Famous Duels in England.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 May 1910, Page 4

Famous Duels in England.

FOUR PRIME MINISTERS ON THE FIELD OF HONOUR.

At least four of England's Prime Ministers entered the "field of honour." The Duke of Wellington challenged the Earl of Winchelsea in consequence of the Karl's remarks on the Catholic question. They met in. Battersea Fields. Lord Winchelsea received tlio Duke's fire and .then fired in the air. The Right Hon. William Pitt was challenged by George Tierney, president of the Hoard of Control, on account of certain objectionable remarks made in the- House of Commons. They met on Putney Common. Two shots were exchanged, and Pitt fired .the third in the air, when a, reconciliation wa.s effected. George Canning met Lord Castlereagh on Putney Common. They fought in sight of the trindows of the house in which Pitt died. Both missed. Alb the next exchange Castlereagh's ball entered Mr Canning's thigh, inflicting a flight wound. The two statesmen assumed their places for a third shot, when the seconds, seeing the blood streaming from Mr Canning's wound, put an end to tlio combat. Daniel O'Connell having likened Mr Disraeli to the impenitent thief on the cross, O'Connell i.lfo used language which was not parliamentary, and Disraeli offe-ed io castigate the Irish num. O'Comdl declined to meet him. '.then challenged Morgan O'Connell, the accuser's son, but Morgan O'Connell also declined to meet a Jew oil a "field on honour." Curran, the Irish orator, fought four duels. The first was with Captain St. Ledger, who had insulted an Irish Roman Catholic priest. The Captain fired, bu'.t Curran did not. "It was not necessary for me to fire at him," the Irish wit afterwards wrote; "the gallant Captain died three weeks after the duel of the report of Ins own pistol." The next affair was with the At-torney-General for Ireland, Mr Fitzgibbon. The parties were to fire at pleasure. Curran fired first, and then Fitzgibbon took aim for nearly a minu!te. On its proving ineffectual Curran remarked: "Tti was not your fault, Mr Attorney, you were deliberate enough!" The third duel was with John Egan, an Irish barrister who had the nickname of Bully. Egan was "of immense size, as brawny and almost as black as a coal porter." Curran was facetious on .the subject of Egnn's size, and they left the field reconciled. Egan became Curran's second in Curran's fourth and last duel, with Lord Buckinghamshire. Richard Brinsley Sheridan fought Mr Matthews, "a gentleman of fashion,' 'at Bath in order to vi'iv dica.te the reputation of iMiss Linley. Tt was done in theatrical style. They fought with swords, and great courage and skill were displayed on both sides. Sheridan disarmed hifi adversary and compelled him to sign a formal detraction. Mr Matthews a train challenged Mr Sheridan. The parties met on King's Down. The ba'.ttle was desperately contested. After a discharge of pistols they fought with swords. Both were wounded and fell to the ground, where they continued to fight until tho seconds separated them. Tt was found that Matthew's sword was actually broken off in Sheridan's ear.