Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-13
The SOule Duels.

the Sonle duels He frankly avows himself a warm
sympathizer of the Messrs. Soule; but says his in
formation is derived from Spanish gentleman who
was prvy to all the circumstances and details
We give NJ. Gaiardet's statement, as we find it
rather freely rendered, in the ~ Y. Express The
translator omits NJ. G.s disbelief in the allegations
that the Countess of Montijo and the French minis
ter preudiced against Mr.. Soule before his arr
val, and did what they could TO prejudice the court
against him. Why they were so prejudiced is not
stated-and without surprising they had some grudge
against him, it is difficult to explain what followed
correspondent Of an English journal has minated
that this prejudice had reference to Mr. Soule rs
the representative Of the United States but probably
springs from the fact that Mr. Soule French and
of low birth, and the high Hdalgos dsliked the idea
OF assocatng with him on terms Of equality. Be
this however, as il may it appears certain that there
was disposition to insult Mr. Soulc, by sights
to render his residence in Madrid dsagrecable This
being the case he was fully justified in the course he
took; and we very glad that neither he nor his
son came OIL second best in the rencounters which
took place. But this does not affect tho opinion we
have always entertiined-that he is wholly unfit TO
represent his country at any foreign court.
Paris 22d Dec. 1852
''Tte occasion in which the duels originated w,s a
grand bal given by the French ambassador the Marquis
de Turgot and to which invited all the members Of
the corps dplomaque including of course the persoree
Of the American legation. Mr. Soue with his lady and
present. Madame Soule had on a robe of blue
velvet made in Paris by Pamyre, the vorte mantuama.
Yer of the Queenlsabela The garment trimmed with
lilies in gold lace, aud decosiee modesty allows TO
the mother Of family. Madrid journal entitled Las
Noredds which is by friendly the Uni
ted States Minister conesses that by her good taste and
the richness Of her toilet Madame Soue positively Ia
refine d. BAL The entrance of herself and her husband
made an obvious sensation. Wishing DESTROY the IN,
vorabie impression thus created the Duchess dc Mono
criticised Madame Soues style Of diess rather severely
and in concert with the French ambassador himself il
then that melted by these spefu remarks and ma
king himself the echo Of the Objectionable of them
that the Duke OF Alba said friends Look at Mar
garet Of Burgundy, at the very moment that Madame
Soule passed 1t ismpossibc from the virtues of
souie that the comparison could have had any reference to
moral character but was simply kening her physically
to the wife Of Louis the Tenth personfed in The NIECE
ia Tour de Nssie," by MILE Georges rs corpulent as
beautiful The younger Soule overheard the remark and
replied TO 1t by the ephet cdnaHe poSson NJ Soule
did not leave with his has been stated He under
stood that duel going to be the consequence of the
scandal and with noble parental devotion conceived the
intentiono incurrng the whole risk himself He imme.
daely put hmsefn possession of the whole circumstance
and went up to where the Duke Of Alba was standing
caught him by the elbow and gazed fredly in his face
The latter probably did understand the MEANING n,
this, aud walked oil without saying anything NJ Soule
and his walked around for OF un hour
longer and did not retire until the crowd began TO dis
perse Next morning Mr. Perry and Colonel Milans were
charged TO bear 10 the Duke of Alba letter in which
young Soue demanded satisfaction for insult put upon
his mother, saying-"Neither the which YOU bear
nor the position which YOU the of thai
name can authorize To be insolent" Colonel Mlans
who was intimately acquainted with the Duke considered
his duty TO state verbally the object OF his mission and
To induce him to make PREPARATION Tor the wrong before de-
hverng the challenge The Duke appeared To- be guided
Sy host conc,latory dispositions, and wrote to young
Sone that although his letter rather strong vet he
appreciated the sentiment painful dououreuxl that had
dictated it. $500
.'If may have said" added he referring 70 tba .,s.
