American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-12-02
From the New York Spirit Of The Times.
THE FAST DUEL,
OF THE MAN WHO FIRED TOO QUICK.

French frigate La Belle Poule, then cruising il
| the American seas under the comma nd of tn,
Prince de J0inville, either for the purpose o
victualng and watering, or giving her officer:
and men short respite from their duties
dropped her anchor in the beautiful harbor o.
Pensacola The usual courtesies having beer
observed on the part of the American men
war, towards the friendly stranger, their COM
menced a series Of balls and feats in honor O
her arrival, and in token of her welcome
which were duly reciprocated by the gallant
Frenchman. At one of these fetes given or
board La Belle Poule, there was, among many
other guests from the city, Mrs. Robbins, a
woman well calculated, from the elegance OF
her person and beauty Of her manners, to take
captive the heart of susceptible Freedman
And so it proved-for the evening was not
spent before Lieutenant Soulon, fist officer OF
the ship, was making most desperate love ia
the aforesaid Mrs. r., who seemed to receive
his advances with no inconsiderable pleasure
From that time, Lieutenant Soulon, was the
constant visitor of Mrs. Robbins, and SO devot-
ed was his attentions, that finally the jealousy
of Mr.. Robbins was aroused, and upon taking
his wife to task upon the subject, received such
answers as to entirely confirm him in his sus-
pcions. Being determined to discover if there
! "OiO ipuSphc iCi aIdiuI, IClDtlcu uI-
gent and pressing business in New Orleans, and
informed his wife that he wonld probably be
detained from home week. On the niuht OF
the day of his pretended departure, he returned
to his house, and walking TO the window of his
wies room, discovered Lieutenant Soulon on
his knees before Mrs Robbins, holding her
hand, and gcsticulating with all the vehemencc
OF an impassloned lover. Restraining his in
dignation, he walked into the room, and coolly
ordered the abashed Lieutenant to leave the
house, informing him that he should hear from
him in the morning.
On the following morning Ma or ku h, tho
! friend of Robbins, waited on Lieutenant Sou
lon with challenge. 1t was accepted, and
they were to meet on the same evening, with
double-barrelled guns at twenty PAGES. Ac-
| cordingly, at the appointed time, they were on
the ground which had been selected. Mr..
Robbins, with his second, Major Rush, and
| Lieutenant Soulon, with his friend MIR Belize,
together with four midshipmen, and the sur
geon of the ship. The ground having been
measured, and the parties placed, they we're
informed that they were to fire between the
words 'one' and three and that if either
party fred before the word 'one,' or after the
word three that the second of the opposite
party was TO shoot down the man SO firing, on
the spot.
Every thing having been arranged, Major
Rush (who won the world asked if they were
ready? and being answered in the affirmative,
gave the word "Fire!" No sooner had he said
1t, and before he could say "one," off went
both barrels of Robbins gun, and down drop
ped Lieutenant Soulon. Robbins, as soon as
the Lieutenant fell, recollecting the terms of
the combat and the penalty attached to shoot
-, hafo aGa bo ,,l a
and broke. No sooner had he started, than
every man on the field, his own second includ-
ed, took after him, and after running some
hundred yards caught him, and broug him
back to the ground.
On being brought back, he protested most
vehemently against being shot, declaring that
it was altogether an accident that his gun had
gone off, and that moreover he never had a.
greed himself to the terms of the fight. His
protestatons, however, would not do; the in
dignant Frenchmen swore they would have his
blood-that justice to their fallen comrade de-
manded it at their hands-that he had forfeit
cd his life, and the penalty must be paid. In
accordance with his resolution they placed
Robbins with his back to a pine tree, telling
him that they would "step'' twenty PAGES,
wheel and fire. They stepped off the twenty
PAGES, and wheeled to fire. but as they wheel
ed, Robbins turned the pine and broke again,
the Frenchmen putting after him. This time
the race was more desperate-Robbns was
running for his life, and terror lent swift
ness to his feet-but it would not do--they
caught him a second time. and returned with
him.
By this time Major Rush, becoming indig-
nant at the apparent cowardice of his friend,
told the Frenchmen that if his principal was not
bold enough to stand up to his agreement, and
be shot, that he would take his place. To this
Robbins objected, and said that no man should
die for him, that if any body had to die ha
would die himself He also intmated to Ma
jor Rush, that if he cast any more nsinuations
in regard to his courage he would knock him
down! Major Rush told him he had acted like
a coward, and sure enough Robbins jumped at
him, and was digging into HIM tremendously,
when Lieut.. Soulon, having recovered from
the swoon into which the report of Robbins
gun had thrown him, and who had not been
touched, arose TO his feet, and taking in the
whole matter at 4 single glance, took to bis
heels as hard as he could put it down, feeling
particularly anxious about that time to be on
board La Belle Poule.
But fate did not favor him; for Robbins was
in the act of getting off Major Rush, who had
just halloed, when he laid his eyes OH the re-
treating Lieutenant. Selling u gun which
was lying on the ground, he started after him,
a little Of the fastest, followed by Major Rush
and all the Frenchmen. When getting within
about seventy yards of the Lieutenant, and
concluding this was good time to "bring'
him, drew "bead, and sure enough brought
him!" On getting up to him, they found that
in the last fire Robbins had lodged ten "whst-
lers'' in the Frenchman's legs, who, having re-
ceived some lusty kicks from Robbins, by way
of interest, was borne in haste on board La
Belle Poule.
Thus ended the "Fast Duel, +" which has caus-
ed many hearty laugh in the goodly city of
Pensacola.
RECEIPTS OF FLOUR AT BosToN. We learn
from the Dailu AdunIIiser tina L dnrin mr. tho ,nnnL