Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-09
Ghildrem's 9epartn1ent.
[Origlnal.l
LORD BYRON'S DUEL.

LORD BYRON'S DUEL.
A duel is little war-a fight with deadly
weapons between, usually, only two persons.
With certain class of individuals duels are
regarded as evidences Of bravery, and are
highly honorable; but by the best of the hu-
man family, they are regarded as relics of a
barbarous age. Many useful man has lost
his life in duel but it might be said, in
most cases, as David said of Abner when slain
by Joab, he died as fool died. To put ones
self up as target to be shot at, is, to say the
least of it, to set but low value upon human
life.
The duel of one man is about as important
as that of any other but duels, like every
thing else, assume Importance from the char
acter of the individuals engaged in them.
This is the case respecting the duel OF Lord
Byron. As poet, Byron was great man !;
but when this is said all is said. He was wild
and reckless. His moral character was such
as to render him unfit for being initiated by
the youth of any land.
In the neig ghborhood of Lord Byron's
country residence, in Nottinghamshire, Eng
land, there resideda gentleman by the name
of William Chaworth. Both Byron and
Chaworth were members Of what was called
the Nottinghamshire club. It was the Gus
tom of the members of this club to meet
once month and dine together at tavern
called the "Star and Garter" They usually
dined about four in the evening. We may
suppose they we're jolly set. All Of them
we're rich, or thought to be 50, and no doubt
the most of them were great lovers of wine.
On the 26th Of January, 1865, some ten
members of this Nottinghamshire club met.
The time was spent in hilarity and mirth un-
til about seven o'clock. At this hour it was
customary for the bill to be brought in, and
with it bottle. About the time the bill and
bottle arrived in the room, one of the mem.
bers John Hewett, began conversation rel
ative to the game laws Of England and the
best mode of preserving the game. The con-
versation was general for some time, but soon
Byron and Chaworth became excited. Byron
took the ground that the best way to preserve
the game Of the country was to take no care
of it at all. Chaworth advocated the neces-
sity of different course. The disputants
soon left the subject and became personal.
Chaworth said he and Charles Sedley had
more game on five acres, than Lord Byron
had on his whole manor. Byron offered to
bet one hundred guineas that this declaration
was not true. Chaworth called for pen, ink
and paper, that he might reduce the bet to
writing. John Sherwin stated to the angry
contenders, that it would be impossible to de-
eide such a bet, and it was dropped. Cha
worth then said that were it not for the care
which he and Charles Sedley paid to the
game, Byron would not have hare on his
whole manor. This inAamed Byron, and he
asked with sarcastic smile, "Where are
Charles sedley's manors?" Chaworth re-
piled, angrily, "If yon want information with
respect to Sir Charles sedley's manors, he
lives at Mr.. Cooper's in Dean street, and, 1
doubt not, will be ready to give you satisfac-
tion; and as to myself, your Lordship knows
where to find me, in Berkley row." To this
Byron made no reply. .....
It was Chaworth's evening to settle the bill.
So soon as this was done, he started to 60 down
stairs, but was met at the head of the stairs by
George Donston, with whom he conversed for
few moments relative to the conversation
between himself and Byron. Donston left
Chaworth and returned into the room, but
was met, as he went in, by Byron going out.
Chaworth went down stairs and Byron fol-
lowed him. They met at the landing and
something was said; but what it was and by
whom, no one knows when both called upon
servant to show them an empty room.
The servant came, having in his hand
tallow candle, which gave only dim light.
The parties were shown the room, and having
placed the candle on the table, the servant re-
tired. In short time the bell was rung, but
no one, at the time, it seems, knew who did it.
A servant entered the room, and finding By
ron and Chaworth fighting, ran and called
the master of the house. The alarm was soon
given, and number of persons rushed into the
room Byron had his left hand round Cha
worth's body, and Chaworth had his right
hand round Byron's neck. Chaworth had
his sword in his left hand, and Byron had his
in his right hand. Chaworth was mortally
wounded and died shortly afterward. Byron
surrendered himselfand was tried by his peers
on the 18th of April, 1855, and found guilty
of manslaughter; but since he was Lord, he
was dismissed with no other punishment ex-
cept paying the fees. Before his death, Cha
worth gave the following account of the fight,
and it was not contradicted by Byron:
He said that "Lord Byron asked him if he
meant the conversation on the game to him
or to Sir Charles Sedley?" To which he re-
piled, eff you have anything to say, we had
better shut the door," That while he was do
ing this, Lord Byron bid him draw his sword.
On turning round he saw that Lord Byron's
sword was half drawn. Knowing the man,
he drew his own sword as soon as he could,
and made a thrust at Lord Byron, but missed
his body and ran the sword through Byron's
waist coat. Byron then shortened his sword
and plunged it into his bowels"
1t seems ridiculous that two men would
make an attack upon each other with swords,
about few rabbits, but some Of the most
devastating wars have been about as triaing
things England was once drenched with
blood because one brother threw pitcher of