DUELLING OF THE LAST CENTURY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3050, 5 April 1881, Page 4

DUELLING OF THE LAST CENTURY.

A man of the present age, not thoroughly conversant with the state of society in Europe during the eighteenth century, would hardly be willing to believe the truth of the matter. We speak particularly of the Duel. Really, much of the adventure on the socalled field of honor, of that time, is entirely unfit for publication, and, if published, would be believed by but few. When read,ing of the duel in Ireland, the impression rests in our mind that the Emerald Isle must take •tfye palm in tne way of horrors and abominations of personal combat. But anon we visit England ; then France ; then Germany; Italy, Austria, Spain, in short, ■wherever fashion had introduced the sword and pistol as social arbiters ; go where you please', and read of the doings there, and you ■will feel that each in turn was the most bloody of the lot. In those times men fotight just for the - fun of the , thing. These thoughts have been suggested by the following curious passage, which comes to me from a source not to be questioned : During the reign of George I. two military officers of London—Major Walsh, and Capt. Hudon—having heard repeated accounts of the success of two Irish gentlemen in affairs of honor, determined to go over and test the much boasted skill. To Dublin they came, where Mr Fitz Mian and Colonel Callahan were pointed out to them as the heroes whom they sought. Walsh embraced the first opportunity, at a public ball, and brushed rudely against Mr Fitz Allan. The latter turned, and saw a stranger ; and thinking the affair must have been only an accident, he went his way without further notice. On the following day Major Walsh, in a tap-room where many gentlemen were assembled, told of the circumstance —declared that he had purposely insulted Fitz Allan, who had not dared to respond. Colonel ' 'allaban chanced to bo present. He advanced to the Englishman, and politely informed him that he was Fitz Allan's friend ; that he would take it upon himself to declare that his friend had slighted the insult, believing it to have been an unavoidable accident; and, further, in behalf of his friend, he would extend i>. chullongo, the fight to take place at once. Tho major accepted, and the othor went in search of his friend, who was quickly found, and brought upon the scene. Fitz Allan came in smiling. No words were wasted. The company repaired to an adjacent riding-yard, where the preliminaries were arranged and the combatants placed in position, sword in hand. " Upon my soul," said Callahan, addressing Captain Hudon —the two seconds to their friend, respectively—" I think we may as well take a hand in the pastime. It is a pity to lose such an opportunity." Nothing, at that moment, could havo pleased the English captain better. He consented immediately, and the twain drew their swords. And then commenced the double duel —a duel brought about upon the merest whim —to test the iruth of flying rumor. Callahan and Hudon being seconds, and feeling that they ought to be ready to attend their principals, went at it with the quickest and most energetic movements. Very soon the Englishman was surprised. He had fancied himself an expert at sword-play; but hero was a man who bewildered him. Tho Irishman's blade flashed through the air like a line of light leaving behind it a network of flame that seemed to create a dazzling vail of blinding rays. So for a little time, till the Englishman had been wounded in three places, and then Ciilkh.-ui gavo tho coup de grace, passing his point through between the ribs, and out at (lie back. As he rscovered his sword he turned to Ids principal and said : " I'll attend to you now, Fitz. My man is laid away ! " "Oho! Then, egad! I'll finish mine!" And gathering himself for a feint—a twirl —and a pass, that had never yet failed him, he spitted his opponent through, from sido to side. The two Englishmen were taken in hand by the best surgeons, and faithfully nursed. For a time their lives were despaired of, both ; but they finally recovered, and lived to become warm and ardent friends of the men who had given them so severe a lesson n duelling.