Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-14

elder Soule what had occurred. N
Souie did not leave with his son as hs
been stated. He understood that due
was going to be the consequence of tn
scandal, and, with noble parental devo
ton, conceived the intention of incurrn
the whole risk himself. He imme6iatel,
put himself in possession of the Who'll
circumstance, and went up to where tn
Duke of Alba was standing. near the re
freshment buffet, caught him by the elbow
and gazed fixedly in his face. The latte
probably did not understand the meanin.
OF this, and walked off, without sayins
ang thing, to the corner of an adjacent
room, from which he did not issue DURING
the remainder of the evening.
NJ. Soule and his SON walked around
for three-quarters of an hour longer, ant
did not retire until the crowd began te
disperse. Next morning. Mr.. Perry and
Colonel Milans were charged to bear tht
Duke of Alba letter, in which young
Soule demanded satisfaction for the insult
put upon his mother, saying: "Neither
the name which you bear, nor the posi-
sition which you owe to the possession OF
that name, can authorize YOU to be inso.
lent Col. Mians, who was intimately
acquainted with the Duke, considered it
his duty to state verbally the object OF
his mission, and to induce him to make
ieparation for the wrong before deliver
ing the challenge. The Duke appeared
to be guided by the most conciiiatory
disposition, and wrote to young Soule,
that although his letter was rather strong.
yet he conceived the sentiment painful
(doMourour) that had dictated it.
elf l may have said, added he, refer
ring to the allegation with which he was
charged, anything similar to it, (ofwlich
have no rememhranoe,) I would never
have uttered it, on account of the LADY.
your mother, whom have not the honor
to be acquainted, and whom could not
even tell by sight" The seconds having
declared themselves satisfied with this
explanation or retraction of the Duke of
Alba, and the Soules expressing no further
objection, the!aiiair appe ared to be AMIGA
bly, terminated. But public opinion hav-
ing discovered that the young American
had had the hest of the play, some
Spaniards, maintaining the national SEN
sitiyeness. on the point d'honneu, d up
braided the descendant of the Dukes of
Alba and Berwick with having yielded
ground to baby, (ninol or, as an mex.
perlcncel hand would have said, a green
horn. Itwas said, too-but this requires
confirmation-that the French Embassy
was dissatisfied with the result, as it
affected Spanish Noble, bro,her-in law
of Emperor Napoleon I1I. Under similar
circumstances. as the Embassy is reported
to have expressed itself, there could be
no alternative between frank and per-
feet reconciliation, and an appeal to arms.
Cleverly sounded on the subject OF Az
amicable and thorough reconcilement,
young Soule repelled all overtures.
Then the Duke addressed to Col. Nj
lans letter, in which he asserted that
the explanations given by him, to NJ.
Melville Soule, having been misunder-
stood by some persons, he considered it
incumbent on him to state that those ex-
plantations had been made by the friendly
observations of Col. Milans and Mr.. Per-
ry, and not by The challenge of young
Mr.. Soule. The latter at once formed q
Judgment as to the object of this retro
spective Interpretation, and referred it to
AIilans, who sent reply to the Duke, in
which he endeavored to direct the noble
mans amour propre with all the address
of Spanish diplomatist placed in such
a delicate position, between the anvil
and the hammer. After asseyerating his
desire TO please the Duke of Alba, whom
he still continued to regard with esteem,
the Colonel added: "But l cannot, to
attain that object, alter the nature of the
proceedings that have already taken
place. Your letter to M. Soule was in
consequence of that which he addressed
to you, and can alone afford an explana-
tion of your impressions and views when
you wrote it. 1t proves that if noble
hearts do occasionally commit mistakes,
it belongs to them also to know better
than all others how to repair Them" So
skilfully was the pill gilded that the
friends of the Duke appeared ordinarily
satisfied, and he with even more philoso-
ply, on meeting the Colonel, gave him
back his epistle, and said to him: "All
that had at heart was to know that
had not lost your good opinion. 1 am
Indifferent as to what others may say
about it," The storm now appeared dis
sipated for second time to the honor of
young SOule. But on the 18th of De-
cember, he received in his turn a chal-
enge from the Duke. Soule accepted it,
and hostile meeting, at which swords
were the weapons made use of, took place
between the parties on the l4th of De-
cember. The fight having continued for
thirty minutes without either wounding
the other, the seconds declared that the
laws of honor could exact no more, and
at their desire the opponents, who had
given proof Of equal courage and address,
consented to shake hands.
While this WAS passing, the elder Soule,
whose excitement and annoyance may be
readily conceived, addressed the following
letter to the Marquis de Turgot, which
has been given 10 me as authentic:
Monsieur le Marqus:-The difference
which has arisen between the Duke Of
Alba and my son had its origin in your
salons. 1t was in your house where [ and