Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp (Volume 3); Late a Lieutenant in His Majesty's 87th Regiment (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1830. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... lawful purpose which leads a man to disregard the personal danger attendant on its execution. But the duellist must feel either afraid to do that which his hand is reluctant to perform, or that horrible determination to destroy his adversary which renders him insensible to personal danger, and partakes more of the nature of revengeful assassination than the spirit of open bravery, which is conscious of peril, but not dismayed. I do not mean to insinuate that all those who fight duels are destitute of that real soldierlike courage which commands universal esteem, but that he who is ambitious of a duellist's fame may justly be regarded as more ferocious than brave, --as one so insensible of the true dignity of man as to imagine that the soldier's reputation is increased, and his nature exalted, by the perpetration of deliberate murder. But, giving full credit to that resolution through the firmness of which a man intends to revenge an injury, let us consider the propriety of so applying it. If any gentleman, either from premeditated design or from momentary excitation, advances that which is certain to wound your feelings, or injure your reputation, you wish to resent the insult, and to avert the injury which he intended to inflict; and the doctrine of duelling would teach you that no atonement could be obtained but by calling him out, exchanging shots, and shedding blood. This, undoubtedly, is the prevalent way of settling such affairs; and, as far as the custom goes, may satisfy those of your acquaintance who admire it. But, if you give the subject a closer examination, you will discover that you have not adopted the right method either to assuage the anguish occasioned by the bitterness of the insult, or to secure those prospects which your opponent proposed to ...