FAMOUS DUELS IN ENGLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 839, 14 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 Wel-

lington challenged the Earl of Winchelsea in consequence of the

Earl’s remarks on the Catholic question. They met in Battersea Fields. Ford Winchelsea received the Duke’s fire and then fired in the air.

The Right Hon. William Pitt was challenged by George Tierney, President of the Board of Control, on account oi certain objectionable remarks made iu the House of Commons. They met on Putney Common. Two shots were exchanged, and Pitt fired the third time in Urn am, when a reconciliation wa I id. Georve canning met rci Cast!,/', gh on Putney Common. They 4 -light in sight of the windows of the house in which Pitt d . Both 'used. At the next exchange Ca cll ereagh’s ball entered Mr Carin’ g’s thigh, inflicting a slight wound. The two statemeu assumed their places for a third shot, when the second seeing the blood streaming from Mr Canning’s wound, put an end to the combat. Benjamin Disraeli having likened Daniel O'Connell to the impenitent thief of the cross O’Connell also used language which was not parliamentary, and Disraeli offered to castigate the Irishman. O’Connell declined to meet him. Disraeli then challenged Morgan O’Connell, the accuser’s sou. Morgan O’Connell also declined to meet a Jew on a “field of honour.”

Curran, the Irish orator, fought

tour duels. The first was with Captaiu St. Ledger, who had insulted an Irish Roman Catholic piiest. The captaiu fired, but Curran did not. “It was not necessary for me to fire at him,'’

the Irish wit alterwards wrote: “The gallant captain died three weeks after the duel of the report of his own pistol.”

The next affair was with the Attorney-General for Ireland, Mr Fitzgibbon. The parties were to fire at pleasure. Curran fired first, and then Fitzgibbon took aim for nearly a minut’e. On its proving ineffectural Curran remarked : “It 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 Egan’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 vindicate the reputation of Miss Einley. It was done in theatrical style. They fought with swords, and great courage and skill were displayed on both sides, Sheridan disarmed his adversary and compelled him to sign a formal retraction. Mr Matthews again challenged Mr Sheridan. The parties met on King’s Down. The battle 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 the seconds separated them. It was found that Matthews’ sword was actually broken off in Sheridan’s ear.