facts themselves ; but I cannot help have escaped the recollection of observing that many of these facts Mr. Gawler on the recent duel. will appear in a very different The public has been already in. point of view to that, in which formed of the meeting at the Crown they are given to the public by Mr. and Anchor on the 1st of May, John Bellenden Gawler: he will and the letters that were then read excuse me for using the name by by Mr. Jones Burdett at that din. which he is best known to the pub. ner. I attended as a friend of Mr. lic.

Paull, to whom I had been introMy object was not concealment, duced by a near relation in the In. but I understood distinctly from dia service. After quitting the Mr. Paull, that both he and sir Crown and Anchor, he requested Francis Burdett had decided against me to attend him as his second the utility of any statement beyond upon a most unforeseen, unexpect. a mere mention of the meeting ; and ed, and unfortunate affair, in even that, if judged necessary, to which he found himself engaged be without the names of the sc. with his friend sir Francis Bordett. conds. To this moment I cannot Mr. Paull said he was loth to im. imagine one substantial reason for pose this duty on me on account of any other line of conduct; and I my family circumstances ; but that leave it to the public to judge, if the hour was late ; and from what I there is one new fact brought to had seen, not a moment was to be light, (though a most reprehensible lost, if he (Mr. Paull) meant to attempt has been made on the part stand well with his friends or the of Mr. Gawler, to turn my conduct public. He immediately wrote and character into ridicule, on a two addresses to the electors of most scrious occasion,) except, in. Westminster, which having dis. deed, that he has proved, what I patched, he then wrote a letter to never denied, my ignorance- " in sir Francis Burdett, and gave me the loading of a pistol, the measu. instructions, from which I was upon ring of a distance, and the dropping no account to depart. These in. of a signal.” He, on the contrary, structions were, “ to explain coolly is an adept in the science of duels and deliberately to sir Francis Bur. ling; that he has long traded in af. dett the injury he (Mr. Paull) had fairs of this kind, that he seems sustained, both in a public and pri. equally indifferent to his appear. vate point of view; that after the .ing in the field, or in the forum, explanations that had passed be. where he certainly has been no in- tween him and sir Francis in the considerable actor in his day. Un. early part of the week, and espe. fortunately for Mr. Paull and my. cially on Thursday, sir Francis self, Mr. Gawler was the second to was left without an excuse for his sir Francis Burdett, on the in- conduct; and that, at all events, tended affair with Mr. Whitbread. the manner, the time, and terms For the sins of my principal, and made use of to strike the blow, myself, an opinion was given by without any previous hint having Mr. Paull to Mr. Gawler on that been given of the mode of attack, occasion, wbich did not seem to was so unsceling and unkind, that

answer

was

an

an apology he had a right to insist October, (which was at a dinner at, upon, and that, if refused, the Crown and Anchor,) a dinner other alternative only remained. was fixed on, and sir F. named as

