There, from ways of men lay'd fafe afhore, I am, &c. PETER PEASCOD of Thorny Braes, Edin. Nov. 30. 1789. SIR, Edin. May 24. 1790. A FEW evenings ago I happened to fup at a friend's house, where the converfation turned upon duelling, a fubject which has much ingroffed the attention for fome time paft*.-In the course of the converfation, a gentleman gave an account of a very extraordinary duel, which happened a few years fince, and which, as it exhibited a curious contraft of character in the parties concerned, I think should be given to the public. I shall give it you as nearly as I can recollect it.I am, &c. VERIDICUS, The fatal duel between Mr Macrae and Sir George Ramfay had taken place a little time before. CAPTAIN CAPTAIN WILDAIR had been early introduced into life-had been in Germany in the former war, had witneffed fome alarms on the coaft of France, and visited the Weft Indies in his military capacity. Nature had formed him tall and robuft, and to these natural endowments, he thought his profeffion required of him to look fierce, and to talk as a man of matchless intrepidity; and he was happily furnished with an uncommon fhare of affurance and arrogance for fupporting the character which he wifhed to affume.—When he met with perfons of gentleness and modesty, he never failed to treat them with petu lance, or infolent contempt. He was fpecious in converfation; and though he had read little, and thought lefs, yet he paffed in mixed company as a man of more than ordinary talents. He poffeffed a confiderable share of address, and no man talked in higher terms of his sense of honour, and the principles of a gentlman; but his mind was a ftranger to the ties of moral obligation, and his heart to the feelings of humanity and benevolence.-To be a proficient in fashionable vices-to pay tavern bills and game debts (when he could not help it), with a feeming indifference, were with him the effential qualifications of a gentleman.-His fyftem of favoir vivre was like that of Lord Chesterfield, to pass a counter for fterling money, or to appear what he was not, to ferve his own purposes. He was fond of cards, but had frequent occafions to make apologies for miftakes, though it is not known that his hand was ever pinned to the table. His athletic appearance, and the renown of his gallantries, it is faid, did more in promoting his pecuniary intereft than his military fervices had done for his promotion in the army. He could talk of fighting duels, with as much unconcern as people generally talk of playing at draughts or backgammon. In the zenith of his bonne fortune in London, he kept or rather a carriage was kept for him.-He availed himself of his fituation, and appeared at all the fashionable clubs at the weft end of the town. He happened one day to dine with a party at the British Coffeehouse, where a Mr Manly, lately arrived from Jamaica, was present. Unlike the climate he had left, there was no violent heat in the temperature of Mr Manly's mind. It was all mildness and gentleness, and he poffeffed an uncommon fhare of the "milk of human kindnefs." He never had recourfe to deception in his intercourse with mankind, and his politenefs flowed from the genuine dictates of a benevolent heart. He confidered that the merit of actions depended on the motives which prompted them; and he believed every man honeft till he found him a knave. He was the very kind of man the Captain liked to trample on, and he failed not to do it.-After dinner, much attention was paid to Mr Manly, and many enquiries made concerning Jamaica. The Captain found himfelf not of that importance which he wished to be held in, and with a pardon me, Sir, I have been in Jamaica as well as you, he told Mr Manly, what he faid was not fo. This was received with great good nature; but in the course of the enquiries by the company, the Captain contradicted Mr Manly on e, very point, and at last gave him the lie direct. Impudence and violence will often brow-beat modefty and worth, whofe only fhelter on fuch oceafions is in filence or retirement. Mr Manly funk filent and confounded. The Captain crefted and triumphed-talked loud, and looked confequential. The company, uneafy at what had paffed, changed the converfation; and when they were closely engaged, Mr Manly took occafion to whisper in the Captain's ear, that he would call on him early the next morning. The Captain gave a flight bow of affected politeness, and the general converfation went on. The Captain continued the hero of the afternoon-fought over his battles and his duels-boafted of the many fine girls he had feduced, and the arts he had ufed to cheat unfufpecting parents, &c. &c. till the hour of the Opera arrived, and his carriage was announced. He foon after rofe from table to put on his sword, which stood in the corner; and approaching the company, he drew it from the scabbard." There, fays he, Gentlemen, is a bit of the beft tempered fteel in Europe.-With that fword I have fought nine duels, and each time it was through the body of my antagonist." He caft a fide glance at Mr Manly, whofe eyes were fixed on the ground; and and then, with an air of affected indifference, wished the company good night. The waiters, who had heard of his killing nine people in duels, bustled with uncommon activity to make way for the Captain, while he d-n'd them for lazy inattentive fcoundrels. Mr Manly failed not to call upon Captain Wildair early the next morning, with his piftols in his pocket. As he approached the house, he perceived a footman eyeing him from a fide window.-After repeated knocking, the door was opened, and Mr Manly demanded to speak immediately with Captain Wildair. The footman answered, that his mafter could not be disturbed at fo early an hour; that he had been late out at a card party, and it was more than his place was worth to call the Captain at that time. Mr Manly replied, that he muft then call the Captain himself,—his bufinefs was express, and would admit of no delay. He was then shown into a parlour by the footman, muttering. He had taken many turns through the room, when he heard the Captain's voice from the firft floor, calling to his fervant below to inform the gentleman that he would be with him presently, and if there were no books in the parlour, to go to the library and fetch fome for the gentleman's amufement. This induced Mr Manly to look at fome books which lay on the chimneypiece. The first he opened was a new bound copy of Sherlock on Death. He laid it down, and took the next, which was a Prayer Book, with a mark at the |
