partially observed, by both principals and seconds, in our own day. "RULE 1. "The first offence requires the first apology, though the retort may have been more offensive than the insult. Example: A tells B he is impertinent, &c.; B retorts that he lies; yet A must make the first apology, because he gave the first offence, and then (after one fire) B may explain away the retort by subsequent apology. "RULE 2. "But if the parties would rather fight on, then, after two shots each (but in no case before), B may explain first, and A apologizes afterwards. "N. B. The above rules apply to all cases of offences in retort not of a stronger class than the example. "RULE 3. “If a doubt exists who gave the first offence, the decision rests with the seconds; if they will not decide, or cannot agree, the matter must proceed to two shots, or to a hit if the challenger require it. "RULE 4. "When the lie direct is the first offence, the aggressor must either beg pardon in express terms, exchange two shots previous to an apology, or three shots followed up by explanation, or fire on till a severe hit be received by one party or the other. "RULE 5. "As a blow is strictly prohibited under any circumstances amongst gentlemen, no verbal apology can be received for such an insult. The alternatives, therefore, are, the offender handing a cane to the injured party, to be used on his own back, at the same time begging pardon; firing on until one or both is disabled; or exchanging three shots and then asking pardon without the proffer of the cane. If swords are used, the parties engage till one is well blooded, disabled, or disarmed; or until, after receiving a wound, and blood being drawn, the aggressor asks pardon. "N. B. A disarm is considered the same as a disable. The disarmer may (strictly) break his adversary's sword, but if it be the challenger who is disarmed it is considered as ungenerous to do so. In case the challenged be disarmed and refuses to ask pardon or atone, he must not be killed, as formerly; but the challenger may lay his own sword on the aggressor's shoulder, then break the aggressor's sword, and say, "I spare your life!" The challenged can never revive that quarrel, lenger may. the chal "RULE 6. "If A gives B the lie, and B retorts by a blow (being the two greatest offences) no reconciliation can take place till after two discharges each, or a severe hit; after which B may ask A's pardon for the blow, and then A may explain simply for the lie, because a blow is never allowable, and the offence of the lie therefore merges in it. (See preceding rule.) "N. B. Challenges for undivulged causes may be reconciled on the ground, after one shot. An explanation or the slightest hit should be sufficient in such cases, because no personal offence transpired. "RULE 7. "But no apology can be received, in any case, after the parties have actually taken their ground, without exchange of fires. "RULE 8. "In the above case, no challenger is obliged to divulge his cause of challenge (if private) unless required by the challenged so to do before the meeting. "RULE 9. "All imputations of cheating at play, races, &c. to be considered equivalent to a blow, but may be reconciled after one shot, on admitting their falsehood and begging pardon publicly. "RULE 10. "Any insult to a lady under a gentleman's care or protection to be considered as, by one degree, a greater offence than if given to the gentleman personally, and to be regulated accordingly. "RULE 11. "Offences originating or accruing from the support of ladies' reputations to be considered as less unjustifiable than any others of the same class, and as admitting of slighter apologies by the aggressor. This to be determined by the circumstances of the case, but always favorably to the lady. "RULE 12. "In simple unpremeditated rencontres with the small-sword, or couteaude-chasse, the rule is, first draw, first sheathe, unless blood be drawn; then both sheathe and proceed to investigate. "RULE 13. "No dumb-shooting or firing in the air admissible in any case. The challenger ought not to have challenged without receiving offence, and the challenged ought, if he gave offence, to have made an apology before he came on the ground; therefore children's play must be dishonorable on one side or the other, and is accordingly prohibited. "RULE 14. Seconds to be of equal rank in society with the principals they attend, inasmuch as a second may either choose or chance to become a principal, and equality is indispensable. "RULE 15. "Challenges are never to be delivered at night, unless the party to be challenged intend leaving the place of offence before morning; for it is desirable to avoid all hot-headed proceedings. "RULE 16. "The challenged has the right to choose his