Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-18
am, Sir, your obcdient servant,
The Sonic Duels.

We give below, from the Bdyonne Messenger, the
account which we promised yesterday 1t is evident
ly dictated by very unfreEdly feeling towards the
MeSsrs. Soul6. ItexPlans however whether correctly
or not, we cannot say, matter, which was wholly
omitted by NJ. Gaiardet the reason OF the Duke o.
Alba's challenging young Soule, after the affair had
been twice discussed and twice settled The Bayonpc
paper ascrbes the challenge to the publication in the
English papers Of letter Of the Duke-which Soue
had, and which he had promised never to use. NJ.
Gaillardet makes ausion to this but simply saws
after the lapse of days. the Duke sent the chal
lenge 1t would have been more satisfactory, if Mr..
Soule's friend had given all the facts
The affair is likely to render Mr. SoulGs residence
at Madrid disageeable personally, and totally useless
TO his country But on this latter score, we never
anticipated any benefit whatever We feared that he
would involve our country in difiiculties-and Nc
shall deem il fortunate if he only succeeds in getting
himself into q scrape.
We attach no faith to the rumor brought by the
Europa, that he had been killed in duel with the
Duke of Alba. We saw the same rumor alluded to
by the Paris correspondent of the london Times Of the
26th--brought by the Baltic-and then discredted
From the Hessdger de Bayonmel
"On the 10th Of November the French Ambassador at
III m
peror Mr. Soue Minister Of the United States was pro
sent with Madame Soule aud her SON aged "a Dnriog
the Je theDuke Of Alba and the French Ambassador IN
the course OF tdca.tsts conversation, made some
observation and exchanged some pleasantly on the
toilet Of Madame Soule, the eccentric taste Of
which had been remarked by the entire company
Nj Soule j., overheard tho conversation The
following morning Mr. Perry, Secretary of Legation
Of the United States and Colonel Mans del Bosch waited
on the Duke OF Alba they banded him letter from Mr.
Soue Jr and said they sent to demand aatsfciion
for the pleasantly Of tho previous evening The Duke of
Alba was greatly surprised aud throwing the letter which
had been given to him the table explained TO the two
witnesses OF hs adversary what had really pnsed-in fact
that was nothing more than simple Joke ia private
conversation l0 at the time expressed his great
regret thata son should have considered his mother often
ded at remark which only had reference TO her mantua
MAKER and he proposed TO write friendly letter to Mr Soue
70 remove from HE mind the under which he aboucd
The friends OF Mr. Soue took their leave perfectly satisfied
Ibe following morning the Duke Of Alba found on his
writing table the letter Of the dly before and which he
had not opened lie read IL; and found that Il was
couched IN terms violent 30 insulting that he coo,id
cred himself bound TO send in turn OF his friends 10
M soulo, Jun, TO demand the withdrawal of what he
had just read, and 70 demand also that the letter M
PLANTATION which lac hmselfhad written should mo r,n,ns
70 him Mr. Soule withdrew the insulting expressions he
had made use Of aud asked 10 be allowed IN keen ,bs
letter which he had received from the Duke of Ain,
pledging at tho time his word Of honor that he
would never make use Of IT, aud that the result Of the
affair completely satisfied him. Several DAYS after some
Engh papers related the facts we have ju mentioned
but they ravescd them In a manner offensive 10 the
Duke Of Alba. Being irritaed by these attacks the
Duke Of Alba sent General Jose dc Ia Conchs 70 Mr.
Rouls 20 demand reparaton He consented and accept
"a the doel with swords, proposed aud the l2h Of
December vas named ne the day Subsequently Mr..
Soue asked that the duel should take place with the
small ssord, which was agreed TO-. lie then de.
msnded delay q forty eight hours, which was
also granted. On the day fixed for the duel, which
vas TO take place in The Pardo. Mr. Soule who had
20 be waited TOT considerable time undc tho pretaIt
that be was writing dispatches 90 the Government ~
length arrived followed by sT carriages fall Of bis com
tfymen residing IN NGdri Though surprised At witues