Nelson & His World

The Times Digital Archive has hundreds of references to duels and they make entertaining, and sometimes horrifying, reading.

13 July 1786:

'Major General Stuart, who fought Lord MacCartney on Thursday, has but one leg. This accounts for his being placed against a tree during the scene of the action.'

March 10th 1786:

'A duel was fought over the pronounciation of a Greek word'.

14 July 1786:

Admiral Gambier's son was involved in a duel. 'Admiral Gambier lent his son his own pistols'.

The participants in duels are often naval or army officers but not always; there are many civilians too.

I've just acquired an interesting volume of poetry published in 1763 which contains 'An Ode to a Friend Injured in a Duel'. The sentiments are rather quaint and can be roughly paraphrased thus: 'Don't waste your energy risking your life in duels when you can more honourably risk it for your country..' A few choice gems:

'Too many gallant youths have bled;
Too much of British blood been shed
By Britons' swords, and that foul monster's* laws:
Youths that might else have nobly dared;
More glorious wounds and dangers shared
For Britain's just defence, and virtue's injured cause....

Has Britain then no other foes
That thus her sons their lives expose
To private wars and feuds and civil fray?
Does Spain insult her flag no more?
Does Louis yet his thoughts give o'er
Of universal rule and arbitrary sway?.....etc. etc.

*foul monster - this is Custom that demands disputes be settled by duels.

Tycho, here is a link to a trial in court of Captain Macnamara. He fought a duel over a dog with another gentleman, and killed him. Nelson appears as a character witness in the process/trial. Perhaps you may find it an interesting reading.

http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/luceneweb/hr ... .gif%20ALT

Sylvia

Thank you for the link, Sylvia. It was very interesting - though the typist was clearly a bit flummoxed and confused the long 's' with 'f' on numerous occasions!

More in Wiki:

A potted history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duel

Famous duels:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famous_duels

I mentioned in the first post that The Times recorded numerous duels involving naval and military officers. I am currently reading an 18th century novel, 'Sir Charles Grandison' by Samuel Richardson. At the end of the novel there is a concluding note by the editor, commenting on events in the text, and quoting 'the military law of our country' which expressly forbids soldiers from becoming involved in duels. He then quotes 'Article XX' in full. The punishment for officers was to be cashiered and for other ranks 'the severest corporal punishment'.

Was there a similar instruction about duelling in naval discipline? If so, it seems to have been disregarded quite frequently, the challenge by Sir John Orde to Earl St Vincent being one that springs readily to mind, and Captain Macnamara's trial for manslaughter after killing a man in a duel is another.

Can anyone comment/clarify?

I have just come across a poem (not a very good one, IMHO) by Edmund Blunden, telling the story of the duel between Captain Macnamara RN and Colonel Montgomery, and Macnamara's later trial at which Nelson gave evidence.

Out of consideration for poetry-phobes, I have posted it on the 'Poetry: you have been warned' thread so that you may avoid it if you wish.