Year: 1876

know very well what you said Of me tC
Mrs. Simmons. You are scoundrel, O
liar, and a ruffian |"


In those days such words as these
could only be wiped out with blood, and
the seconds were at once appointed.


Both gentlemen remained at the cof-
fee-house some time, and during that
time Mr.. Best made creditable effort
he sent Lord Camelford q solemn assur-
ance he had been deceived, and said
that under those circumstances he would
be satisfied If his lordship would with
error. But Camelford absolutely re-
fused, and then Best left the house IN
considerable agitation and sent his lord
ship note, The people of the house
justly suspected this was O challenge,
and gave information to the police bat
they were dilatory, and took no steps
until it was too late.


Next morning, early, the combatants
met at coffee-house in Oxford street,
and Best made an unusual and indeed a
touching attempt to compose the differ
ence. Camelford," he said, we have
been friends, and 1 know the unsuspect-
u6 6ohoiooA1J VI yOeu haeuiC. OPoh
my honor you have been imposed upon
by a strumpet. Do not insist on express
sions under which one of us must fall. F"


Camelford, as it afterward appeared,
was by no means unmoved by this ap-
peal. But he answered, doggedly,
"Best, this is child's play the thing
must go on" The truth is, Best had
the reputation of being a fatal shot, and
this steeled Camelfords pride and cour-
age against all overtures.


The duel was in q meadow behind
Holland House. The seconds placed
the men at thirty-nine yards, and this
seems to imply they were disposed to
avoid fatal termination if possible.


Camelford fred first, and missed I;
Best hesitated, and some think he even
then asked Camelford to retract. This,
however, is not certain. He fired, and
Lord Camelford fell at his full length,
| like q man who was never to stand again.


They all ran to him and it is said he
gave Best his hand, and said, "Best, 1
am dead man. You have killed me I;
but freely forgive YOU"


This may very well be true, for it GER
tainly accords with words he had already
placed on paper the day before, and also
with words he undoubtedly uttered in
the presence of several witnesses soon
after.


Mr.. Best and his second made off to
provide for their safety; one of Lord
Hollands gardeners called out to some
men to stop them, bnt the wounded
man rebuked him, and said he would
not have them stopped-he was the ag-
gressor he forgave the gentleman who
had shot him, and hoped God would for
give him, too.


He was carried home, his clothes were
cut off him, and the surgeon at once pro-
nounced the wound mortal the bullet
was buried in his body, and the lower
limb quite paralyzed by its action. 1t
was discovered after his death, embed
ded in his spinal marrow, having ira
versed the lungs. He suffered great
agonies that day, but obtained some
sleep in the night. He spoke often and
with great contrition of his past life,
and relied on the mercy of his Re-
deemer.


Besides the duel he had done a just
and worthy act. He had provided for
the safety of Mr.. Best, by adding to his
will positive statement that he was the
aggressor In every sense {: "Should L
therefore lose my life In contest of my
own seeking solemnly forbid any of my
friends or relations to proceed against
my antagonist" He added that If the
law should, nevertheless, be put in force
he hoped this part OF his will would be
laid before the King.


have, also, private information, on
which think 1 can rely, that, when he
found he was to die, he actually wrote
to the King, with his own hand, en-
treating him not to let Best be brought
into trouble.


And, if we consider that, as death
draws near, the best of men generally
fall into mere british apathy-what-
ever you may read to the contrary in
tracts-methinks good men and woman
may well yield tear to this poor, fool
ish, sinful, but heroic creature, who, In
agon1es Of pain and the jaws of death,
could vet be 80 earnest in his anxiety
that no injustice should be done to the
man who had laid him low. This
stamps Camelford man. The best wo-
man who ever breathed was hardly capa-
BILE of it. She would forgive her enemy;
but she could not trouble herself, and
worry herself, and provide, aoribunda,
against injustice being done to that en-
emy c'etait male.


come now to the particulars which
have caused me to revive the memory of
Thomas Pitt, Lord Camelford, and 1
divide these particulars into public and
private information.


THE PUBLIC INFORMATION.


The day before his death Lord Camel
ford wrote codicl to his will, which,
like his whole character, merits study.


He requested his relations not to wear
mourning for him, and he gave particu-
lar instructions as to the disposal of his
remains in their last resting place. In
this remarkable document he said that
most persons are strongly attached to
their native place, and would have their
remains conveyed home even from a
great distance. His desire, however
was the reverse; he wished his body to
be conveyed to country far distant, to
a spot not near the haunts of men, but
where the surrounding scenery might
smile upon his remains"


He then went into details. The place
was by the Lake of st. Pierre. in the