shivering coward, who has accepted a challenge with fear and trembling (only because he was still more afraid to refuse it), has been saved from detection, by the superior tact of his "friend."

Sometimes, where the affair has arisen from infirmity of temper, a hasty expression, or such like, if the seconds understand their duty, satisfactory explanations take place on the ground, or judiciously arranged shots are exchanged, to establish the characters of the parties for the proper degree of courage, and then they all return with unsullied "honour."

Were these the constant results, we might smile at and despise the comparatively harmless folly; but the possible and too frequent termination of such meetings makes us shudder at the enormity of the premeditated guilt.*

When the parties are really in earnest, the seconds come prepared with a case of pistols each, made expressly for such purposes, and distinguished by the name of duelling pistols; the nice adjustment of their machinery causing them to discharge with equal speed and certainty, upon the very slightest pull of the trigger.

The seconds then measure the ground for the parties to stand upon; usually twelve or fourteen

* See note at the end of the third chapter.

paces apart. The principals are placed opposite to one another; and a loaded pistol, carefully prepared by the seconds, is given to each.

The seconds then retire a few paces, and deliberately give the signal for the principals to fire; by which one or both of them may be murdered in cold blood.

If the encounter terminates fatally, the survivor and the seconds often flee the country, driven from home, friends, kindred, and occupations-or else they take their trial for murder! and, if found guilty, suffer an ignominious death in this world, a prelude (if impenitent) to an awful doom in the next.

This is a duel!

This, the mode pointed out by the "law of honour" for the redress, of grievances! this the practice, which every gentleman is bound by it to adopt, or "lose his place and station in society !"

Let us proceed, then, to examine the extraordinary claim to perfection which is made for a law that thus ordains a practice so clearly repugnant to our natural feelings.

12

CHAPTER III.

THE law of honour is said to be a superior law.

The sequel will show whether this assumption is well or ill founded.

As it is altogether a law of human invention, and alleged to be especially calculated for a refined state of society, we may not unreasonably bring it to the test of comparison with some of the general principles of other human laws in the most civilized countries of Europe, and particularly in Great Britain.

The object of all penal law being to prevent the commission of crime, legislators have endeavoured to suit the punishment to the magnitude of the offence.

The laws of honour" violate this principle; and, like those of Draco (and with much more reason might they be said to be written in blood), provide but one punishment for all offencesdeath! Death equally for striking your dog, or for striking yourself; for insinuations against

your friends, or positive charges against your own truth, probity, or courage; for speaking lightly of female character, or seduction of your daughter, sister, or wife.

Is there no difference in these offences, or in the quantum of "honourable satisfaction" to be demanded for them?-None!

By the laws of honour," the striking of your dog, and the seduction of the female nearest and dearest to you, are equally punishable with death! nay, by the practice of that law, both have been punished with death.

It is a principle of most human laws to afford the accused a reasonable time for his trial; to secure for that trial an impartial jury and disinterested judge. Every precaution is taken, where the life of man is at stake, that all shall be conducted with the coolness and deliberation necessary for the solemn investigation, that may send a living soul to its last account.

The laws of honour" violate these principles most completely. Haste, indiscriminate haste, is the very mainspring of a duellist's proceedings! The day, the hour, the moment, an offence is offered, the offender must be called upon to answer for it; and circumstances alone can justify the allowing a single night to elapse before "satisfaction" is demanded, and then a

hostile meeting follows with all practicable speed. Instead of a jury weighing the evidence for both sides, and finding their verdict of guilty, or not guilty, according to the nature of that evidence; instead of a judge, guided by the verdict of that jury, acting without prejudice, partiality, or feelings in the cause, and calmly awarding the sentence with unbiassed judgment; instead of an executioner appointed by law to carry its awful, but just, sentence into effect; the duellist is at once, jury, judge, and executioner, in his own cause. Guided alone by his partiality, he declares the verdict; urged by his prejudice, he awards the punishment; stimulated by his excited feelings, or thirst for revenge, he executes the sentence ! A strange fact attends the further contrast. The man who executes the just sentence of the law of the land, is hated, despised, and shunned; but the successful duellist, who murders his antagonist in cold blood, if he escapes the condemnation of that law, is generally, if not loved, respected, and courted, at least received, and often admired and praised.

It is a great and just boast of the law of the land, that every man is supposed to be innocent, until he is proved to be guilty; and the burthen of proof is thrown upon the accuser; and he is called upon to prove that the accused is guilty. But with the