This book is included in the Self Reliance Self Defense section.
THIS VOLUME is most
respectfully inscribed to the SOVEREIGNS, PRINCES, NOBLEMEN, AND GENTLEMEN,
throughout the earth, but more especially to those who have considered
the author's humble labors as deserving of their best thanks, high
approval, and polite co-operation.
JOSEPH HAMILTON
Asnadale Cottage; near Dublin
INTRODUCTION
The princes, noblemen, and gentlemen of Christendom must have ascertained, by reading or their own experience, that, constituted as society at present is, they possess no adequate security against a challenge or offence.
Major Dawson, with whose courage and good humour we are familiar, was challenged by a brother officer of equal rank,
for merely pressing him to take another goblet; and General Barry was challenged by a Captain Smith, for refusing to take
wine with him at dinner in a steam packet. The General in vain attempted to excuse himself, by declaring that wine invariably made him sick at sea. Dr. Dodd says, "I have known a challenge sent to a person for going out of the room abruptly, and leaving a man of honour in the midst of a dissertation." We could name a thousand instances like those, which remind us of the quarrel between Viola and Sir Andrew Ague, in which the latter says, "You broke my head for nothing;" and Viola replies, "You drew your sword upon me without cause."
In the cabinet, the senate, and the courts; the masquerade, the ball-room, and the theatre; the club-room, the tavern, and the street; in every situation, and in every company, the inconsiderate behaviour of one individual may involve the feelings and the existence of another.
Members of the royal family, ministers of state, legislators, judges, and other public functionaries, who might well have pleaded their official situations, have yielded to the pressure of a practice which they secretly condemned. Even preachers of the gospel have engaged in single combat;* and General Hamilton, after writing against duelling, was unfortunately tempted to meet Aaron Burr, by whose hand be fell a victim, on the very spot where
his son had fallen before him. Who, then, can justly be surprised if the youth of Oxford, Cambridge, Eton, Westminster, and minor schools, should frequently commit themselves in mortal combat; or that persons in more humble walks of life, should hold themselves amenable to what the world has called the laws of honour, and "Stand at another bar than that of law."
* Captain Callanan asserted, that the Rev. Mr. Sacrin offered to throw by his cassock. The Rev. Mr. Hodson fought and wounded Mr. Grady, at Boulogne, in August, 1827; and in October, 1825, the Rev. H. T. fought Colonel W., between St. Omers and Cassell, where both were wounded. In 1769, the Rev. Mr. Green fought Captain Douglas, in Hyde Park; and the Rev. Mr. Bate fought Mr. R., of the Morning Post, in the same park, upon the 14th of September, 1780.
Born and educated in a country which has been emphatically called The Land of Duel, and acquainted with several of its most chivalrous inhabitants, a case of point blank pistols was almost our earliest boast. We have sometimes felt ourselves obliged to ask the reparation of an injury, or satisfaction for an offence; but with deep, deep gratitude we here record the fact, that the controller of all human actions never saw those pistols levelled at a fellow subject, a hostile message forwarded to our address, or a shot discharged, when the counsel which we offered was adopted. During the last
thirty years, we have had much experience, in the direction both of principals and seconds, and have held directly opposing sentiments upon the subject. For half that period, we have firmly believed, with others, that duelling was a kind of necessary evil, and the best corrector of some ills, with which society abounded. Thank heaven, we now hold very different doctrine on the subject; and, shocked by the atrocities of a thousand anecdotes and cases, which we have collected with a view to publication, we are desirous of slaying a desolating monster, or, at least, depriving it of its talons and its
fangs. If we cannot persuade a fellow citizen to abstain from the field, our solicitude would follow him as long as counsel
might be useful in averting evils which are so frequently attendant on the dernier resort. We would impress upon the minds of sovereigns and of legislators, that individual feeling, and domestic happiness, do not enjoy
the security of all those shields, to which they justly are entitled. We would enroll the names of princes and of nobles, of private and of professional gentlemen, who are disposed to co-operate in the establishment of courts of honour, for the arbitration of disputes which may be capable of adjustment; and we would promote another institution, for the total abolition of a practice, which, after much experience, conversation, and reflection, we conscientiously conceive to be "more honoured in the breach than the observance." Thus we would become all to all, that all might be preserved from insult, injury, and the melancholy consequences which are so frequently attendant upon single combat.
