, 1863-01-09

It il stated that James Watson Webb, the |
American Minister ut Rio, recently scnta chal- !!
lengc to the English Minister at that place, in |;
consequence Of some hard words that passed |
between them ut 4 private party. The English !;
Minister, AS soon as ile received the challenge,
went Oh board the British storsslip for pro- |
lection, and there remained ut lust accounts.
This intelligence, although it has not been
absolutely confirmed is In no way improbable.
Mr.: Webb's long experience IS Al politician.
qui,ss, involved him, particularly about the
stormy political periods Of 1S=a; and 1870, in
personal aHrays and sluarrcls. liz was rs
prompt to act in Il bcligorent rs III I'LL editori-
ii capacity, and lind some personal difficult
tits, one Of the most noteworthy of which
was With James Gordcn Bennett, Of the Ie,'-
add lie moreover recognized the obligations
OF the rode tlHt1u. n1,d had round ut ten PAGES
with Thomas i. Marshall, the eccentric ken-
tucky oratpr, in which he sustained slight
wound in the leg from Marsha'rs pistol. lie
was also tho original party TO the fatal dilier-
ence between Mr. Cillcy, d Congressman from
Maine aud William j. Graves, Congressman
from Kentucky. Webb challenged Cilley, and
named Graves as his second: but the cha1-
1enge was declined on the ground that Webb
absurd and unjust construction Of duelling
rules, the second then assumed his principals
SfdfuS and sent L challenge for himself, rs il
he were the party originally aggricred. Gil
ley, in M unhappy hour, accepted this deli
ancc, met Graves with rifles, and was shot
dead 1t the third fire.
If it be trlc that Mr.. Webb has challenged
the English representative at Rio de Jauetro,
lie is following precedent Which was set at
the Court Of Spain during President Pierco's
administration, By Pierre Soule srho then re-
presented our government near the throne Of
Her Most Catholic Majesty. As the difficulty
| in which Mr.. Sou1c became involved there was
| singular one, and mar have been partially
| forgotten in The contemplation of our present
| eyentful condition, It is MS we'll to recall the
! leading incidents. Mr.. sou1e, with his family,
| attended 4 Jtsc given by the French Minister,
| who was the Marquis Of something's name
| we cannot recall with accuracy at thi; mo-
! ment. A Spanish grandee, the Duke Of Alba,
who WAS an uncle TO the present Empress Of
! the French, was guilty Of some disrespcct to-
wards Mrs. Soulc. Herson promptly accepted
| lhe act as All affront, and met the Duke In Il
| combat Il few days afterwards with small
swords, from which they desistcd without
either being "pinkel" aftcr lively trial at
car7t and tierre. Soule, the elder, was not sat
/ is1icd with this result, and he accordingly di-
| rccted. his resentment to the French Minister
as party responsible far the afront, because
it had: occurred at the house Of the latter. 4
sct-to will, pistols followed, aud the Marquis
| received a ball in his knee.
/ If 1t Is fatcd that the Brazil imhrog1fo shall
come to IN affair of ''pisto1s aud coffee for
two," and blood must be spilled, we arc patri
otic enough to wish that Webb may fare Is
we'll as Soule, and give her Britannia Ma.
jcsty's Enyoya broken shin.