The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-09-30
From tho New York Dispatch.
A SKETCH FROM THE CAPTAIN.

Twenty years ago. made the acqnaini.
ancc ot Lieut.. -, then Il passed mid.
slnppan ~ the United States navy, nov
IN command of very saucy little craft.
which has moi been undisiin yuished in the
recent naval movements on The coas, 81
Mexico. he acquaintance was made
under circumstances So singular, that their
relation, even III this late day, can hardI,
tail Ia interest The reader.
II was IN Gibraltar. | was passing a
coffee Lonsc mucl, frcqucnled bv English
aud American officers, when hearing my
name called. turned and saw standing in
the door, n young man in The undrcss oi
on, service. Ilc approached me. say ins-
Captain -. of the brig Monmouth, |
believer
the same SIR replied.
u am MIR. -. passed midshipman ii
the United States sIoop Of war -, now
lying "a, Port Mahon. an here on leave.
aud none Of my brother officers are al hand
10 render me that service, which mus,
reqnes, Of you, as a fcl!ow-couniryiaan,
10 Perform
'!s''all be glad TO learn how can be Of
service 10 Mr.. - ircpIicd. with rather
formal bow. for our young officers in the
Mediterranean were Too much in the habit
Of getting into silly scrapes, aud suspcci
ed Tor a noinen: that il was one III this
character ia which was asked Ia figure
III is little aii,ir which will dc,aln Won
only few minutes. Captain - the
| n. III -
fact IL, that have one duel 10 fight, and
perhaps more, within five minutes, and in
that coffee house. ] WIS going out to
hunt up a couniryman 10 act as my second,
when you passed
lie hastily explained the origin Of the
difficulty. proved to me that he was right,
aud resolved 10 sec him through. W.
entered the house, IN tho public room 81
which was introduced 10 seven or eight
English naval officers, one of whom held
IN his hands pair 81 fine ducllng pistols
lie WIS the second oi the other party, aud
we stepped aside To make the necessary
preparations. While the prc'Imin.rics 81,
the tight are being arranged, the reader
may as well he enlightened as Ia lis nus !.
The English naval officers for several
years after the conclusion Of the last war
omitted no opportunity To insult our off
cels and provoke them into qnarrcls.-
When they could not get representative
Of the flrg from the government, service.
they would seek one III tie merchant III,
rine, and captains of trading vessels w-re
more than once compelled TO notice IL.
suits thus gratait. usIy offered.
Al Gibraltar aud Por, Mahon there l,aa
been several cnels, and nj the latter plac.
they were of such frequent occurrence.
,ha, il was usual 10 say on salniin. an ne.
quain,ancc in the morn'ng-'Well. who !,
the victim to-day-was the Engishna,i
killed, or did the American take the bull.
le,2'
In the case now referred 10, six or So.
ven English Lcuienanis had studied. H.,
tho week that my friend bad been in Glib.
raltar, how TO &c, him into a QUARREL
They settled on The plan Al last, and !osl
no time in putting i. into execution.
Lieut.. - was sitting in the public
room OF the coffee house, quistly drinking
his wine aud reading newspaper. One
Of the English officers, who was reckoned
an excellent shot, commenced walking up
and down the roam, passing and requesting
the American Lieutenant, upon whose
toes he al length ,rod. Lieut.. - look
ed up; the Englishman bowed aud beg
your pardon, sir, an accident Lieutenant
- bowed. aud wen. on with his paper.
The Englishman again passed, again ,rod
on the Americans tocs, and again apoI"gi-
xed, beg your pardon, Dir, an accident
Lieut.. - bowed and resumed his ,per:
The Englshman allow d Eve minutes 10
pass, and then for the tLiSd time commit
ted the ofIeM ., repeating With mock,"e
smile the apologize words, beg your par.