Before we composed our short reflections upon duelling, with a view to the total abolition of the practice, we carefully perused almost every publication which had appeared upon the subject, and endeavoured to condense, into the smallest possible compass, all the arguments which had been urged by the Christian, the moralist, and the man of common sense. We sent copies of that work to several courts in Christendom, and were unsuccessful in our effort to induce a simultaneous movement on the subject. We found it was too generally considered that "a practice sanctioned by time and precedent, which has withstood the raillery of the satirist, the terror of the penal laws, and the admonition of the pulpit,
nay, the fear of a future state, could never be abolished." We found persons high in power thought, with Jonas Hanway, that
"while so many adopt false principles of action, it is impossible to eradicate this most pernicious custom." We found many were of opinion with Sir Walter Scott, who, in his letter to us upon the subject, says, "Doing the fullest justice to the philanthropy of your motives, I am still afraid that the practice of duelling is so deeply engrafted upon our forms of society, that, for a length of time at least, until mankind may entertain much clearer views upon most moral subjects, it will hardly fall into disuse."
We know that two sovereigns of Christendom have committed themselves as principals, and that others have recognised the sad necessity for duelling. The editor of the Literary Gazette asserts that, on examining the correspondence of Lords Wellington and Winchilsea, his Majesty expressed himself to the effect that "it was a matter of personal honour and feeling, and that, being a soldier, his Grace might, perhaps, be more sensitive on such points than an individual of a different class in society. He therefore supposed, that the course pursued had been unavoidable."*
* M. Caron De Fromentelle, the Procureur du Roi, when writing to the Rev. J. R. Hodson, a Protestant clergyman, who fought and wounded Mr. Thos. Wm. Grady, at Boulogne, says, the parson "yielded to a barbarous prejudice, unfortunately not to be gotten rid of."
A London editor has very justly said, "Duels have become so common, that we cease almost to hear of their immediate
causes. It is now deemed, by those who record passing occurrences, quite sufficient to say, that a meeting took place between two gentlemen, as if it were an interview of pleasant courtesy, instead of an arena, where either may too often exclaim, with Richard, "Of one or both of us, the time is come."
When George Robert Fitzgerald was introduced to the King of France by the British Ambassador, his Majesty was
informed that the Irishman had fought six-and-twenty fatal duels. Lieut. C-ks, of the navy, fought three duels in a day.
Barrington says, two hundred and twenty-seven memorable and official duels were fought during his grand climacteric; and
we can produce three newspapers, which announce nine fatal meetings on the ground. Surely, then, we may assert, with Shakspeare's Julius Cesar, that "Slaying is the word; it is a deed of fashion."
Having failed in our endeavours to promote the abolition of the practice, we were next induced to try if we could lessen its attendant evils. We found, in several thousand anecdotes and cases, which we had collected during thirty years, a mass of evidence that the grossest atrocities and errors were committed hourly on the subject. We conceived that such atrocities and errors might possibly in future be prevented, by the extensive circulation of a well-digested code of laws, in which the highest tone of chivalry and honour might be intimately associated with justice, humanity, and common sense; and we were encouraged by several experienced friends, as well as by Plato's strong assurance, that it is truly honourable to contrive how the worst things can be turned into better.
After carefully perusing our collection of remarkable quarrels, challenges, replies, rencontres, duels, and reconciliations, we sketched out a code, consisting of twenty articles, which we submitted to experienced friends in Ireland. We next forwarded manuscript copies to the first political, military, and literary characters of the age; and received the most complimentary assurances of approbation. In May, 1824, we forwarded printed copies for the several courts of Europe and America, as well as to the conductors of the public press, for the purpose of inducing the transmission of such collections and additions as might, if possible, render it deserving of universal acceptation: and we have now the satisfaction of presenting to the world a collection of highly-applauded rules, for the government of principals and seconds, in our Royal Code of Honour.
We should weary the reader, were we to publish all the complimentary letters which we have received, from princes, noblemen, statesmen, officers, and others, for our public labours upon this important subject;* a few of them, however, may suffice to recommend our works, and to justify us for
submitting to the world, the only approved guide through all the stages of a quarrel; for the advocate of single combat, and for the Christian moralist who scruples fighting.
* Our truly estimable and respected friend, the Rev. Dr. Burton, the assistant chaplain to the Dublin garrison, has been pleased to call our reflections upon duelling, "The Annual Hamiltonian Praemium;" and we value the compliment more highly, on account of his general devotion to the advancement of his pupils, whom he treats invariably as if they were his children.
We could quote innumerable instances of fatal duels, between fellow-students at colleges, and very young classmates at schools, which would justify us in recommending parents and teachers to adopt our publication as a praemium book, or keepsake, for the youth beneath their care.
Two boys, aged 16, named Wetherall and Moran, fought near Mark's Church, Dublin. Two boys of the same age, who had been expelled from Yale College, fought with rifles, at the distance of twenty paces: they were encouraged by their parents, one of whom was witness to the death of his son. Two pupils of the Polytecnic School, aged 17, fought in the Bois de Boulogne, when one of the seconds was mortally wounded, by standing too near his principal. If duels between persons of very tender age are calculated to excite our sorrow, what feelings of indignation must be roused on the perusal of some cases, in which near relations—kinsmen, and even brothers, have been allowed to slay each other.
