Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-03-10

VIE PRoGREss nr nIIErl 49,.

-AOpSs
Almost at the very moment this fatal
occurrence was thus creating sd great a
sensation in America, duel WIS fought
20 London, which, in general irteEest, al.
most eqEalled that caused by iba Amer.
cNn eaconnter 1--WE refer taitRe affair fl
winch Lord Cdmelford lost us lile.
1t IS unnecessary, in narsat.ng tUiFun-,
Fortunate duel, 10 detail, the previous car
reer of that highly-gifted, but eccentric
nobleman. Suffice it 10 say, that bis cha.
racter was d curious MIXTURE Of much that
was virluous and much that was vicious
AL in extremes; with chiyalrous notions
OF punctilIous honour, and with an irasci.
bic temper, which brought him into many
broils, he was warm in his affections, and
almost unexampled in his benevolence.-
pisdalning all luxury. in his own manner
of life, he sought for opportunities of dis.
perslng his great fortune In acts Of genuine
charity, and conferred the most lioeral ia
YOURS with a secrecy that ennobled the
gift. He did not distribute less than 4oOOl.
per annum in the purchase of commissions
tor gallant young men, who had not the
means of promotion, and in the relief of
decayed seamen and soldiers. Ifnaay
ofhis political proceedings were charac.
terized with imprudencc, no one could
doubt they sprung from patriotism. He
was a man whose real character was TO
the world but little known; his inpsrfec.
tons and his follies were often brought be-
fore the public; but his counterbalancing
virtues were seldom heard of. Though
too violent 10 those whom he imagined to
have wrouged him, yet, 10 his acquaintan-
ces, he was gentle, affable, and courteous
la stern adversary, but the mildest and
most generous of friends. He was often
the dupe of the designing and crafty sup
plant; but he was more often the soo.her
Of real sorrow and uumerited woe.
Lord Camelford and Mr. Best had BE- or
intimate friends both were young men oil
high fashion, and esteemed frs. rate shots.
The subject of their quarrel was an aban.
doned woman, who had formerly lived
with Mr. Best, hut was then under the pro
lection Of Lord Cameilord' This artful
wretch. meeting MIR Best at the opera,
made ofhm request inconsistent with
their relative positions and, on being
refused declared she would sci Lord Cam.
elford upon him and accordingly com
planned 10 his Lordship ihat Mr. Best had
spoken disrespec.funy Of him. This great.
| " inceused Lord Camelford, and at the
Prince of Wales Coffee House, where
they generally dined, he went up to Nh
Best, and said, loud enough to be heard
by all the company, 81 find that you have
spoken of me IN the most understandable
terms Mr. Best mildly replied that he
was utterly unconscious of deserving sucl
a ehaTge To which Lord Canelfori an
swered that he was not ignorant of wha
he had reported to Mrs. Symons, anc
pronounced him to be "a scoundrel. ;
liar, and ruffian." Mr. Best said tina
those were expressions which admitted
T bat of one course, and a meeting was i'm
mediately arranged for the next morning
In the course of the evening, Mr. Bes
conveyed to Lord Camelford the stronges
assurances that the information he had re
ceived was unfounded, and that, believin;
his Lordship had acted under a false i'm
preston, he would be satisfied if the ex
/ pressions were retracted, This Lord Ca
me ford refused to do. Attended by thei
respective friends, they met next morniu,
at cofiee-house in Oxford Street; an
there again Mr. Best made an effort +
procure a retraction. He went up to hi
! ordship, and said, Camelford, we hay
been friends, and know the unsuspectin
3 generosity of your nature. Upon m
; honour, you have been imposed upon Ivy
strumpet. Do not persist in expression
under which Que of Us must fall" Lor
: CameIford nswered-"Best.this is child
: play; the affair must 60 on" And we
I at this very moment, Lord Camellord Ina
D in his beart acquitted Mr. Best. and ha
q conhdentially stated to his second that
knew he was in tho wrong; that Best wa
D a man of honour but that he could nc
. bring himself to retract words which b
! had once used. In gong to the groun'
4 he reiterated this statement 10 his seconr
!, adding, that as Mr. Best and he were tw
Y Of the best shots in England, one OF theI
r must fall, but, whatever was the issue
! the ahair,he begged him to bear testnlon
! that he acquitted Mr. Best Of all blame.-
!, No ren1onstrances could, however, induc
: him to withdraw the offensive expressions
: They were placed at fifteen PAGES fro
: each other
, " A gentlemanlv distance, but not too near
Ifyou have got your former friend for foe"
!, They fired together, and Lord Cameifor
s fell, 10 allappearauce dead. In an instaI
= however, he recovered the shock, 50 ta-
!. 10 exclain1--"I am killed but acqu
d Best alone was to blamep He be-
2 ped them 10 consult their safety, and q
: cordinply Mr. Best and his friend departe
!. Lord Camelford was conveyed to Lit
Holland House. The ball had entert
his right breast, and is supposed to bay
IL pissed through the lungs,and lodged IN Il
/, back bone. He fingered a few days
m the greatest agony, and expired.
c. Lord Camelford, by his viii, 2erempi
Y rilv forbade his relatives or friends fro
y prosecuting his antagonist, declaring II
le The contest was of his own seeking. 81
is dav previous to his death he added coz
~ lcil' 10 his will, in which, after stating tn
er persons in general have a strong atac
&c ment 10 the country which gaze. the
- y birth, and, on their death.beds, us,sally.d
= size their remains mss' be conveyed TO 80