The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-01-25
The Soule Duels

Ctats Unls, detailed statement of the un-
fortunate quarrel which Mr.. Soule, our am.
bassador 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. M. Gaillardet's FEELINGS
are not on the side Of Mr. Soule. but his nc,
count sufficiently establishes 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 receptions
ot Mr.. Soule as American Minister, began
10 oe agltated, NJ. de Turgot, the French
ambassador, and Madame de Montijo, mother
OF The Duchess of Alba, showed little friend
SNIP Tor MIR. Soule. Madame dc Montijo is
accused OF having intrigued to induce Queen
isaoelia not to receive him.
thus matters stood until the occasion of
fete, or grand ball, given by the French
Minister in honor Of the birth. day of the
Empress. All the foreign diplomatic corps
Were invited, and rs consequence, M. Souie,
his son, who is also Secretary Of Legation,
ana Mrs. Soul were present by invitation.
Mrs. Soule, who is handsome woman, was
dressed richly, but tastefully dressed, and a
Madrid paper states that she was queen Of
the ball, and her entrance produced sem
sation To destroy the favorable impress
u
hostile criticism was manifested by q coterie
led on by M. de Turgot and Madame de
Montijo. The Duke Of Alba conscntinp to
become the echo Of the coterie, remarked as
Mrs. Soule passed by" There goes Mary
Of Burgundy" Young Soule. being close
by'heard the remark and Immediately resent
ed the odious outrage upon his mother. and
applied an epithet Of contempt to the Duke
The parties were then separated, but next
morning joung Soule sent to the duke de-
manding an explanation Of the insult to his
mother. The duke explained and apologies
cd, and those acting under young Soule de-
clared themselves satisfied. But the public
applauded the spirit Of ala ieune 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 accept
ed, and the preliminarics being arranged a
duel with swords was fought. The fight
lasted twenty minutes, both parties showing
equal skill and courage. The seconds in
ter'ered, and declared that the honor of ne-
ther required further defence, and the prin-
ciPals shook hands and parted
MIR Soule. SEN, however, considered il
proper for him to represent to NJ. de Tur-
got, that his wife had been insuited in his,
the ambassadors Salons, on an occasion
upon which the Duke Of Alba was the most
honoref guest, and the person from whom
the insult came; that the affair had forced
the sword into his sons hands that he had
been informed NJ. de Turgot was an insti-
gator OF the insulting remark; and, conse-
quently. as M. de Turgot had not discharged
his duty as host in cxoneratirg himself
from any sympathy with the insult, he was
obliged to demand personal satisfaction. To
Mr.. Soule's communication, NJ de Turgot
replied, denying that he instigated the insult
but refused to give any satisfaction for its
occurrence mt 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-l.ord Howden
and General Collier acting as seconds to NJ.
de Turgot, and General Valdez (an old gov
crnor of Cuba) and NJ. Bcnito Alejo de Ga
mindc, ex-member of the Spanish Cortes, rs
Mr.. Sonle's seconds; II is proper to state
that Mr.. Sonle signed his letter to NJ. de Tur-
got, .Pierre Soule, Citizen Of the United
States" and not with his official rank thus
separating the private individual from the
pnhlic officer. Time was given to the prin.
cipa's to arrange their affairs: but !, h,inc
hlnted that the Spanish Government inten-
ded to interfere to prevent the duel, Lord
Ho~den waited upon Mr.. Soule, and urged
him to consent to an earlier meeting. Mr..
sonle replied that the change Of arrange
ments was inconvenient, but he did not wish
TO forego the satisfaction which was his right,
md therefore yielded.
The meeting was then fixed for twelve NJ
the next dav, but, on reaching the ground,
new difficulties arose Mr.. Soule's seconds
demanded, in his name, that the combat be
with pistols, at ten PAGES The Marquis dc
Turgot demurnd, and proposed distance
Of forty PAGES!
is that, Monsieur le Marquis" said Mr.
Soule, "what you call replying to me at the
pistols mouth ~
But the Marquis persisted in his desire to
bring down his antagonist "at n long shot"
The first fire was Intellectual. At the sec
ond. Mr.. Soule's bullet hit the Marquis in
the thigh.
am struck" he said, and fell into the
arms of one Of Mr.. Soule's seconds The
wound is said to be serious. A reconcilia-
tion had not been effected 1T last advices.
Much sympathy had been manifested for
Madame Soule throughout the unfortunate
afinir, and In European circles, in which du-
elling j. not considered crime, opinion sus-
tnina tha annd,,.t nf NJ Gn,ia anJ h;s so.