The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-06
A Novel Duel.
Boston Times.

That was q memorable encounter
between the poet, Tom Moore, and the
critic, essayist and jurist, Francis jeff
rev. Both of them were of keen and
polished wit; both warm-hearted, gen
erous, impulsive and more or less ca
PRECIOUS. In 1906 Jeffrey attacked
Moore's codes and Epistles" in the
Edinburgh Review, denouncing them
on account of their immortality. This
was too much for the sensitive poet.
He felt thai blood alone could wash
away the stain of that abominable crit
icism Accordingly he challenged the
traducer to mortal combat.
Jeffrey, though small of stature, was
great in courage, and he straightway
accepted the challenge and named pis-
tolls as the weapons. Seconds were Sc
lected and preliminaries arranged,
when Moore bethought him that it
would be necessary that he should
provide himself with pistols, and fur
the1, as the challenging party, it
would be proper for him to furnish
weapons for both.
Now, deadly weapons of any kind
Moore had never been partial to, and
pistols he never owned-at any rate,
proper dueling pistols-but he knew
that his dear friend, Sir Robert Will
liam Spencer; owned beautiful pistols,
and to him he applied, being obliged,
of course, to tell what he wanted them
for. Sir William cheerfully lent his
pistols, and then as soon as the mes
senger was gone from his sight he hur-
ried away to the Bow street office and
engaged two officers of his acquaint-
ance to hold themselves in readiness to
prevent the two little peppery men
from risking mortal damage to one
another.
The duel was to be fought at Chalk
farm early in the morning. DIR. Joseph
Hume was Moore's second, while Fran
els Homer, of the Edinburgh Review,
was second for Jeffrey. but others were
on the ground, though not in sight, for
both men had many friends who were
deeply anxious. And there, on that
ground chosen for deadly strife, Thom-
as Moore and Francis Jeffrey met, face
to face, for the first time. They did
offer to shake hands, but Jeffrey Che
and his antagonist were now alone to-
gether, the others of the party being
engaged in the solemn duty of loading
the pistols) said: What beautiful
it isr'
To this Moore answered.: Eyes
and then added, with smile. "a morn
ing made for better purposes.
Jetlreys response to this was sigh. |
They passed each other and turned,
and when they met again Moore re-
lated to his antagonist comical story |
about an Irish barrister, Billy Egan,
who had gone out on bright morning, |
as they were out then, for the purpose |
of fighting duel. Jefareys was still
smiling at this story when the seconds
came out from an adjoining thicket and |
announced "all ready"
The men were placed twelve PAGES |
apart and the pistols given into their
hands.
"Now," said Hume, remember the
word. Raise your pistols at the word
ready Then one-two-and at three
you will fire."
Ready Nobody can say where
Moore's heart was, but his pistol was
raised, and so was Jeffrey's. They
waited for the fatal signal.
That signal, however, was not given.
Instead thereof two Bow street officers
emerged from the thicket, one of whom
advanced 10 Jeffrey and struck his pis-
,ol down with his staff, while his COM
)anion went up and collared Moore.
The belligerents were marched off to
heir respective carriages and conveyed
% Bow street, where, as no blood had
been spilled, they were let of lightly.
And from that Office Tom Moore and
Francis jeffrey went forth friends, and
heir friendship grew and strengthened
while they lived.
The '.elm leaI beetlen is so numer-