As we proceeded to Wimbledon, the chairman in a public advertise. Mr. Paul represented to me the ment, and of which sir F. was ad, painful necessity of this measure ; vised on the same evening by Mr. but he had no alternative, as the Paull, who received in insult was gross, wanton, and un- that extraordinary private letter, provoked. He stated to me it was which read by Mr. Jones long the wish of his heart to see Burdett, at the Crown and Ansir i'rancis Burdett in parliament, chor; upon the receipt of which but that unhappily his wishes were Mr. Paul dispatched, by express, counteracted by an influence supe- answer to sir F. at Wim. rior to his own. That on Sunday bledon, in which he expressed last, 'he (Mr. Paull) repaired to his sincere concern that any mis. Wimbledon on hearing that a dis. take or misconception should have soliition was intended ; that he had taken place, and the grounds upon a long conversation with sir Fran- which he (Mr. Pauil) was induced cis, the result of which was, that to conclude sir F. would have ta. though sir Francis would not pub- ken the chair. He apologized, be licly offer himself as a candidate for - said, in a manner rather humiliating, Westminster, and though (contrary for the liberty he had taken under to Mr. Cobbett's opinion) he de. the influence of misconception, and spaired of the country, he should be offered to do away the effect of well pleased to find that so much the advertisement in any manner public spirit existed in the city of that șir F. would prefer; that in Westminster, as to return both Mr. another letter on the following day, Paull and him to parliament. Mr. sent by express, Mr. Paull reiteraPaull said, he concluded the con. ted these expressions of regret, and versation by requesting sir Francis offered the same means of remedy. to nominate him, as he had done. ing the advertisement; but no far. last October, (which was at a dinner.ther objection was stated, no de. at the Crown and Anchor,) to which sire expressed for withdrawing the sir Francis most readily consented ; advertisement, no remedy pointed Mr. Paull stayed dinner, and was out; all which he attributed to the sorry to perceive that Mr. Tooke's subsequent consent given by sir opinion was decidedly against sir Francis to serve if he was elected to Francis Burdett going into parlia- represent the city. That on Thurs. ment; to which opinion he (Mr. day, Mr. Paull, on entering the Paull) attributed the conduct of drawing-room of col. Bosville, was sir F. Burdett, as exhibited by the accosted by sir Francis in the most letters from him, which were read cordial and friendly manner; that by his brother at the Crown and Mr. Paull took sir F. into an ad. Anchor meeting. Connected as joining room, when he shewed him Mr. Paull had been for a long pe- an advertisement in a newspaper riod with sir Francis Burdett, and called the Pilot, in which Mr. Paull the assent given by sir Francis was announced as the chairman, to Burdett on the Sunday, to nomi. put certain resolutions, w

which

pernate Mr. Paull as he had done last sonally regarded sir F. Burdett,

No observation was made by sir sed, Mr. Paull said, with Mr. Bur. F, tending to disapprove of the na. dett's stating," that he had an im. ture of that advertisement; they perative commission from his bro. then retired with the rest of the ther to execute ; that he was detercompany from the drawing-room mined to execute it in the very manto dinner, and as soon as the cloth ner prescribed, whatever might be was removed, Mr. Paull gave to the consequences. He admitted it sir F. across the table, the resolu- to be a most disagreeable duty to tions that were to be moved on the perform, and that he would do it ensuing day at the Crown and for no other man on earth but sir Anchor, which he very deliberate. F. Burdett.” About one o'clock, ly read, and in returning them to we arrived at Wimbledon, and I Mr. Paull he said, he highly appro- delivered the letter to sir Francis, ved of them, that they were excel. and explained to him Mr. Paull's lent. After quitting the house of expectations. Sir Francis obsercolonel Bosville, sir F. Burdett, red, it was a most unfortunate busi: Mr. Jones Burdett, and Mr. Paull, ness ; “ had the interval of time ad. walked towards home together, mitted of it, I would myself have seen and parted at Blake's Hotel, in Mr. Paull, and probably this unfor. Jermyn-street; and the result of tunate business would have been prethe conversation during the walk vented;" to this I replied, “Sir Franwas, that sir Francis should discon. cis, did not Mr. Paull put into your tinue his address to the electors of hands, last Thursday, at the house Middlesex, until the result of the of colonel Bosville, the Pilot news. meeting at the Crown and Anchor, paper, containing the advertise. the next day, should be known. ment alluded to, and were you Nothing occurred from that time not then silent on its alledged im. till the moment of entering the di propriety?" His answer was," I

