Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1842-03-10
StAtenGn1.


my family and some friends from N. York occupied
at Gadsby's, and where was then assembled party
OF gentlemen whom we had invited to dinner, met
on the staircase Mr.. Graves, who as well Nj.
Wise, were 10 be of the party To my question
where Mr. Wise was, MIR. G. said he moi M
ing and then informed that challenge had
passed between himself and Mr. CiIey, that it had
been accepted, that Mr. Wise was arranging the
prelimnares. and that both desired TO be excused
from dining with Us. Mr.. Graves then went away.
was greatly shocked at what he had told me; for,
although had heard rumors that, at the request OF
Mr. Webb, of New York, Mr. Graves had called on
Mr.. Ciley for explanation OF language used by that
gentlemen in allusion Mr.. Wise, had also heard
and certainly believed the matter adjusted.
| at once, on entering the parlor, took NJ: Webh
aside and stated what had passed between Mr.
Graves and myself Mr.. Wise appeared greatly
surprised and distressed, at once said the meeting
must be prevented. lie beckoned to Mr.. ReVerdy
Johnson, one Of our guests, aud the matter having
been explained 10 him, it was agreed that hr, JOhh-
and myself should Immediately call on MI.
Clay and ask his assistance ares, the hostile pro-
ceedings. We adiatelv went TO MIR Clay
lodgings, and there found Mr. Graves seated with
him | expressed ms qualification at the clrcum'
stance and commenced explaining the object Of oar
visit, when Mr. Graves to leave the room, say
ing, as he went ont, that he could permit no inter
ference with any thing that touched his honor. Mr.
Johnson and myself then represented 10 Mr.. Gay.
in The strongest manner could, tha enorHliY 81
permitting two gentlemen to fight in quarrel which
did not them, and appealed TO him, not less
~ a friend Of Mr.. Graves, thur ont ofrrgmd 10 sir
Webb-who, we told him. felt that it would be the
deepest wrong nnd injury to him that others should
peril life in his cause-to aid Us ia arre5tng the
duel
Mr. Clay replied in substance That we snw how
he was situated, Mr. Graves had consulted him.
He ouga, not, he said, TO have boen consulted; but
oCt i slta Iva
challenger, might be compromised by any advance
on his (Mr. Cays) part 10 arrest the progress OF the
affair. lie either showed 10, or eX planned to us the
correspondence of the challenge and acceptance, and
terms, &C. and assured us that the meeting could
nor take place the next day, as Ms, Graves had no
rife, and tina, next morning we could have enough
time for inlerfrrence, # chose 10 interfere. 1t
waa now past SIX O'Clock in the evening, and we
Ie Mr. Clay saying would keep him advised Of
our proceedings. Mr.. Johnson and myself then
went II Mr. Wise's lodgings, in the hope of ascer-
tain ng bis views TO the passbll ty OF an afnIcabe
adjustment Of tie quarrel. lie was out. We lett
either note uume with message that we
would ca'lagain at o'clock. We did call again
nj the honr but without finding Mr. Wise. Hardly
knowing what step to Jake next, after good deal
of discnss n, and relying upon the heiet ihat tn
meeting would not take place the next day. we dc
terinlne d t, wait for the morning.
Al an early hour Saturday, was aroused
IniH my u u VT W GuD, WAC lJ!L nv HG h'iI ~
tain information that Messrs Graves and CIiIey had
gone out, and conurng to aid h m in prevent
,ng anv catastrophe. | dressed IN all haste, and
went 10 arouse Mr.. Johnson f.om his b d. and both
proceeded at once t. Mr. Clay's lodgings. That
gentleman was not yet, up hut upon heahhg our
MINES, DIES red 10 INTO his bedf1 om. W hen
informed that the parties had gone ont, he decIai ed
II mnpossibie, and sent his servant instantly Tor Mr.
Graves. The answer was, that Mr.. Graves had
gone by the early irn'n la baltimore. ne same
answer was returned in regard TO MessrS tr.lienden
mud Menetee, who also boarded in The same hodse'
Tins mad ii clear that MIR Graves and US friends
had q ,nr out, the alleged trip 10 iiaiumofe beng
merely cover Mir. Clay seemed grearly dis'less
I'd and rplexed and after some consultation as to
tn hes, mode of vet preventing the duel, II possible
for VIII ch be seemed earnest as wa wefe-he
suggested that Gen, Mercer or Mckay, or bath.
should be seen wi;hnnt del Y. lnmedhley lei
his apartment jump, into hack, and rode to
Gen 3ictcrr's lodgings, mar the taPhoi Zen
Mcrcers instantly entered lnIo my views, aud de-
cIar d Inns ready 10 90 rihwlh before WaS'-
,rare. ai.hcr of Virgin ii or Mar, land for II was
supaosed the parties wunld 90 out OF the bi-lrct-
aud take out writ VIII oh he won himself ae-
company the officer and served. he hfSl
thing therefore, To ascertain, II possible, tn
route taken by the parties. was about TO start on
the inquiry, when Dir. Waddg Ihompsnn, Of ..
Carolina, came in. The uIa'ter WIS explained TO
j m, think, by Gen. Mercer, and he at one de-
,Iared tn re reason for such "A duzl, aud that
he would himself, if he could d them, 60 Ia the
ground and insist there should be no iight. lie then
got oto the carriage with me left Olm at one OF
the boarding HOUSES. where he expected to obtain
some information on my part cl!'ed at
several piaces with the same view. All effort was
unavang, and the result ia known. did not sec
Mr. johtIs IN again that morning. and never, 10 my
rrcoIIeclion smoke with MI Clay afterwards IN re-
laon to The duel ClAo. MIMI
New York, Feb. 4, 1912.
have carefully examined the statement Of Mr.
Charles king, transmitted to me in his letter Of
the 4th inst. and, at his suggestion, rive my rec
objection of the crcunstancest 70 which IT refers.
Every thing proceeding our two interviews with
Mir Clay, occurring at those interviews, IS per-
fectly fresh in my memory, and with few I'M
material particulars which will mention, Is pre-
csply such as detailed by MIR King.
FIRST AT neither int view were we shown
the written challenge and acceptance, or the terms
ofthc duel but had them explained to us only by
Mr.. Clay.
Second. In the morning after the interview
was originally aroused from my bed by MIR, i>l"g
as his recollection, but when sent for by hlin was
hurriedly preparing to leave my chamber, in con-
sequence of having, some minutes before, recsrY-
ed note from Mr.. Wise enclosing me a letter ad-
dressed to the gentlemen inviting him, aP'logis.
ing for not attending public dinner to take place