, it
u challenge should subsequently be found
necessary, he would employ some other
person than myself TO bear IT, Upon
these assurances, totally unconscious, rs
was, that any possible mischief could
arse out of my carrying simple paper
, OF interrogation from one gentleman 10
another, ] took the note and went toThE
llousE. ] sent one Of the attending
bows for CiIley, who came out to me,
, and then told hun, that Col. Webb had
requested me 10 hand him tina, paper
, lie said he supposed it was challenge,
and. that he could not receive any thing
of The kind from Col. Webb. told him
,hn, Col. Webb had assured IRE IT was
not challenge, and with this assurance
! I had become the bearer OF IL 4; that
, would not have consented 10 be the
bearer OF challenge to him, as | had
the kindest feelings towards him, onl
was opposed 10 duellng but, that l
hoped he would consent to take the note,
'as feared that his refusal would place
ne in an embarrassing situation. ad-
dcd that was wholly Ignorant Of tho
etiquette IN such cases, aud had never
contemplated or thought ol such an event