The New York herald., 1879-10-10
Ordering Pistols and Coffee
Upon Belgian Soil.
MIR. LAWSON DECLINES.
Several Sir Lucus OTdggers Express
Their Ideas Upon Honor.
"BY MY VALOR, SIR LUCIUS.'
[DY CABLE TO THE HERALD.

by CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, Oct 8, 1870.
Truth publishes to-day the following, ad-
dressed to Mr.. Edward Levy Lawson, dated Oc-
tObcr l -
when requested you to furnish me with
the address of friend you referred the gentle
man who waited upon you to friend, who,
although q lawyer, had held Her Majestys COM
missions and you stated that you placed the
matter in his hands in this latter capacity.
Yesterday this gentleman told my friend that
you were ready to adopt the mode of settling
our dispute which l proposed. Your friend,
trusting to your assurances, as well rs acting on
his own views Of what was beftting your honor,
suggested that the matter should be further dis
cnssed in Belgium.
"No doubt had you consulted any other man
of the world he would have told you that any
peaceable citizen has a right to decline and is
fully justified in declining to enter upon o dis
cussion like this in Belgium or France; but that
in the streets invites his assailant to repeat the
assault abroad under conditions equal to both
parties, he can hardly stand we'll as q man of
honor and courage if he accepts and then backs
out.
''Your last communication informs me that
you adopt the latter alternative, and that you
have no intention to risk your life in regard to
our fracas.
CAUTIOUS COURAGE"
81 was standing in dark street at o late
hour of the night, when you, with cautious cour-
closed and cuffed each other So dark was it
that for some time did not recognize you
have not probably had your experience, a
child, in gutter warfare, but imagine you
found me perfectly able to defend myself and to
punish SO very feeble an assailant as yourseK If.
II consider you (ibelous)
to journalism respect conservatives and
liberals; but you are u (libeuoms) -"
who when Gladstone in power, spcaked
up the liberal back stairs, and hung about tho
lobbies Of the House of Commons to pick up
crumbs of quasi-ofiicial information pecuniarily
useful to you and in hopes Of currying favor
and obtaining q sort of social currency you be-
spattered Gladstone with slavish adulation, but
no sooner is he out of office than you attack him
in vein Of ssvrrilous and mcndacious vilifca-
ton.
Under the circumstances l shall take the
opinion Of friend what course to pursue regard
ing you. Unlike you, shall follow his advice.
IL confess find it difficult to know wha to
do with (ibcilous) Of your de-
scription, with just enough courage to lurk at
night in doorway in some street through
which am expected to pass, in order to deal
me a blow from behind and trust to the crowd
of roughs and (hbeilous) interfer-
ing to prevent any further consequences. Your
obedicnt servant
"HENRY LABOUCHERE."
IN THE COURTS.
Mr.. Montagu Williams the well-known bar
rister, applied this afternoon at the Guildhall
Police Court behalf of Mr.. Lawson for
summons against Mr. Labouchere. The charge
was one Of libel, and was based upon the article
given above. The summons was granted and
the hearing was set down for Thursday next.
In view of the conflicting and inaccurate state
ments made by the English press Mr.. Montagu
Williams, who was prepared to act as Mr..
Lawson's second, and was also an eyewitness
of the affair, consented to give the HERALD
correspondent u full statement Of the facts. He
says that the that Mr.. Lawson
resortcd to the method Of assaiing Mr.. La
boucherc was that according to the law dead
person cannot be libelled, and no other way
his uncle's honor. Mr.. Montagu Williams con-
firms tho statements of other cyo-witncsses,
which have been already published in the
HERALD. Mr.. Lawson threw down his cane
hcfore he struck out with his fist. Subse-
qnently he picked it up and beat Mr.. La
bouchere Both then entered the Becfsteak
Club House. Mr.. Laboucherc applied to various
members of the club to act as his second They
all refused except Mr.. Pottinger Stevens, who
Is connected with society journal called Life.
MARTIAL PRELIMINARIEs.
''Mr. Stevens next day waited on Mr.. Law
son, who referred him." SAYS Mr. Williams s.to |
inc ~ having been formerly an officer in the
Nincty-sixth regiment of foot He conveyed
Mr.. Labouchorc's challenge, and suggested Bel
gfun as u meeting place. Il suppose said |.