The Sun. — 1847-06-28 (London, England)

DUELLING EXTRAORDINARY  AT BRIGHTON. (From the Brighton Guardian.) An amusing exemplification of the progress of " The Snobs of England" in the vices and follies of the upper classes has been lately afforded in Brighton by an occurrence, the Quixotic extravagance of which has rarely been exceeded. The particulars of this rencontre, as well as we have been able to gather them from authentic sources are as follows :—One evening shortly prior to Friday, the 11th instant, a young "gent," (a fine specimen of that obnoxious class so vigorously denounced by Albert Smith) named C----, was reclining in luxurious abandon on one of the seats of the Esplanade, inhaling simultaneously breezes from the sea and the tranquillising fumes of a cigar—when a rival "gent," one N—, in whose veins circulateth the blood of a " gallant Captain," approached him in an imperious manner and remarked that it was not very gentlemanly to be smoking cigars in such a place. To this rude accostment the other replied that it was quite as gentlemanly as t,) wear such " a shocking bad hat" as the impugner of his gentility sported. What answer this retort uncourteous provoked, and what charges and counter charges followed, are unfortunately lost to posterity; but certain it is that the blood of the Captain " riled" high, and that the indignant fumigat,r was equally put upon his mettle. Threats were bandied, the plebian alternative of " fists " was spoken of, and— . "As their courage boiling rose From words at length they came to -" No, not to blows, but to a challenge froth C--- to 'nee t with loaded pistols on the Beach I at eight o'clock on Friday evening. At the appointed hour the antagonists met ; and the preliminaries having been completed, the seconds proceeded to mark out the ground close to the second breakwater, near Hove. Eight paces was the distance, the combatants took each his place, the pistols were loaded, and everything prepared, when at that critical juncture one of the valiant youths muttered through his chattering teeth, " Wha-a.t ! are you-you a-going to-o mur-murder me ?" It is not unlikely that some such feeling of dread was passing in the mind of his antagonist at the same moment ; for it appears certain from the best authorities that no inconsiderable number of paces were added to those already marked out. Indeed, it has been whispered that the parties having retired to the extreme ends of the breakwater, stood prepared to dart behind it on the word " fire" being given. " Time " being called, each gallant heart worked up its courage " to the sticking point," the arms were raised and discharged, a loud report was heard, a cloud of smoke arose, and, as that cleared away, the combatants were seen to stand unhurt. They had, however, still another brace of pistols in the case, and the laws of honour required that they be discharged. The laws were satisfied, and N— fell—in a fainting fit I When recovered, he firmly declined the honour of another shot, agreeing that if any stain remained upon the character of his " friend " it should be washed out by as much champagne as he might choose to drink at his expense. This challenge was instantly accepted, and the party adjourned to a, favourite "house of call," where they drowned all animosity in a flowing bowl. The most amusing part of the adventure remains to be told. Since the meeting, N— has been frequently heard to declare that he palpably felt one of the balls sweep past his ear, and that another brushed his hat ; both which circumstances are rendered extremely improbable from the fact that the pistols were, unknown to the combatants, charged with powder only I