The Sun. — 1868-06-25 (London, England)

CESS.  THE BLADENSBURG DUELLING GROUND.  Two recent cases have attracted attention to this famous duelling ground, which is situated in Maryland, some six or eight miles from Washington. It is a beautiful little grass plot,' surrounded by trees, and there a number of most noted duellists resorted to perform their deadly work. The TVatchman and Reflector tells us that in 1814 Edward Hopkins was killed in a duel. This seems to have been the first of these fashionable murders on this duelling ground. In 1819 A. T. Mason, a United States Senator, fought with his sister's husband, John M'Carty. M'Carty was averse to fighting, and thought there was no necessity for it ; but Mason would fight. M'Carty named muskets loaded with grapeshot, and so near together that they would hit heads if they fell on their faces. This was changed by the seconds to loading with bullets, and taking 12 feet as the distance. Mason was killed instantly, and M'Carty, who had his collar bone broken, still lives with Mason's sister in Georgetown. His hair turned white so soon after the duel as to cause much comment. He has since been solicited to act as second in a duel, but refused, in accordance with a pledge he made to his wife soon after killing her brother. In 1820 Com. Decatur was killed in a duel here by Corn. Barron. At the first fire both fell forward, with their heads within ten feet of each other; and as each supposed himself mortally wounded, each fully and freely forgave the other, still lying on the ground. Decatur expired immediately, but Barron eventually recovered. In 1821 two strangers, named Lega and Sega, fought here, and Sega was instantly killed. The neighbours only learned this much of their names from the marks on their gloves left on the ground. Lega was not hurt. In 1822 midshipman Lock was killed here by a clerk of the Treasury Department named Gibson. The latter was not hurt. In 1826 Henry Clay fought (his second duel) with John Randolph, just across the Potomac, as Randolph preferred to die, if at all, on Virginia soil. He recei7ed. Clay's shot, and then fired in the air. This. was in accordance with a declaration made to Mr. Benton, who spoke to Randolph of a call, the evening before, on Mrs. Clay, and alluded to the quiet sleep of her child and the repose of the mother. Randolph quickly replied, " I shall do nothing to disturb the sleep of the child or the repose of the mother." When Randolph fired he remarked, " I do not shoot at you, Mr. Clay," and extending his hand, advanced towards Mr. Clay, who rushed to meet him. Randolph showed Mr. Clay where his ball had struck his coat, and said, facetiously, " Mr. Clay, you owe me a coat." Clay replied, " Thank God the debt is no greater." They were friends ever after. In 1832 Martin was killed by Carr. Their first names are not remembered. They were from the South. In 1822 Mr. Key, son of Frank Key,  and brother of Barton Key, of Sickles' notoriety, met Mr. Sherborn and exchanged shots, when Mr. Sherborn said—" Mr. Key, I have no desire to kill you." "No matter," said Key, " I came to kill you." " Very well, then," said Sherborn, " I will now kill you." And he did. In 1838 W. J. Graves, of Kentucky, assuming the quarrel of James Watson Webb with Jonathan Cilley, of Maine, selected this place for Cilley's murder ; but the parties learning that Webb with two friends, Jackson and Merrell, were armed and in pursuit, for the purpose of assassinating Cilley, moved towards the river and nearer the city. Their pursuers moved towards the river, but missed the parties, and then returned to the city, to which they were soon followed by Graves and the corpse of Cilley. The latest was between Colonel P. 11. Green, of Missouri, and Daniel G. Wright, of Baltimore, in which both were wounded ; and Mr. A. G. Lawrence, United States Minister to Costa Ricl, who fought his duel there with Baron von Kosserow, of the Prussian Legation in Washington, accompanied by Count Lothum. Although neither of the combatants was hit, the President removed Mr. Lawrence and nominated Mr. Mot in his place, and Mr. Seward has directed the attention of the Prussian Minister to the matter, in order that these members of the Legation might be made sensible of the displeasure of their Government by their removal.