own weapon, unless the challenger gives his honor he is no swordsman; after which, however, he cannot decline any second species of weapon proposed by the challenged. "RULE 17. "The challenged chooses the ground; the challenger chooses his distance; the seconds fix the time and terms of firing. "RULE 18. "The seconds load in presence of each other, unless they give their mutual honors that they have charged smooth and single, which should be held sufficient. "RULE 19. "Firing may be regulated, first, by signal; secondly, by word of command; or thirdly, at pleasure, as may be agreeable to the parties. In the latter case, the parties may fire at their reasonable leisure, but second presents and rests are strictly prohibited. "RULE 20. "In all cases a misfire is equivalent to a shot, and a snap or a noncock is to be considered as a misfire. "RULE 21. "Seconds are bound to attempt a reconciliation before the meeting takes place, or after sufficient firing or hits, as specified. "RULE 22. Any wound sufficient to agitate the nerves and necessarily make the hand shake, must end the business for that day. "RULE 23. "If the cause of meeting be of such a nature that no apology or explanation can or will be received, the challenged takes his ground, and calls on the challenger to proceed as he chooses. In such cases, firing at pleasure is the usual practice, but may be varied by agreement. L “RULE 24. "In slight cases, the second hands his principal but one pistol; but in gross cases two, holding another case ready charged in reserve. "RULE 25. "Where seconds disagree, and resolve to exchange shots themselves, it must be at the same time and at right angles with their principals, thus: If with swords, side by side, with five paces interval. "N. B. All matters and doubts not herein mentioned will be explained and cleared up by application to the Committee, who meet alternately at Clonmel and Galway, at the Quarter Sessions, for that purpose. "CROW RYAN, President. Additional Galway Articles. "RULE 1. Secrataries." "No party can be allowed to bend his knee or cover his side with his left hand; but may present at any level from the hip to the eye. "RULE 2. "None can either advance or retreat if the ground be measured. If no ground be measured, either party may advance at his pleasure, even to touch muzzle; but neither can advance on his adversary after the fire, unless the adversary steps forward on him. "N. B. The seconds on both sides stand responsible for this last rule being strictly observed, bad cases having occurred from neglecting of it." CHAPTER VI. TRIVIAL CAUSES OF DUELS.-DISGRACEFUL AND RIDICULOUS DUELS. TRIVIAL CAUSES OF DUELS. WHOEVER Considers the trivial disputes that have ended in hostile meetings between gentlemen, will recall the story told of a Neapolitan nobleman, who fought fourteen duels to prove that Dante was a greater poet than Ariosto, and who, on his death-bed, admitted to his confessor that he had never read the works of either. These pages contain details that, were not life and death involved, would excite ridicule and contempt. Thus, a French knight cried aloud that his mistress was more beautiful than any Englishwoman, and was slain by an Englishman for the speech:→ two French nobles could not agree whether a certain letter on some embroidery was an X, or a Y, and so got up a duel of six against six, to determine their difference: one marquis owed another marquis the sum of fifteen shillings, and settled the score with his sword: :-- -a royal duke, curious to see the features of a lady at a masked ball, lifted the disguise from the fair one's face, and atoned for the act by a combat with another royal duke: - two men of fashion who entertained a passion for a married lady who cared for neither, fought because one crushed the card of the other in her presence: a member of Parliament was called "a Jacobite," and lost his life "in satisfaction" for the affront: :- a great statesman, whose father was a manufacturer, was pertly spoken of as "the son of a cottonjenny," and should have smiled at the wit of his lawless accuser, but, though despising him, acknowledged equality by sending a challenge: a lovely and accomplished wife became a widow and a maniac, because her husband, in conversation with a brother officer, defended our countrymen from the charge of cowardice in the war of the Revolution: :- an English gentleman of noble family, and heir to a dukedom, met a man in mortal strife whom he had never so much as seen or heard of, merely because he had "a call": - a nobleman and a member of the House of Commons " tried conclusions" with pistols, because the horse of the former, on coronation-day, approached the royal presence tail-foremost, and the latter made sport of the |