. ning-room at the Crown and An. am, Mr. Cooper, one of the most chor, when Mr. Jones Burdett careless men in the world ; and as made his appearance ; that Mr. it was at the moment of going down Paull, little imagining what brought to dinner Mr. Paull put that paper him there, immediately led him to into my hand, I certainly did not the top of the table, and placed him pay attention to the advertisement." on his right hand. That during He declined any apology, but prodinner, he (Mr. P.) had repeat. ceeded to write a note to Mr. Paull, edly and momentarily solicited which note, when copied, I deliver: Mr. Jones Burdett to. explain the ed to Mr. Paull. His direction to nature of the communication, which me then 'was, to tell sir Francis, he had declared his intention to " This is adding insult to injury; I make to the company assembled ; shall proceed to Kingston, and do that he (Mr. P.) persevered in you fix as early an hour for the these efforts of obtaining that know. meeting as possible.” On my reledge, mentioned the notes that had turn to the house, I delivered Mr. passed betweon him and sir. F. and Paull's - message ; upon which sir alluded strongly to the friendly Francis solicited I would be second terms on which they parted the even. to both; which upon my declining, ing before; the conversation clo. he (sir F.) said, he must then write

ler approved of it, he would drive through Hampton Court and Bushy Park, to prevent any possibility of the affair transpiring." Mr. G. drove on to the inn at Kingston, and we followed, Mr. P. remaining in his carriage: I entered the room where sir F. was sitting, at the same time with Mr. G.; when that gentleman, with a manner as perfectly uncivil as sir F. was polite, asked who I was? Sir F. said,

to a friend, and that he would be, if possible, at the King's-Arms, Kingston, between seven and eight o'clock. About five o'clock, Mr. Paull and myself reached the inn; when Mr. Paull lay down, desiring to be called by his servant exactly at seven o'clock. About eight o'clock, on walking out on the Wimbledon road, we met sir Francis on horse. back. I slightly bowed, Mr. Paull took no notice of him, but returned immediately to the inn; a few mi-Mr. Cooper, Mr. P.'s friend." nutes afterwards, sir F. sent for me, and said, that he expected Mr. Gawler immediately, as he had left his barouche waiting for him at Wimbledon. About nine o'clock, Mr. Paul wrote a note to sir F. in reply to the one received in his carriage at Wimbledon, in which he distinctly pointed out the injury he had received from sir F. and concluded by saying, that as the day was far advanced, we had better return towards Wimbledon to meet his friend. On delivering this note to sir F. he called for pen, ink, and paper, to answer it; on my observing, "it was a pity your brother persisted in reading the letters at the Crown and Anchor," his answer was, "I wish he had not." Mr. Gawler not having arrived, sir F. again pressed me to be second to both; which I again declined, and immediately I entered the carriage with Mr. Paull, on our return towards Wimbledon. A short distance from Kingston, we met Mr. Gawler; when Mr. Paull accosted him. G. asked rapidly. Where is Burdett?" said, "he had been detained, or he would have arrived sooner." Mr. Paull replied, "Sir Francis was at the inn, but that he thought we had better not stop there any longer; and if Mr. GawVOL. XLIX.

Mr.

If I made use of the words, "Sir, sir, sir," as recited by Mr. G. (which I do not at all remember to have done) they must have been the effect of the mild and genile demeanour of Mr. Gawler. Sir F. 'then suggested Coombe Wood, as the most proper place; to where we immediately drove, and arrived at twenty minutes after ten o'clock. Whilst advancing into the wood, I did my utmost endeavours that an explanation should take place, but without effect. Mr. Gawler's hasty conduct to Mr Paull was peculiarly striking. Mr. Paull observed to Mr. Gawler, that this was no common affair, and as it was possible an accident might happen either to him or to sir Francis, he was particularly anxious that even Mr. Gawler should not be ignorant of the particulars and the grounds on which he demanded an apology, or satisfaction; that so eager was Mr. Paull for explaining matters to Mr. Gawler, that he pressed the conversation twice or thrice; to which Mr. Gawler tartly replied, that he had learned all the particulars from sir F. B. and was perfectly satisfied; although, by the bye, he had not been with sir Francis, from his first arrival, to the entrance into the wood, more than 20 minutes; and S s

yet