The morning news., 1897-03-21

Walpole tells an instructive little story.
He accompanied a party to NauXhan,
among whom was a certain Miss Spune
who desired nothing so much as tie fun
of seeing a duel-a thing which. though
she is Is, she has never been so lucky as
TO see" This is in 1850. Some lively
young gallants intruded, and the gentle
men thrust them out good-humoredly.
Such incidents were usual at NauXhal.
But the ingenious Miss Spune did her ut
most TO make Lord March call one of
them out and showed temper when he
declined But this is by the way. Every
one who bears in mind the customs of the
period, while reading Macaulay's review of
the life of Macintosh, must wonder what
came of ii. Unless the gentleman so mer-
ciessly ridiculed and belabored there We're
incapacitated for fighting, by some phys
ical or moral impediment, he must have
challenged his critic; otherwise, he would
assuredly have been cut by his friends.
The fact is that he did so, and with a
firm resolve to shoot him; but the incident
has not received so much notice appar-
emily as one might expect. Wallace was
the hapless editors name. He could not
find proof that Macauley wrote the arti-
Gle until the latter had sailed for India; 4;
but with ruthless determination he await
ed his return. So uncompromising was his
tone when the moment arrived that Mac
be avoided" as he wrote TO Napier. And
the most interesting point Is that he him
self was quite ready. We look in vain
through the correspondence published
dealing with this matter for any scruples.
or, indeed any physical qualms. The
scholar brought up among the strictest
sect of Clapham, delight and pupil of Han
nah More would have exchanged shots
apparently with as little remose as a fire.
eating ensign! Was that the effect of the
Indian atmosphere? However. when mu-
tual friends despaired, Lord STAFFORD
found an ingenious solution. If Mr. Wal
lace would declare that he meant no dis
respect to Sir James Macintosh by his
remarks, Mr.. Macaulay would express re
gret for his criticisms. And so peace was
made.
Voltaire fought several duels, but the
one which did not come off was the most
interesting, as usual. The eminent Mau-
pertius wrote to him-after publication of
that immortal satire-"l have stil strength
enough to find you, wherever you may be,
and to take signal vengeance" Voltaire
answered You will find me in bed. with
nothing but''-appurtenances of a sick
chamber, described with Gallo precision
ito meet you with. But so soon as l re-
gain my health l will have a brace of
pistols charged cum pulvere pyris, and,
multiplying the mass with the square of
tne velocity, so as TO reduce the action
and you to zero, 1 will put some lead into
skull which seems to be in need of it,
the sting of this reply is best apprecl-
ated by those who recollect the wild hui
NOR of "Dr. Alcastra." Maupertius
thought it wisest to let bad alone. Savage
Landor challenged the attache of the
British legation at Florence for whlstling
as lady passed by. Vainly did all pres
ent demonstrate that he could not pos
sibly have seen her. The poet would have
blood, and when this satisfaction was
firmly though merrily denied him, he
wrote to the foreign Office denouncing the
Infamous character of those wretches
whom you employ abroad"
The abolition of duelling in this empire
was caused by a literary quarrel, the hero
of which was Sir Henry Lawrence. of all
mortals. He insisted upon fighting a
writer in the Calcutta Review. The mat
ter was arranged, but in consequence,
Sir Robert Inglis summoned a number of
gentlemen to consider the best means
of preventing the crime of duelling."
They formed an association, and the first
general meeting was held at the British
hotel, Cockspur street, Feb. II, 1S42, Rear
Admiral Hawkes. in the chair In Au-
gust, 1S43, the association presented, a
memorial to her majesty, through the
home office, requesting her to take this
matter into her gracious consideration.