The Penn's Grove record., 1886-06-12
Moore and Jeffreys.

That was a memorable encounter be-
tween the poet Tom Moore, and h
critic. essayist and jurist, Francis jeff
rev. Both of them were of keen and
polished wit; both manufactured, gener-
Gus, impulsive and more or less capri
cious. In 1906 Jeffrey attacked Moore's
codes and Epistles'' in the Edinburgh
Reuiep. denouncing them in the strong
est terms. This was too much for the
sensitive poet. He felt that blood alone
could wash away the stain of that
abominable criticism. Accordingly he
challenged the traducer to mortal COM
bat. Jeffrey though small OF stature,
was great in courage, and he strarght-
way accepted the challenge IL named
pistols as the weapons. SECONDS were
selected and preliminaries arranged,
when Moore bethought him that 1t would
be necessary that he should provide him
self with pistols; and, further, 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
had never owned-at any rate, proper
dueling pistols; but he knew that his
dear friend, Sir William Robert Spen-
Ger. owned beautiful pistols, and to him
he applied, being obliged, OF course,
| to tell what he wanted them for. SIT
William cheerfully lent his pistols; and
then as soon as the messenger was gone
| from his sight he hurried away to the
Bow-street office and engaged two oti-
| GERS of his acquaintance to hold them
| selves in readiness to prevent the two
| little peppery men from rlsklng mortal
damage to one another. The duel was
| to be fought at Chalk Farm early In the
| morning. DR.. Joseph Hume was
| Moore's second, while Francis Horner
| of the Edinburgh RerieU 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 fol
deadly strife, Thomas Moore and Fran
| els Jeffrey met, face to face, for the first
time. They did not offer to shake
| hands: but Jeffrey said-he and his an
| taponist were now alone together, the
| others of the party being engaged in the
| solemn duty Of loading the pistols-sald
| Jeffrey. "What a beautiful morning II
isln To this Moore answered, YES
And then added, with a slight smile
"a morning made for better purposes; .
| Jeffrey's response to this was a sigh,
They passed each other and turned, and
when they met again Moore related tC
| his antagonist a comical story about al
Irish barrister, Billy Egan, who had
gone out on a bright morning, as they
were out then, for the purpose of fight
ing a duel. jeffrey was still smiling al
this story, when the seconds came ou'
from the adjacent thicket and announ'
ced "All readyl'
The men were placed twelve pace'
apart and the pistols given into then
hands.
s'Now," said Hume, remember tn
word. Raise your pistols at the wore
Readgl Then one, tUo. and at three yol
will fire."
"Readyl" Nobody can say wher'
Moore's heart was, but his pistol wa
raised, and so was Jeffrey's. The!
waited for the fatal signal.
That signal, however was not given
Instead thereof two Bow-street officer
emerged from the thicket, n OF which
advanced to Jeffrey and struck his PTS
toll down with his staff, while his com
panion went up and collared Moore.
The belligerants were marched off t
the respective carriages and conveyed t
Bow street, where, as no blood had beef
spilled, they were let off lightly. Ant
from that Office Tom Moore and France
Jeffrey went forth friends, and thei
friendship grew and strengthened Will
they lived.