Washington telegraph., 1854-02-01
Gossip from Madrid by Way Of
Paris.

( Nj. Gaillardet writes the Courier dcs
| Efafs TRis detailed statement Of the uri-
fortunate quarrel which Mr.. Soulc, our
| Ambassador at Madrid. and his son. have
| had with the French Minister, at the same
/ Court and the Dukc of Alba. near rela-
tive of the French Empress. The history
of the quarrel seems to have commenced even
before Mr.. Soulc reached Madrid. From
the time tic reception of Mr. Soulc as
American Minister began to be agitatcd, Nj
de Turgnt. the French Ambassador. and
Marlame de Mon,ijo. mother Of the Duchess
Of Alba showed little friendship for Mr..
Soule. Madame dc Mon:ijo is accused of
having even intrigued to induce Queen Isa-
bella to refuse to receive him.
! Thus matters stood until the occasion Of
fcte, or grand ball. given by the French
| Minister in honor Of the birthday If the
Empress. All the foreign diplomatic corps
were invited, and. a. a consequence, Nj
Soule, his son, who is also Secretary Of Lee
CATION. ard Mrs. Soule. were present by in
vitaton. Mrs SOule, who is handsome
woman, was dressed richly but tas,efully.
and Madrid paper states that she was queen
/ " ~
sensation To destroy the favorable i'm
preston Madame Soule had made. spirit
&c hostile criticism was manifested by CO
terie led on by NJ de Turgot and Madame
de Mon;ijo. The Duke of Alba. consenting
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 re-
scnted the odious outrage upon his mother
and applied an epithet Of contempt to the
Duke.
The parties were then separated, but next
I morning young Sonle sent to the Duke de-
manding IN explanation of the insult TO his
mother The Duke explained and apolocis-
cd. and those acting under young Soule de-
clared themselves satisfied. But the public
applauded the spirit of ia jeune Yankee
and the Duke was .witted on bis lack of the
Old pride Of The family The quarrel was
reorencd and the Duke sent a challenge to
retrieve bis damaged honor IL was accept
cd. and the preiminarics being arranged a
duel with swords was fought The fight
lasted twenty minutes both parties show
ing equal skill and courage The seconds
interfercd. declared that the honor of neither
required further defence. and the principals
shook hands and parted.
Mr. Soulc. senior. however considered it
proper fnr him to represent 10 NJ de Tnr-
rot, that bis wife had been insul.ed in his,
the Ambassadors saloons. on an occasion
upon which the Duke Of Alba was the most
hvnored guest. and the person from WHOM
the insult came that the affair had forced
the sword into his sons hand that he had
been informed NJ. De Turgot was an ins-iga-
tor Of the insulting remark. and. consequent
". a VI. de Turgot had not discharged his
duty as host in eXoncrating himself from
any sympathy with the insult, be was oblig-
cd to demand personal satisfaction To
| Mr.. Soues COMMUNICATION VI. de- Turgot re-
piled. denying that he instgated the insult.
but refused to give any satisfaction for its
occurrence at his fcte. Mr.. Soulc persist
ed in his demand for reparatiun. when the
French Ambassador said ho would make his
reply at rhe pistols mouth.
meeting was arranged, Lord Howien
and Gen. Collier acting as seconds to NJ.
de Turaot, and Gen. Valdez, an old Cover
nor Of Cuba. and NJ. Bcnto AIejo dc Gam
indie, cx- Member of the Spanish Cortes, as
Mr.. Sau!e's seconds. 1t is proper to state
that Mr.. Soule signed his letter to NJ de
Turgot. Pierre Soule, Citizen of the Uni
ted States" and not with his official rank
thus separating the private individual from
the public officer. lime was given 10 the
principals to arrange their affairs: but 1t
being limited that the Spanish Government
intended to interfere to prevent the duel,
Lord lIowden waited upon Mr.. Soule and
urged him TO consent to an earlier meeting
Mr.. Soule replied that the change Of az
rangements was inconvenient, but he did not
wish to forego the satisfaction which was his
right. and therefore yiel;led.
The meeting was then fixed for IL NJ
the next day but on reaching the ground
new difficulties arose Mr. Soulc's seconds
demanded, in his name. that the combat be
with pistols, at ten PAGES. The Marquis de
| Tnrgot demurred. and proposed distance
of forty PAGES rs that. Monsieur le
Marquis" said Mr.. Soulc. what you call
replying to me az the pistoks monkh -
But the Marquis persisted in bis desire to
bring down his antagonist TAT long shot N
The first fire was Intellectual. AT The sec
ond Mr. Soule's bullet hit The Marquis in
the thigh. Il am struck" be said. aud fell
into the arms Of one of Mr. Soule's seconds.
The wound is said to be serious. A rcconcili
atiUn had not been effected at last advices
Much sympathy had been manifested for
Madame Soule throughout the unfortunate
affair. and in European circles, in which du-
elling IL not considered crime. op:nion sus
tains the conduct Of Dir. Sonle and his son
4 M VI SIM
HoRErBLE.-Mrs. Michacls. living in