Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1843-07-15


was aprophe,,--1'he terror Of Powers name
was suficient to satisfy the Englishtnan for
the insult.
When travelling in England he had many
dneouGtefs with persons who were attracted
by his brogue and clumsy appearance. Ot,
one occasion O group OF gentlemen were slt.
ting in a box ut one end Of the room, when
Power entered Mt The other. The ropresen-
tative vf Irish manners at this time on the
English stage, was a tissue oil ignorance,
blnnders and absurditiea; aud Wien a real
Irishman appeared off the stage, he was AL
ways supposed to have the characteriaties OF
his class, and 30 to be a fair butt for rIdieule.
When Power took his seat IN he box, the
waiter zane TO him with a gold watch, with
a g%entleman's compliments and u request to
know what O'clock it was by 1t. Power took
the watch, and then directed the waiter to let
him know The person that sent II; he pointed
out Que Of the group. Power rang the bell
for his servant, and directed him to bring his
pis,ola aud follow him. He put them under
bis arm and with the watch in his hand wal
ked up to the box, and presenting the watch,
begged TO know to whom 1t belonged " hen
no one was willing 10 own it. he dFoW bis
own silver one from his fob and presented IL
to hbs servant, desiring him to keep it; and
putting up the gold one he gave his name and
address, and assured the cockney he would
keep it safe until called for. II never was
claimed.
On another occasion be ordered supper,
and while waiting for II he read the newspa-
per. After some time The waiter laid two
| covered dishes on The table, and when Power
examined their contents he found they were
two dishes Of smoking potatoes. lie asked
tho waiter to whom he was indebted for such
good fare, and he pointed to two gentleman
in the ~opposite box. Power desired his ser
want TO attend him, and directing him in Irish
what to do, he quietly made his supper offthe
~potatoes to the great amusement 81 the Eth
glisinnen. Presently his servant appeared
with two more covered dishes, one OF which he
laid down before hie master, afd the other
before the persons in the opposite box, When
the covers were removed there was found IN
each a loaded pistol. Power took up his aud
cooked it, telling one Of The others to take up
the second, assuring him "lhey were ut Il
very proper distance for a close shot, and II
one fell he was ready to give satisfaction 10 the
other" The parties Immediately bolted with
out waiting for a second invitation, and wI'b
them, several persons in the adjoining box,
As they were in too great a hurry 70 pay
their reckoning, Power paid it for them along
with his own.
Another Of these distinguished duelists was
a Mr.. Crow Ryan, He shouted along the
streets of Carrick-on-Suir, "who dare aoy
Boo" and whoever did dare say 30, waa cal
led out to answer for il. Tho feats Of another,
the celebrated "fighting' Fitzgerald, are still
remembered in Dublin, He made 1t a prac-
tee To stand in the middle of d narrow eros
sing in a dirty street, 80 that every passenger
would be forced to step in the mud or lost Ie
him in passing. If any had the boldncss TO
choose the latter, he was Immediately chal-
lenged.
The deeds of Bryan Mcguire, one OF the
last and lineal descendants of the ancient
chieftains Of Fermanagh, continued till a still
more recent period "to fright the Islanders
from ,heir propriety.'
The laws by which duclling js punishable
were then as so, ere as now; but such was
the spirit of the times, that they remained a
dead letter. No prosecution ensued, or if II
even did, no conviction would follow. Every
man on the jury was himself probably aduel'
list, and would not find his brother guilty. The
Judge, we believe, who most contributed &c
check this spirit, was the late Judge Mayne
This mania seems to have commenced anel
the battle Of the Boyne, and terminated with
the union. The effect of the FIRST was, tc
disband a number Of military men by tho dis.
solution of the Irish army, who wandered
about the country without employment oil
means of living, yet adhereing with tenaeity
to the rank and feelings of gentlemen. They
we're naturally susceptible of slight or insult
and ready on all occasions to resent them by
an appeal to their familiar weapons, the sword
or pistol. Their opponents, the Wllliamltes,
had been soldiers likewise, and not likely tt
treat with due respect suined and defeated
men. These causes, acting on temperament
naturally hct and irritable, brought ON con
slant collisions, which were not confined t
the parties, but were soon expanded through
all cases. The effect Of the union was 10 am
algamate the countries more closely together
and to superadd the sober and wiser modes o
thinking of our neighbors, on the unstable
and eccentric habits of ourselves.
Dublin University Magazine.