The following has been copied from the letter of Colonel Shaw, secretary to the Marquis Wellesley, when that accomplished nobleman was viceroy of Ireland.
"Woodstock, Nov. 15, 1823.
"Sir,
"I have had the honor to lay before the Lord Lieutenant your letter of the 12th Instant, together with your Work on Duelling, for which I am directed to return you his Excellency's best thanks, and to express to you his approbation of the laudable object of that publication. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
"M. Shawe."
Joseph Hamilton, Esq.
Annadale Cottage, near Dublin.
A nobleman, and general officer, who has fired eight shots in a single duel, says;
"I have been favoured with yours of the 26th ultimo, together with the accompanying inclosures, in reply, I beg leave to say, that the proposed association shall have my support, and I shall be much obliged to you to send me a dozen copies of the work."
Another nobleman, who is equally respected for his patriotism and exalted sense of honor, says;
" I admire extremely, and approve of your benevolent exertions to put an end to the barbarous system of duelling; but I fear that, barbarous though it be, it is the means of civilization, and acts as a kind of safety valve to the ebullition of passion. Many despotic, and many wise and liberal princes, have endeavoured to put an end to the practice, but in vain; and when they have failed, I fear that any exertions of mine, even with your assistance, would prove altogether ineffectual. If, however, two men of known and respected character, and two military men, join in such endeavour, I shall not object to lend my feeble assistance."
Extract from the letter of the Rev. Charles Bardin.
"Dear Sir,
"I have received your very beautiful little book. May your purpose meet with that blessing which its benevolence deserves. I have the honor to be, dear sir, your faithful servant,
"Charles Bardin."
The Royal Code of Honor, having been submitted, both in manuscript and print, to the late Duke of York, as chief commander of the army, he was pleased to direct the following reply, from the Horse Guards.
"Sir,—I am directed by the Commander-in-chief to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th ultimo, and to return you his Royal Highness's thanks for your attention, in sending him a copy of your valuable publication, entitled the Royal Code of Honor, etc. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, H. Taylor."
Extract of a letter from Sir Walter Scott.
"The advice to seconds appears most excellent, and the Code of Honor seems highly capable of softening the atrocities of our Gothic custom."
Extract of a letter from Captain Fottrell, of Dublin.
"Dear Sir,
" I have received, with gratitude, your two publications, the School for Patriots, and Royal Code of Honor. With attention I have perused the latter, which consists of sixty articles, to every one of which, I most heartily subscribe.
"There are few men in Dublin, or perhaps in Ireland, who have been more engaged in the adjustment of misunderstandings, than I have; and by the adoption of similar principles to those which you have laid down, I have the happiness (thank God,) to say, that in almost every case, amicable arrangements have taken place, and in no instance, has recourse been had to those evils, which it is your object to avoid.
" The Christian and philanthropic principles which prompted you to bring before the public this little (though great) work, entitles you to their gratitude. Believe me very sincerely yours,
" Patrick Fottrell."
In Dublin, it would be needless to assert,
that the writer of the last letter is one of the
most honourable individuals who has ever
yet been placed in the situation of a principal
or second. His desperate duel with
Colonel Ross, when he stood as a champion
for the press, will be found amongst the
hundreds which we have collected.
Other testimonials, with the names of such
sovereigns, princes, noblemen, and gentlemen,
as approve of courts of honor, or anti-duelling
associations, will be published at
the conclusion of the work, as well as a
copious index to the cases.
Lest the most rigid moralist should be
scandalized by rules which seem to sanction
duelling, we will just suppose a case, in
which we should expect his warm co-operation.
A. being armed with a sabre, swears
that he will cleave the skull of B. for having
given him a very slight offence. In vain
do we urge the first aggressor to apologize;
in vain do we remonstrate against the rashness
of A.'s oath, and the barbarous cruelty
of its fulfillment ; and just when the sabre is
descending with an almost fatal certainty,
we push B. so far aside, that, instead of
being slain upon the spot, he escapes the
blow entirely, or receives a trifling scratch
upon his arm. Surely this is not sanctioning
evil for the sake of good ! We trust it
will, at least, find much extenuation before
Him who said, "they that are whole need
not a physician," and who went about continually
doing good, even at one table with
the publicans and sinners.
Anxious to avoid offence by the publication
of such cases as might have been erroneously
reported, either verbally, or in print,
we, gave the following notice, through
several of the Metropolitan Journals.
