Washington sentinel., 1854-01-13
The soule Duels,

M. Galllardet writes the Courier des Etdts
Cnis, detailed statement of the unfortunate
quarrel which Mr.. Soule, our ambassador to
Madrid, and his son, have had with the French
Minister at the same court, and the Duke of
Alba, near relative to the French empress.
NJ. Gaillardets feelings are not on the side of
Mr.. Sonle, but his account sufficiently estab-
lishes the fact that the provocation came from
the other side. The history of the quarrel
seems to have commenced even before Mr..
Soule reached Madrid. From the time Of the
reception of Mr.. Soule, as American Minister,
began to be agitated, NJ. de Turgot, the French
ambassador, and, Madame de Montiio, mother
OF the Duchess Of Alba, showed little friend.
ship for Mr.. Soule. Madame de Montiio is ac-
cused OF having even intrigued to induce Queen
! Isabella to refuse to receive him.
| Thus matters stood until the occasion of a
fete, or grand ball, given by the French Minis
| ter in honor of the birthday of the Empress.
All the foreign diplomatic corps were invited,
and as consequence, M. Soue, his son, who
IS also Secretary of Legation, and Mrs. Soule
were presented by invitation. Mrs Soule, who
is handsome woman, was dressed richly. but
tastefuly dressed, and Madrid paper states
that she was queen Of the ball, and her entrance
produced sensation" To destroy the favor
able impression Madame Soule had made, a
spirit of hostile criticism was manifested by a
coterie led on by NJ. de Turgot and Madame de
Montijo. The Duke of Alba consenting to be-
come the echo Of the coterie, remarked as Mrs.
Soule passed y-"There goes Mary of Bur.
gundy." Young Soule, being close by, heard
the remark and Immediately resented the odious
outrage upon his mother, and applied an epithet
of contempt to the Duke.
The parties were then separated but next
morning young Soue sent to the duke demand
ing an explanation of the insult to his mother.
The duke explained and apologised, and those
acting under young Soule declared themselves
satisfied. But the public appauded the shirt
OF " la Jeune Yankee and the duke was
twitted on his lack of the old pride of his
family. The quarrel was re-opened and the duke
sent challenge to retrieve his damaged honor
1t was accepted, and the preliminaries being
arranged, a duel with swords was fought. The
fight lasted twenty minutes, both parties show
ing equal skill and courage. The seconds in
teriered, and declared that the honor of neither
required further defence, and the principals
shook hands and parted.
MIR. Soule, sen., however, considered it proper
for him to represent to NJ de Turgot, that his
wife had been insulted in his, the ambassadors
salons, on an occasion upon which the Duke Of
Alba was the most honored guest, and the per-
son from whom the insult came-that the affair
had forced the sword into his sons hands; that
he had been informed M. de Turgot was an in
stigator of the insulting remark and, conse
quently, as M. de Turgot had not discharged
his duty as host, In exonerating himself from
any sympathy with the insult he was Obliged
to demand personal satisfaction. To Mr..
Soules communication, M. de Turgot replied.
denying that he instigated the insult, but re.
fused to give any satisfaction for its occurrence
at his .fete. Mr.. Soule persisted in his demand
for reparation, when the French ambassador
said he would make his reply at the pistols
mouth.
A meeting was arranged, Lord Howden and
General Collier acting as seconds to NJ de Tur-
got, and General Valdez ian old governor of
Cuba) and M. Benito Alejo de Gaminde, ex.
member of the Spanish Cortes, as Mr. Soules
seconds. 1t is proper to state that Mr.. Soule
signed his letter to M. de Turgot, "Pierre Soule,
Citizen ct the United Stdtes," and not with his
ofhcial rank; thus separating the private indi.
vidual from the public officer. Time was given
to the principals to arrange their affairs; but It
being limited that the Spanish government in.
tended to interfere to prevent the duel, Lord
Howden waited upon Mr. Soule, and urged
him to consent to an earlier meeting. Mr..
Soule replied that the change of arrangements
was inconvenient, but he did not wish to forego
the satisfaction which was his right, and there
fore yielded.
The meeting was then fixed for twelve M.
the next day, but, on reaching the ground, new
difficulties arose. Mr.. Soule's seconds demand
ed, in his name, that the combat be with pis
tolls, at ten PAGES. The Marquis de Turgot de-
INJURED, and proposed distance Of forty PAGES!
is that, Monsieur le Marquis" said Mr.. Soule
what you call replying to me at the pistols