New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-12
THE LATE DUEL-CLUB LIFE IN LONDON

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We have not ceased since the occurrence OF the re-
cent fight among members Of the Shakespeare Cluo
which reflects disgrace the character oil our CITY
and society to press upon the authorities the necessity
of taking the prompfest means TO have all the parties
TO il brought to Justice. In the previous night
which came off at Stanwix Hail. no expense and no
ererey was left unexhaused to bring the surviving
delinquent within the clutch Of the law, and we trust
that no difference of position will prevent an equa
Justice from being melted in this last affray. Bat
while VIC shall continue b urge the unaterng enforce
ment OF that law which brands duelling as crime
and any fatal consequence that may result
from it as deliberate murder, can see no reason
for holding up public oboquy particular Society OF
gentlemen because these combatants happened to be-
long TO it. DO more than for denouncng the hotel sys
TEN because they might have happened to reside in
particular hotel and to originate their duel, as
most duels have originated, in its bar-room. Neither
can we conceive any thing dtgraceful than that
gentlemen should be subjected as they have been, to
the coarse SANDER of the lowest Of our City journals be-
cause they have dec med to furnish torepoers they
had perfect right to do and az was natural and gen.
temanly under the circumstances details OF converse
ons and occurrences happening under the protection
of private roof; for the very principle on which
Club rests is TO give TO the intercourse of gentlemen the
sacredDess of private life. The history OF the origin
of Club Society in England which given by this jour-
nal to support its and vugar assault displays
such perfect ignorance Of its formation and character
that we are tempted to give brief outline of the real
origin of the Club System in England, which not only
partakes less Of "snobbery" than any of It's other in
titutons but il the most fatal enemy to the existence
of that social vice.
So far from Clubs being established To furnish
cheap chop-house represented for the younger
branches of the aristocracy they were established by
the heads Of the highest and wealthies families with
an entirely different object So far from the officers
of the Crmea being victims and examples of the Club
system there is not with the exception of the Guards
ore in twenty of the Crmean officers who sees Club
from one years end to the other. The English regl-
ments are stationed either in India and the Colonies
or the few on home service in quarters far removed
from the busy hum Of Clubs
The Club system took its origin in the natural de-
sire of literary men and statesmen to have some spot
in which they could occasionally meet and exchange
their ideas and enjoy social intercourse without inter-
rupton. The room is yet pointed out where IN Shak-
speres day the actors and wits and spngs oil aris-
ocracy used to meet to chat the last play and
discuss the coming one. The room in which johnson
and Burke and Goldsmith philosophical aud Jenny
Boswell " took his notes" il still sacred and pre-
served as when they sat there last This was in every
sense Club. Ii was latterly private, and no one
was admitted save with the consent OF oil the
members Our modern Clubs are but a similar
institution born in the same spirit but enlarged
The two Oldest and to this hour highestpositioned
Climbs in London-Brooks's and Boodle's-were
started the one by the Wing heads of families the
~. 4. naa 1aYdS
Carlisle and Fitzwilam Grey, Grenyille, and Derby,
then Wbig; the other by the leading Tory houses OF
Rutland, Buckingham, Salisbury and Exeter. Feel
ing the inconvenience during the Parliamentary ses-
sion of dining and meeting in the tavens round West
minister where their conversations were intruded
and overheard, they engaged to pay Messrs. Brooks
and Doodle, two tavern-keepers in st. Jamess, GER
tain annual subscription, condition of the tavern
being devoted exclusively to theiruse. To the present
day they are both maintained on the same system,
the cuisine department and general manage
! ment being still entrusted to caterer, the
regulations for the admission of members and
the like being the sole care OF the Committee.
The two Clubs face each other in 81. Jamesst and
stand close TO Fenton's and Elss Hotels, favorite
resting places of American travellers. Brookss GER
tainly stands first among London Clubs. 1t was the
Club of George the Fourth when Prince of Wales, OF
Solwyn, Of Fox Of Sheridan, and Of that brilliant
band of orators and wits who clustered round the
close of the last and opening of the present century
One black ball excludes and it only by the most
de,terous management that Sheridans admission was
obtained While the ballot was going on the contu-
macious member who persisted in dropping the fatal
bean into the box of Brnsley introduced into the
little apte-room in the hall to be expostulated
with and was there by a fascinating coquetry
of conversation retained until the hour for open
inc The boxes had arrived. In Foxs day. play
rem HIGH there and enormous have been lost and
won around the table Had Fox confined himself to
whist be might have realized large income at play
but attracted by the rattle the dice he lost at hazard
all he had won at whist and large sums to boot 60
sratened had he often been that there was scarcely
n waiter al .Brooks's to whom be not in debt Tor
small loans The rattle ofthe dice is now neverheard,
and even a rubber is rare within its walls. But II
stl maintains its fame Round the coy, cheerful
reading.room fire on every Sunday afternoon about
soclock may have been seen gathered in the corner
Lord Campbell l'' Plain Jock a. be is called, Lord
John Russell Brougham If in town, the late LORD
Anglesey, Lord Lansdowne, Shell, Sidney Smith, ana
Macaulay, ever pouring out food OF gorgeous SEN
fences. Glow agreeable Macaulay would be, saia
Sidney Smith his conversation was only enlveneu
"by a few brilliant flashes Of silence" Few dine
there, the cuisine being excellent but most costly
You cannot escape from the most moderate OF dinners
under one guinea.
If Brooks's is par excellence the Wing Cluo,
Boobies on the other side ofthe wsyis excellence
the Tory 1t was the resort of PITT and the "ynd-
hams, but it never held the reputation OF brooss .
and was the perpetual theme Of fun to the opPoSnon
briIiants There are three degrees of COMPARISON
Id IAoLi nr from