The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-13
One OF Jackson's Duels.

None Of Gen. Jacksons biographers
gives the details Of his first duel, and
h, himself never cared to speak Of the
matter in later years; but some years
ago granddaughter of Col. Waitstiil
Avery told me the full story.
Waitstill Avery was Massachusetts,
man who went to North Carolina,
carrying with him letter Of recon-
mendation from no less parsonage
than Jonathan Edwards. He soon
acquired reputation and influence, and
in time became Attorney General Of
the State. It was his custom to take
students of law into his family, who
became tutors of his children.
In 1884, when Andrew Jackson was
but II years old and ambitious to be-
come lawyer, he applied for this
situation. The tradition is that he
was refused because daughter of
Avery's took dislike to his uacouth
appearance.
Young jackson next applied to
Spruce McCay, lawyer in Salisbury,
N. c., in whose Office he was fitted for
the Bar, and he shortly made his ap-
pearance in the Courts. When Jack
son was Fl years of age he and Avery
met in the trial of case at Jonesboro,
Tenn.
It was Jackson's habit to carry in
his saddlebags q copy of Bacon 9
Abridgment." and to make frequent
appeals to it in his cases. This pre-
cious book was always carefully done
up in coarse brown paper, such as
grocers used before the neat paper
bags Of the present day were invented.
The unwrapping Of this much priced
volume before a Court was very
solemn function as performed by
Jackson.
Now Avery had by this time drop
ped whatever of Puritan sedateness
had commended him to jonathan
Edwards, and was uncommonly fond
Of joke. He procured piece of
bacon just the size of the book, and
while jackson was addressing the
Court he slipped out the volume from
its wrapping and substituted the
bacon.
At length jackson had occasion to
appeal to Lord Bacon. It was an i'm
proper case, and he woald not trust to
his memory. He would confound his
opponent by reading from the book
itself. While still talking he raised
the bearskin Zap Of his saddlebags,
drew out the brown lpaper package,
carefully united the string, unfolded
the paper with the decorous gravity of
priest handling the holy things Of
the altar, and then, without looking
at what he held in his hand exclaimed
triumphantly, "Wc will now see what
Bacon says T.
The Court, Bar, Jury and spectators
wore convulsed with laughter before
jackson saw the trick that had been
played on him. OF course. he was
Curious. He snatched pen, and on
the blank leaf Of law book wrote >.
peremptory challenge, which he de-
livereG then and there. He asked for
no apology, nothing but blood wouid
do. He commanded Avery to select a
friend and arrange for meeting at
once.
Avery made no answer to this ne.
remptory demand, thinking his pep
perry antagonist would laugh, rather
than fight, as he grew cooler. But he
did not know the young man. jackson
grew hotter instead Of cooler. Next
morning he sent this note, which was
full of bad spelling. My North Caro-.
lima friend had seen the original, and
in copying it had corrected the or
biography; but these are the exact
words:
"Sir: When mans feelings and
character are injured he ought to seek