Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-05
Old Iime Duels in ireland.

In an article on the Correspondence oi
Charles first Marquis Cornwallis, in the last
London Quarterly, we find an interesting sketch
of the Irish code of honor during the Admins.
tration OF Cornwallis as Lord Lieutenant of Ire
and. -
The Reviewer, in speaking of one Of the
plans adopted by the Opposition to the Union
(between England and lreland,) which was tn.
arbitIament of the pistol or sword, remarks thai
the truth ia, the scheme was in accordance with
The manners of the period; and the Irish laws
Of duellng seemed framed for the express pur-
pose OF encouraging bullies and neutralizing any
Incidental good which has been supposed TO re.
suit from the practice. Any anxiety for an ex-
plsnation or accommodation on the part OF ei
ther seconds or principals was thought to betray
a lack of courage. Challenges were given OF
provoked by way of mere bravado /; what would
now be considered the most iudefensible irregu
arities were permitted on the ground.
In the duel between Lord Glare, then Attor'
ney- General, and Ourran, the parties were left
to fire when they chose. ~ never" said Cur.
ran, ''saw any one whose determination seemed
more malignant than FItzgibbon's. After had
fred, he took aim at me for at least half min
ute; and on its proving Intellectual, could not
help exclaiming to him, 1T was Lot your fault
Mr.. Attorney-you were deliberate enough
In the duel between Cory aud Grattan, Cor
ry was wounded at the first fire, yet they went
on covering each with their second PISTOLS eacb
wishing to reserve his fire, until it was arranged
that both should fire at signal, which they did
and missed. lJ h
The duel between Alcock and Ooldclough,
which took place in the presence of several
H. abol1 nd or fQp Onnnfy
magistrates, was preceded by q discussion
whether, one Of the combatants being nearsight
ed, neither should wear spectacles or BOTH
without my glassesi" exclaimed the near
sighted combatant, 81 could not see to shoot a
man at twelve PAGES, ifit was my own father" !"
Martin tried the temper of George Robert
Ftzgerald's concealed armour by discharging
two holster pistols point blank against his ribs
Notwithstanding the repeated detection and ex
posure of this notorious bully's cowardly and
treaclerous mode of fighting, be retained q foot.
ing in society till he was hanged.
The climax of unreason was reached in Cur
rams affair with Major Hobart, then Secretary
for Ireland Ourran having been affronted by q
man named Clifford, declared "he would rather
do without fighting ali his life than light such d
fellow :" but as Clifford was revenue officer,
maintained that Major Hobart should dismiss
him for his impertinence, or fight in his place
The Secretary demurred, and on Curran's in
sstng referred the question to Lord Carhamp
ton Che ommander,in-cbief, who decided II
thus "a secretary of state lighting for an ex.
ciseman would be rather bad precedent, but
major in the Kings service is pugnacious BY
profession, aud must fight anybody that asks
him" They exchanged shots without harm to
either. In one remarkable instance, Lord Car
hampton, the Colonel Luttrell OF Middiesex CO
lebrly, did not abide by his maxim; tor he re
fused to fight his father, not because he was bis
father, but because he was not gentleman
Station, however grave, was not clalmed or
accepted as bar. The Provost OF the College,
Hutchinson, fought Doyle, a Master in Chance
ry, aud when pupil asked his advice about a
course OF legal study, replied, "Bny case OF
good pistols, learn the use OF them, and they
will get you on faster than Fearne or Blackstone"
Toler Uord Norbury) followed this method 80
successfully that he was said to have shot NJ
into preterment. A curious specimen OF Ian
guage has been preserved along with many 9th
er curious traits of Irish manners, by Mr.
Charles Phillips: "Hsd l." said Toler, "heard
u man out of doors using such language as that
by which the honorable member, George Pom
sonhy, has violated the decorun OF Parliament,
would have seized the ruffan by the throat
aud dragged him to the ground"
The only CLEAN of good sense in their code
of honor, was the common understanding that
no affront WAS implied in joke.-,Southern ar
aus.