The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-03
.DUELS AND DUELLSTS.
BY t. b. THORPE.
IcoNrrNUED.l


the Rio Grande at the time General Taylor
occupied Matamoras, gave me an illustrative
anecdote of the duel as it was understood by
the officers of the British navy at the close Of
our war of 1872. Soon after peace had been
declared between Great Britain and the United
States and while both sides were ohafng
under the idea that the war had been fruitless
OF any good results, my informant found him
self on board of a small United States brig in
the harbor of Calais, which was at the time
crowded with ships of the largest size belong
ing to England, France and Spain, which
vessels made the petty affair under the
Stars and Stripes look more than nat
urally insignificant by comparison. The op-
portunity Of making disparaging illusions
against the United States Navy was freely
indulged in, and the few American officers
who ventured ashore had to stand great deal
OF implied insult. One evening Lieutenant
Guest, Tennesseean by birth, went ashore,
and entering the most fashionable coffse-house,
found 1t crowded with gayly-dressed navy and
army officers of every irst-class nation, and
Guest felt that his plain blue undress looked
very poor beside his richly gold laced and
garly-plumed rivals; in fact he felt that he
was personally as insignificant in appearance
rs his vessel was in the naval display in the
harbor.
After looking carefully around and finding
no table entirely vacant, he discovered an
empty chair which brought him opposite
British officer. There was general buz in tn,
room as Guest took his seat a sort of feeling
evidently prevailed that something exciting
might happen from the unexpected meet
ing. Guest felt that every eye was upon
him, but he affected the utmost Indifference
and coolly lighted cigar, and ordering a
cup of coffee, seemed to be engaged with
curling the fragrant tobacco smoke about
his disdainfully curled-up nose. The Eng
lishman was made to feel from the outside
pressure that he was bound to distinguish
himself, and this idea on his part was more
and more intensified as the officers of the
different nationaities present turned their ex-
peotant eyes upon him. Guest slipped his
coffee in silence, but he was finally interrupted
with the question:
81 presume you are an officer on board of
the American brig in the harbor?'
81 am" returned Guest, in bland manner
81 am glad have had the pleasure of meet
ing yOu," continued the Euglishman, "for l
have for long time been anxious to ask some
intelligent American officer what he thought
would probably be the result to his country
should it again so to war with England"
81 have not the slightest idea, ;" returned
Guest very deliberately lighting another
cigar; 81 am only naval officer, and not a
statesman"
"But," continued the questioner, pushing
his point with pertinaoity that ocoasioned
sensation among the lockers on--"but you
have some opinion on the subjeetY''
The spectators now began to gather round
the table and suspend conversation.
81 have an opinion" said Guest, finally; ga
very decided opinion, indeed; but l am not
Obliged to give it,
Here the spectators looked at the English
man with sort of commiserating look which
nettled him, and he returned to the charge by
saying, rather tartly, che should like to hear
what his opinion was"
vO1 St ~ (fUngf
oblige you, though l do not think this is
time or place for political discussion"
'Let's have the opinion, nevertheless"
urged the Englishman affecting yawn.
"Well," said Guest, 'if your country and
mine ever get into another war, it has been
decided by my Government at Washington to
send sloop.load of powder over to your
country, dig hole in the middle of it, and
then set the powder on fire; and my opinion is
that the explosion will blow your boasted
British isle out of the water. Aud now,"
continued Guest, rising, "since you have got
ten hold of a state secret, perhaps you want
the authority; so here's my card" and Guest
placed 1t upon the table,
"And there's mine, " said the Englishman,
suddenly becoming very serious and very red
in the face.
There was suppressed murmur through
the entire room, aud here and there could be
heard sounds indicative of sarcastic laughter,
amidst which Guest left the saloon, the specta-
tors falling back so as not to oppose his pro.
gress
On reaching his vessel Guest found Lieuten-
ant Hove, the,ofiicer in charge, and remarking
that he was very much fatigued, he said he
would turn in at once, and added, as If paren-
thetioally, eff you get a letter addressed to me
in the course of the morning open it and make
all the necessary arrangements without con-
sulting me. Good night"
1t was noon ere Guest made his appearance
on deck, and he then learned with surprise
that no letter had been received, and he found
it very difficult to explain the reason. 1t was
certainly impossible that this jest could
be construed into any thing less than
an intended insult. The day wore on
without incident until towards sundown, when
boat was seen putting off from the Eng
lish Admiral's flagship. 1t was gay with
streamers and had a number of officers on
board who seemed to be in unusually good
spirits. The boat in its circuit made sort OF
visit to almost every ship in the harbor, and,
after attracting unusual attention, pulled
straight TO the American brig, when note
was sent up addressed to Lieutenant Guest
u. S. NJ, and, without waiting for an answer,
moved away.
1t was with unusual interest that the officer
addressed opened the nete, but its contents
filed him with surprise and astonishment. i
was written on official note-paper, and from
the flagship of the British fleet; the object was
10 request Lieutenant Guest, and such of hi
friends as he might select, to honor with theil
presence social dinner party to be given the
next day on board of His Majestys ship the
Thunderer.
AS this was the first act of courtesy that hat