NUMB. XXXI. Thursday, August 29, 1754.

Neu, pueri, neu tanta animis affuefcite bella.
VIRG.

No more, ye Bloods, encounter with each other,
But each Fine Gentleman embrace his brother.

SIR,

You

OU muft have obferved a paragraph in the news-papers dated from Dublin, which informs us," the spirit of Duelling is now become "so common, that scarce a day paffes without “one or more being fought in or near that me"tropolis." I am very much alarmed, left this madness should cross the feas: to say the truth, I almost begin to think it neceffary, that the frequent importation of Irishmen into this kingdom fhould, for fome time, be prohibited; and an embargo laid on those ships, that are freighted with contraband Duellifts. It is your duty, Mr. Town, at leaft to do all in your power to prevent the influence, which the conduct of these heroic gentlemen, who cannot fuffer their swords

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to fleep quietly in their scabbards, may have on our young fellows: I must therefore beg of you to put together a few thoughts on this occafion; and though the subject has been often treated before, I cannot but imagine that there is sufficient room left for you to expatiate on it. It is usual among the Bishops, when they find any particular vice prevail, to fend orders to the Clergy of their respective dioceses to preach against it. In like manner it is your duty, as CENSOR GENERAL, to attack the reigning follies: and it is furely as eafy for You to throw them into a new light, as it is for the Clergy to preach different fermons on the fame text.

You will undoubtedly agree with me, that Gaming is one of the principal causes of Duels, and that many a young fellow has owed his death to cards and dice. As the gaming-houses are often filled with rogues in lace, and sharpers in embroidery, an honeft but rafh adventurer often lofes his temper with his money, and begins to fufpect that the cards are packed, or the dice loaded; and then very wifely risks his life, because he finds it impoffible to recover his cash. Upon this account I am never witness to deep play, but it raises very serious reflections in me. When I have seen a young nobleman offer a

large flake, I have confidered him as fetting his life upon a card, or (like King Richard) “ laying "it upon a caft, and standing the hazard of the "die." I have even imagined, that I heard bullets rattle in the dice-box, and that I saw challenges written upon every card on the table

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THE ladies also are frequently the cause of Duels; though it must be owned, in justice to the better part of the sex, that where one is fought, on account of a modeft woman, ten are occafioned by proftitutes. The ftout knightserrant, who entertain a paffion for the faithlefs Dulcineas of Drury Lane and Covent Garden, find fuent opportunities of manifefting their prowess. They not only encounter with bullies and bravoes, but fometimes meet with other enamoratos as fond and as mad as themselves. am perfonally acquainted with two gentlemen of this turn, who held out piftols at each other across a bed at one of thefe ladies lodgings, and toffed up which fhould fire first. The piftol however luckily miffed fire, and gave them time to think better of it: fo they very amicably fhook hands, laid down their piftols, and went to bed to the lady together. These females are not content, it feems, with the conquests commonly made by the fair, but often pafs a more VOL. I. cruel

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cruel fentence on their captives. Their lovers not only fuffer thofe metaphorical deaths, which all their tribe muft endure, but are often really killed in ferious truth and fober sadness. They are not only shot through the heart by an accidental glance of the eyes, but often have a brace of balls lodged in their heads: and are not only ftabbed through the liver (as Mercutio has it) "by the blind bow-boy's butt-fhaft," but they may perhaps be engaged in a duel with a rival, in which they are run through the body.

A FOREIGN Count was once challenged by one of these hot-headed gentlemen; and I shall conclude my letter by recommending his method to our modern Duellifts. The place of battle appointed was the Count's house; and when the furious challenger came in, breathing nothing but revenge, he was surprised to find the Count fitting very composedly with a candle and a barrel at his fide. "This, Sir, faid the Count, ❝is a barrel of gunpowder; and if you please, we "will take our chance, who fhall fet fire to it, "you or I." The gentleman, amazed at fo extraordinary a propofal, made no answer; upon which the Count lighted a match, and waving it over the mouth of the barrel, cried out, "Get

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"out of the room, Sir, or I will fet fire to the "powder this inftant." This abated our challenger's wrath fo confiderably, that the Count was rid of him in a moment, and he was glad to leave the room without any fatisfaction.I fhall expect fomething from you on this fubject, and am,

Sir, your humble fervant,

EPHRAIM MAKEPEACE.

I SHALL not refuse, in compliance with the request of my correfpondent, to give my animadverfions on this fubject; but as I am not inclined to measure swords on this occafion with any of my predeceffors or cotemporaries, I shall take a different course, and appear in the cause as an advocate for Duelling. The vices and follies of the fashionable world are fo connected with each other, that they almoft form a regular system; and the practice of them all is abfolutely neceffary to complete the character of a Fine Gentleman. A Fine Gentleman (in the modern fense of the word) is one that whores, games, and wears a fword. Running after loose women is, indeed, in fome measure common to this exalted part of mankind with the vulgar: but to live in bagnios, to be kept in repair by Rock or Ward

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