"DUELLISTS AND THEIR FRIENDS
have now an opportunity of permanently correcting any misconceptions, or misstatements, respecting those affairs in which they may be interested, by a post paid letter for Joseph Hamilton, of Annadale Cottage, Phillipsburgh Avenue, near Dublin; as he is preparing to publish the only Approved Guide through all the stages of a Quarrel ; containing his Royal Code of Honor, as it was submitted to the European sovereigns ; some short and useful reflections upon duelling; several curious challenges and replies; with thousands of documents, anecdotes, and cases, interesting to Christian moralists who decline the combat, to experienced persons on the point of honor, and to benevolent legislators."
Evidence of our anxiety to avoid offence will, we trust, be found in the following dedication, which accompanied the first edition of our Reflections upon Duelling:
"To the mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters of the nation which he loves, as well as to all those whom at any period of his life he may have injured or insulted ; and to those who may have injured or insulted him ; these pages are, with very great sincerity and satisfaction, inscribed, by, etc.^'
Indeed, we have never written, nor spoken
an offensive word, against a nation, an individual,
or a body, which we would not now
be happy to recall. The man who cannot
emulate Moore's noble apology to the Duke
of Richmond, is deserving of compassion.
'' I shall at least,'* says the patriotic Melodist,
" be forgiven by those who have ever
impatiently longed for an opportunity of
acknowledging a fault and repairing an injustice."
If, in the discharge of what
we think is a great public duty, we should
unjustly wound the feelings of a principal
or second, we shall cheerfully correct the
error in a future impression. We, however,
must insist upon our right to pass a public
censure upon any individual who may have
publicly departed from the good behaviour
of a gentleman, or trifled with a life which
has been committed to his care.
A circumstance which is associable with
our labours on this subject, should perhaps
be briefly noticed here, although we mean
to speak more fully on the subject in a
future page. It will be found, upon a reference
to the public journals of May, 1824,
that the Code of Honor was, at that time,
in print, after having long been circulated
in manuscript, throughout Great Britain and
two Continents. For the establishment of
this point, we shall only copy the introductory
observations of the Dublin Journal,
dated May 5th, 1824, just six months after
we had received the best thanks and high
approval of an Irish Lord Lieutenant.
"The following Articles have, we understand, been carefully submitted to persons of the very first rank, courage, discretion, and experience, for the purpose of laying the foundation of a code, which might lessen the mischiefs usually attendant upon duelling, until its desirable abolition can be effectually achieved ; and the author, Joseph Hamilton, Esq. of Annadale Cottage, near Dublin, has received the most flattering assurances of their favourable reception, by those classes in society for whose advantage they were benevolently framed. As he invites the suggestion of improvements and additions, there is scarcely a doubt but our contributing to the universal circulation of the articles, may confer an important benefit upon society. Mr. Hamilton's reflections upon duelling were perhaps more flatteringly reviewed, than any modern publication, and obtained for him the most complimentary communications from several distinguished statesmen, soldiers, and writers in Christendom, as well as from the executive authority in Ireland. The present code would certainly prevent that violence of language and of action, which so frequently precludes an amicable settlement"
"The Code of Honor, as approved of by several individuals of rank, courage, experience, and discretion, and most respectfully submitted to the sovereigns, princes, noblemen, and gentlemen throughout the earth, for the purpose of inducing the transmission of such improvements and corrections, through the ambassadors at the British Court, and the members of the Imperial Senate, as may at least abate the evil consequences attendant upon duelling, until a successful effort can be made for the total abolition of the practice."
(Here followed the Code of Honor.)
Until the publication of the above, the
book-makers of Christendom had, for several
hundred years, permitted human blood to be
continually shed, under the most gross mismanagement
; but, within half-a-year after
the deficiency had been supplied, at a very
considerable expense of property and time,
an anonymous candidate for emolument and
fame announced himself by a public advertisement
in the Courier, chusing a name for
his work which was associable with the
cognomen we had previously adopted, and
which must at once remove all doubt as to
the motives of the advertiser. We lost no
time in cautioning the booksellers who were
referred to, against any violation of our
copy-right; and it was not until the following
year that we could obtain that work, whose
compiler was unable to acquire the sanction
of the Duke of York, notwithstanding a
complimentary dedication to his Royal
Highness.
Columbus found a man who could even
place an egg erect, when the discoverer
of America had flattened one of its ends,
by a very gentle tap upon a table.
Thousands may now propose a voyage to
America with impunity; but the law of
copy-right, and the approving testimony of
all civilized society, secures the honor of
this publication to one humble individual,
who studies both the duties and the rights
of a faithful subject, and a patriotic citizen;
who most firmly believes that every person
is responsible before Heaven for the use of
fortune, influence, rank, or talents; who
would rather save a single life than wear a
civic crown ; and who hopes that the published
and unpublished labours of his pen
may justify his children for inscribing the
following lines upon his grave :
" May all mankind make honest use
Of talents God has given.
And every faithful patriot be
A citizen of heaven."
JOSEPH HAMILTON.
Annadale Cottaye, near Dublin.
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