Wag btpn
(of which have no rememb ance) would never hays
uttered on account of the lady, your mother with whom
have not the honor to be acquainted and whom could
not even tell by sight" The seconds having 5ecla,ed
themselves satisfied with this explanation or retracton Of
the Duke oil Alba and the Soues expressing no turtle
objection the affair appeared ne amicaby terminated
But public opinion having discovered that the
had had the best Of the play Spanards maintaining
the national sensveness the point dhomne upbrai.
ded the descendant OF the dukes of Alba and Berwick
with having yielded ground to baby (nino or as an ex
perienced hand would have said to n greenhorn II was
700 out this requires conhrmation-hat the French
embassy was dissatisfied with the result affected Span.
ish noble, 6rother-inaw of the Emperor Napoleon the
thiro Under similar circumstances, as the Embassy ia
reported to have expressed ITSELF there could no alter
native between frank and perfect reconciliation and an
appeal to arms. Cleyery sounded on the subject Of mn
amcable and thorough reconciement young Soule
ed oil overtures Then the Duke addressed TO Col Nil
ans letter, In which he asserted that the explanation
given by him, to II. Melville Soue having been mi
understood by some persons, he considered IL ncnm-
ent On nun 70 state that those explanations had been
prompted by the friendly observations of Col NiIans
and Mr. Perry, and not by the challenge of youpg Mr.
sonic The latter at formed Judgment as 10 The
object OF this retrospective interpretation and referred
70 hilans who sent reply 10 the Duke in which no
endeavored to direct the noblenans amour prope with
all me address Of Spanish diplomatst placed in such
delicate position, between the anvil and the bamn,er
After asseyeraDg his desire to please the Duke or A
whom he still continued 10 regard with esteem the Col
ADDED But cannot to attain that object alter the mature
OF the proceedings that have already taken place Your
letter TO N. Soue in consequences of ia, Which h
addressed TO you and alone afford an explanation
Oh your impressions aud views when you wrote il f.
proves that noble hearts do occasionally commit mis-
taxes 1t belongs TO them also to know better Than oil
others how to repair them SO skfuly was hepl giIded
tna the friends OF the Duke appeared ordinarily satisfied
Hnu me- WIN even more philosophy meeting the Colonel
gave nun back his epistle aud said to him. Gan that
had at heart was TO know that had not lost yot GOOD
oPnon am Indifferent as to what others may say about
~ Inc storm now Appealed disspated for second
nne 70 the honor OF young Soue. but on the l2b -,
december he received in his turn challenge from ,lo
80 eonie accepted 1t, asd hostile meeting al
~cn s"o,o' were the weapons made Of took place
between the parties on the 18th December The 6gIt
having continued for thirty minutes without either
ho u 1neI, Tue seconds declared that the laws of
o coulu exact no more, and at their desire the oppo
nens VINO had given proof Of equal courage and addass
consented 10 shake hands. ~ 'N''''''
whilst this was passing ~ soue the elder sent to The
sonted a. an authentic copy: :" pre-
Monsieur 10 Marquis-The difference which he ..,..
i tue puke OF Alba aud my son, had it's origin in
yu ions II was in your house where and my family
p VIII
ne Duke OF Alta might readily consider himself tho here
.ne her was permitted TO insult Madame sonic
hou. anything having come eGonerate Won ,bns a.
ION 'Pe responsibility that circumstance imposes mon
YOU. " STATED as fact, even that from your month
PROCEEDED IN the hrst place, the Offensive eynre.sn T
te.gards employed by the Duke Of Alba and so noblv
Ieueye1 by my son Such being the case ~ 10 Mstoni
have the right go back 10 the vcritable source
ss which puts the sword into the hand Of the Dnks Of
Aoa ana my SON. TO make the quarrel mine as tar a. IL
concerns you, and TO demand Of you personally tbS,
iscuon which you cannot refuse Mr. Perry an Ano
your answer ~ 'e'V''e
bic servant" f''' '''' very uu'n'
Tbs letter was signed Pierre Soue, Citizen IN. mi;
hd Sfafss IN order TO separate the private man from he
pubic nctonary 10 doing Mr. Soule has given moot
OF as great respect for the people whom he
ard TOT The character with which he h invested The
Marquis de Turgot bss declared upon his bonr btougb
hs seconds Lord Howden, the English Embassador and
that be never uttered the expression that
has been imputed TO him, but has refused to give sac
ton on the ground That because the insult was offered in
Soule persists In bic demand for reputation and bss
ken for his seconds Gen. Valdes At one limo ovornor q,