Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-07
THE CUT DIRECT.
A Princely Partisan Affair Of Honor.
Paris Eiparn MAY ~

A Princely Partisan Affair of Honor.
Paris Figaro, May ~.
IAN affair of honor between two
notabihties of the Partisan world has
been much talked of. We did not
chose to speak of it until such time as
we were authorized to publish the fol-
lowing documents. On Friday, the
18th inst, at a ball, the Princess de
Metternich met Count Jean de Monte
bello; they bowed to one another. A
few minutes later Madame de Meter
mich accosted Count Monticello, andre
quested him not to bow to her IN future.
A letter written to him in 1870, dur
ing his captivity letter hostile to
the Imperial Government, but not In
tended for pubhcation-was the reason
assigned by Madame de Metternich for
this request. NJ. de Monticello bowed
to the Princess, but answered not
word. During the ball, M. de Monte
bello begged Count de Luart to be his
second. The latter, accompanied by
Count de Villeneuve Bargemont,
telegraphed for from Compiegne,
called the following day at O'Clock
upon Prince Metternich. They came
in the name of NJ. de Monticello, to de-
mand satisfaction by arms of M. de
Metternich, in case he should not con-
sent to express in writing his regret at
the way in which the Princess had
acted In this circumstance. The Prince
replied that he would send the next
day, Sunday, the 18th, the seconds he
should have chosen. The interview, at
first fixed for 2 O'Clock, was only held
at 6, when Messrs. de Villeneuve and
Du Luart repeated to Count de Tu-
renne and Count de la Bourdonnaye
what they had had the honor to say to
Prince Metternich. The question of
the expression of regret asked for by M.
de Monticello was not even discussed.
The seconds, without having decided |
anything, agreed to meet the same
evening at 10 O'Clock. At this inter-
view an unexpected incident arose. III.
de Metternich's seconds declared the |
Prince did not consider himself to have |
insulted NJ. de- Monticello. He could |
not, he said, be made response |
bic for words spoken by the Princess
at ball at which he was not present. |
N. De Monticello might seek person
al quarrel with him on some other |
ground than the incident of the
ball; but on this occasion he did not |
consider himself offended by him.
Messrs. De Villeneuve and Du Luart |
having consulted NJ. De Monticello,
proposed the following note:
Count De Monticello and his
seconds cannot admit that Prince Met
ternich is the offended party. Prince
Metternich and his seconds having re-
fused to allow an arbitrator to decide
who is the offended party, NJ. De Mon
tebello is resolved not to seek a quarrel
with the Prince for any other motive
than the incident of the ball, but from
Difference to NJ. De Mettenich's high
position, Count De Monticello consents
to leave the choice of arms to his HIGH
ness. The present document shall be
registered in the official report of the
duel
Prince Metternich objected TO the
wording of that note, and proposed the
following:
The seconds of Prince Metternich
having refused to allow an arbitrator
to decide to which of the two adversa-
ries should be left the choice of weap-
ons, Count de Monticello is resolved
not to seek a quarrel with the Prince
for any other motive than the incident
at the bali; consequently Count de
Monticello leaves the choice of weap-
ons to Prince Metternich. Prince Met
ternich chooses the pistol, but leaves it
to NJ. de Montebello to decide how many
shots shall be exchanged. The present
document shall be registered In che Of
fetal report of the duel
"Messrs. de Villeneuve and Du
Luart formally declared the next day
IN a new and last interview that M. de
Monticello would retrace nothing of
what he had asserted, and that he was
completely approved by his seconds.
The question does dot bear upon the
choice of weapons. NJ. de Monticello
out of courtesy did not hesitate a mo-
ment to give that point up, but having
received public affront from Madame
de Metternich and being unable to re-
ply to a lady, he addresses himself to
Prince Metternich, as responsible for
1
Tended nobody nor desires to offend any
one; he simply demands satisfaction
which his seconds consider to be due to
him; he wishes distinctly to establish
that fact. NJ de Metternich havingob-
refused to recognize NJ. de
Montebello as the offended party, and
having also refused the arbitration pro-
posed to him, all negotiation had to be
broken off and the following report was
drawn up.
''The seconds of the two parties hay-
ing been unable to agree to the accept
ance of either of the two before men,
toned reports subjoined and proposed
the seconds of Count de
Monticello declare that they withdraw.
"Counte LOUIS De TURENNE,
''Counte De LA BoURDoNNAYE,
"Vicomte De VILLENEUvE,
"Comte De LUART,
MAY Is, 1874"
1.-THE seconds of Counte de Monte
bello declare upon their honor that
they consider him the offended party.
The giving up of the choice of weapons
is on his part an act of courtesy; but
Prince Metternich claiming it as a
right the parts would be inverted. On
this point Messrs. De Villeneuve and
Du Luart can not yield, and find them
selves obliged to publish the present
''Vicomte DE VH.LENEUvE BARGEMONT,
"COmte DU LUART.
MAY Is, 1874"
As a general rule, it is better to take
little notice of foolish or even of malignant
gossip. Let it alone. By and by those
who go about retailing such stuff will grow
weary, if not ashamed; perhaps they will
feel disoIsied at their own haseness III |