The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-06
INA Mu1liga. ..a Rivisrs AFFAIR, q
10 THE EDIToR or THE HERALD.
soo prnanwAy New York (k.f 1ako

AO00xs
no THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
osa BsoADwAy, New York, Oct S, 1850.
n scuprdsuce with the pFcmze Of my note Of ycster
sy. WIN, as briefly rs can, give true account Of tho
,,sdug circumstances which TRANSFERRED In the recent dim
o.sl,y between Mr.. William Malligan and Nr. H. A. Do
Riyiers and hope will DO excused for appearing thus
IA print by the plain necessity Of correcting tho false
statements which Do Rivers aud his two friends Sasec
CHA and Pratt, have put forth during the temporary
ansence Of Mr.. Muiigan from the city.
The nrst news that had that rencontrc tad taken
place between Mr.. Auligan and Dc Rviere came 70 me
from Mr.. Maigan Friday last, who informed nae thss
on The previous evening De Rsere accompanied ny Two
Friends had advanced 70 greet him in public house, BUS
that having notified DO Nvicre soms time previous not
70 attempt seek such recognition, he spurneo nun with
expressions Of contempt, and subsequently pulled the
ousache Of OF the other two a. reoake % nm tor
oidpg his hand aader HIS coat ~ 1t he in
tended To draw weapon that the party sent away de-
cArng they would call on him for satisfaction, and that
= accordance with that declaration, they had sent
son 90 wais upon him with challenge from Do Rvers,
md also an alternative challenge from the person whose
nsoussche he had pulled N Jse vi saIssa sn"a NOV
Ryiere The object Of Mr. Muligan IN calling on with
this communication 70 have me act Tor him IN tho
nattcr, and cheeriuiy assumed the responsibility ne
wished. II q request which did not feel at liberty
refuse TO brave who had served under my com
nand as sergeant Of dragons Throughout the Mexican
war and was the more happy tosussaIn him when was
that the whole why he grossly spurned
Ds Rviere that that person addition to his conduct
n the Btouut affair, had been reported To have made
Wholesale sanderous remark In public Anst the charac
aer OF American women.
The person who was chosen by De Rivere ~ Prstil
then referred 10 me- and met Saturday At IL
= 10 discuss the matter After soe Conversation told
aim that Mr. Muigan would give Do Rviere meeting,
but required written challenge before could pro
oesd THIS, however, strongly objected 70 on their
part on the ground, they said that would compro
mise them with the law aud We, being DESTROYS Of Ieav
Fn0n mr. farla in
right II was then agreed between US, on my PROPOSE
ton that the principals should Eight with COTS revoyers
navy size at distance Of fifteen PAGES with the right 70
slher party advance his adversary alter the hrst
IRE This condition being liked and disposed OF, II
for the challenged party 70 also name the
place OF meeting In pursuance OF that right named
Canada They, however, objected TO Canada wnereupon,
g. H. esnse Of S.r opc"n sssaesd with as much
Aecacy could that nwant OF money were the reason
We had fifty hundred dollars at their services bu their
answer they knew nothing about Canada and want
ID 70 nght hand and that Afternoon Though
they had right challenging party thus dictate
TERMS Mr. Muligan directed concedc anything
fher than bauik their huor and Mr. Pratt ieft me to
return at O'Clock and lei me know when they would be
ready 10 start; and now sapposng that they were
really In earnest engaged the services Of surgeon "
attend us the ground At O'Clock p ". Pratt
turned aud asked the privilege of postponemcnt until
three O'Clock but this objected 70, the hour would DO
TOO late for the long ride which would have take.
