Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-03
Alexandra Gazette
The Duel between Moore and Jeffrey

Jeffrey had savagey reviewed one Of Moore 5
earlier poetical works. This was we'll enough.
1t was the fair province Of the Edinburgh.
But it had gone beyond. The criticism was
full of personality; motives were impugnedi !;
base desig were charged. There Is dellb-
crate attempt, said the reviewer, Ito corrupt
the readers Of the book. Moore was furious.
Determining to cut of all chance of reconcllla-
ton, he wrote to Jeffrey rs follows
In the last number of the Edinburgh Re-
view find myself charged with deliberate i'll
tcntion to corrupt the readers of my books.
10 this beg leave to answer -''l on are Il
liar-yes, sir, a liar-and choose to adopt tins
harsh and vulgar mode of defiance i'll order 10
prevent at once all cuuivocation between US !;
and to compel you to adopt for your own sake
the alternative which you might otherwise have
heSitated in offering to mime.
The alternative Was adopted. One does
not see how, according to the etiquette of that
day. it could been avoided. challenge was
sent, accepted, preliminaries arranged, and the
two princes Of literature met ut the agreed ren-
devious The morning was early, and the day
iocound in its promise a the light struggled
through mountain mists, Moore, with the ell
thusiusln Of his poetic nature, remarked to
Jeffrey:
What glorious morning it is
Eyes" :" replied Jeffrey, "a morning too glo-
rious for the purpose that has brought you and
me here
''You feel, | SUPPOSE" rejoned Moore,
that, like the legendary Saxon bishop you
are better off in this world than in any else
where Of the great hereafter The bishop, you
remember, querulously remarked to his ser,
want that he was dying. We'll, my lord, said
the good fellow, you are going to better
place. John, replied the .prelate with an
tharn ktA
England "
Meanwhile the seconds had retired, and We're
loading the pistols As Moore finished his
story, the seconds, at last ready, placed the
parties at the stipulated distance, and put the
weapons in their hands. They raised their pis-
tolls, and stood waiting the signal to fire, when
police officers, rushing in, arrested all the par
ties apa led heN@ AFT the tt6dt tfldt .ur .De va.
Edinburgh and London. 1t was said that the
pistols were loaded with paper pellets. Byron
wrote, in the English Bards and Scotch
Reviewers :
Can none remember that eventful day,
That ever-g,orious, almost fatal fray,
When Lttle's leadless pistol met his eye,
And Bow-Street myrmidons stood laughing by
The clubs were merry over the matter !; 1t
was the topic of the saloons hundred differ
ent versions of the affair were given the news
papers-Moores particular horror -retailed
drblets of the scandal and the grand society,
of which he was both the sycophant and orna-
ment, cherished the story for many years as a
morse of luscious gossip. Both Moore and
Jeffrey publicly denied that the pistols were
not loaded with ball, and promised to adduce
proof of the fact. The friend Of the latter did
indeed, make half equivocal affidavit to sup
port his principals allegation but the second
Of Moore, to Moores infinite disgust and last
ing enmity, refused to make any statement
whatever. Moore and Jeffrey, however, were
reconciled, and became lifelong friends.