Nr Pratt, however, 50 urgent that We waived
rights again but notified him 70 be sure TO have his prn
cpa ready three without further loss of time
Al three awaiting them With surgeon the
appointed place. but they only appeared TO ask the pr
yiege Of still another hours pcstponement and OF even
quarter Of an hour beyond that last margin they
would DESIRE We OF protested strongly against
their thus taking advantage OF our previous CONCESSIONS
but being willing to allow them thu utmost latitude and
beginning too be little curious 70 what they really
Intended to do, We gave them I'LL quarter past four
hawken ferry at the foot of Forty street. and
when the other side to seek possible the
most convenient place At four O'Clock they gave the
egnal they were ready and drove Oh towards the ferry
surgeon, who, after three O'Clock, had returned TO his
and we suffered delay a the ferry Of lust half an hour
There in my coach, besides my principal, the
surgeon and myself but one other person, though AZ
board On arriving on the Jersey side found Mr.. De
Hviere and Pratt and Smecchia awaiting us at tavern
De gentlemen in the coach that had followed U.s. inquired
Of Mr. Pratt there would be objection for them 70
30 present on the ground. No objection was made
and We started in our coaches up the hill, fol
bowed also by wagon containing two other
persons whom we found at the tavern on the Jcr
scy side, where Dc Rverc and his friends had been
awaiting u.s. These and three hack drivers who
conveyed severay to the ground all the persons
Who were present On getting out OF our coaches which
hall past Ave. with the sky heavily clo1ted up,
at met by NJ Pratt with objection TO the dis
lance that had been fixed upon accompanied rcaues,
their part that should be increased from fifteen
thirty PAGES promptly resisted this invasion Of
privileges told Mr.. Pratt that would submit to al
teraton Of the terms that had been fixed upon and said
q loss conceive why they should wish the dis
lance increased, that it crossing rapidly dark
when fifteen PAGES had been thought wide enough apart
at mid day. Mr. Pratt to his principal frequently,
consuming much time, but always back say that
De Ryere would not consent to fight at less than thirty
PAGES .very well sir, }" then said ! ~ n de Rvisre
60 withdraw his challenge have nothing say;
ne have received no injury aud we are here not seeking
satisfaction but IN obedience to call ready 10 give
satisfaction 70 you and If do not want IT, that is your
affair" Upon this Mr.. Pratt went back to De Rviere,
and after some talk during which ssgan % rain and
De Ryerc would agree TO exchange shot at hfeen
PAGES, but that the remainder must be fred at thirty
however would not suffer presumpnous dicaton VI this
Sort and told him positively he must begin 70 IRE at
distance and not increase it ti the affair closed
Mr. Pratt hereupon, finding his principal be ntract
able said he washed his hands Of the affair whereupon
Mr. Smcccha forward and proposed to compromise
ON twenty and th,rt by pu ting these TWO numbers
drawn out. replied that did not come over there to
settle the affair by lottery and that having been engaged
making concessions all day, would hear Of further
encroachment our rights and tina. hardly knew
understand the demand OF party asking satisfaction
70 increase the distance Seeing that was firm, De Ri
Were then requested 70 speak and after stating
too dark proceed further with the business that
day, asked if would consent to meet another repre-
sentative Of his that evening after returned TO town.
did consent an hour and place were hxed and having
then further business to transact in Jersey that
afternoon ordered my coach to be driven 70 the ferry
How lopg De Rvere and his friends remained behind in
the dark and what they remained for after their own ad
journment, do not know.
ming between eight and O'clock but he stated he had
not yet provided himself with friend, and asked
SILL further time then gave MIN my ADDRESS and told
him when he wished TO communicate with again he
might do SO by sending me note. On the next day
Sunday he sent me the following
CArrNr !zwy-Ds.H sls:-For reasons that you viii ap
precae do wish be today In the any
public place In New York. You would confer grea, plea
If you would take the trouble of walk
ing ~ far Beecker street. where shall be at time
CAPT. H. A. DE RIviERE
In accordance with the request Of this note called
De Rvere Sunday afternoon, when his whole purpose
Was TO tell me he had found another friend
him This rs the last time him heard from him
N the matter, until, while patiently and quietly awaiting
further overtnres on his part read his untrue and
warranabe in your paper Of Tuesday morning
hast This, ssr, Is true account Of the affair between
Nj 4uigan and Mr.. De Rviere far it cams under
my observation, and have only 70 add, in conclusion.
That viii require the statements Of persons of better
standing than Mr. De Rviere and those who sustained
him 10 his recent card 10 impugn the courage Of man
IKE Mr. Mullgan who served his country with disin.
guished credit In numerous battles whom General
Lane recently tasuhed in that Drawer soldier
oever drew sabre" LORENZO LEWIS.
r Silt having been stated by De Riviere in his card