Duelling

The death of George C. jDromgoole, of Virginia, occasloned deep iegret among alarge cirele of friends. We knew him in otfler days. He was no ordinary man. His rnind was unusually clear and strong. and had no adverse circutnsiances occurred, he would have been n ornament to society, and an honor to the nation. But i'. was ín private life he charmed, So simple, so kinJ, so irue! We never knew a more generous man; be was wholly disinterested, and knew how to sacrifice with a grace which won l.imthe love of friends, and respect of acquaintances. In an evil hour he was tempted, acting upon ialse nolions of honor, to peril his life, and the life of anotlier. His antagonist feil. From that hour he was an altercd man; he knew no peacej and to drown the bitter ihought, tliat he was a murderer, he sulliec] hts soul still deeper in crime by drinking to excess ! And in early life he was taken from us, a debased and self-blighled man! Yet how like him was the last act of his life. This linie paragroph below, inserted in newspapers without comment, and glanced at b.v the readers, possibly wfihooi thought. teüóat once, the tude of his intentions, and his own estimation of his crime: 'George C. Dromgoole, in his will, gave all his property to the children of the individual who feil by his hand in a duel." It has fallen to our Iot, n days when e thought duelling no sin, ifwe could be said to have thought about it at all, to meet wilh many, to know well some who had killed their men. We never knew one who lived in peace after the murder; we know onl y t wo who survive and they are sots. The first time we were called upon to witness a duel, was in Augusta, Georgia, in 1829. We were just entering manhood. We knew them well. They were stationed at iheir places, and at the word tire, the eider of the two, a man of promise and place, feil dead. We saw him, we saw his brotherwho gazedwildly into his pale face, just now sofull of life, saw friends as they hurriodly toolc up his body, and bore him onward to his home. And we saw afterwards the grayhaired father as he bent overthat body, hot tears fallingdown hischeeks, follas onestnick with palsy, for his prop, the boy of his hopes was taken away, and there ikm no longer happiness for him on earth ! But the survivor! Business relation brought lis togelher; we were his attorney; and we had tosee him at his home, ai d our house. In company, we saw no change in him; he was light-hearted, almost frolicsome in his gaiety. He never spoke of the murder; by anunuttered, but well understood compact, (ard how terribly dd this describe the deed,) none ever referred to it. But soon we learned that he never slepi without a light in his room. Soon afier we found that he was fast becoming a diunkard, and scarce three years hud passed since the duel ere he was stricken down in early manhood and laid near his antagonist in the earth. But hisdeath! we were present at it, and never may we witness such another! That subject - so long kept sealed up by himself - so long untouclied by family or friend - tlie murder of his school companion and neighbor, was at last bruken by ! himself. '! could not help il," said he as l,is eyes glared up'on us and his breaj ihing became painful, f rom its quick and aidiblenction. We knew to what he liefcrred, and endeavored to direct his thouglits into other channels-. In vnin. "I could not help it; I was forced into ii; could 1 help it?" And all I his was in duelling sense, true. He had every ex-euse a man could have to iight; but when so assufed, he êxclaimed wildly, "It will not do - l murdered him - I see him now - 1 have seen him as he lay dead o the field, ever since I slew him. My God! My God!" And uttering these and like sentences, with a shriek, such as I nver heard mortal ulter, he died! Another instance A young Scoichrann cnme to Charleston, South Carolina, and settled there. He gave ofl'ence to a noted duellist, and was challenged; fought and killed him. He removed to New Orleans; was engaged in successftll business, and was regarded the mernest fellow abouti His intímate friends thought the murder had made no impression upon him; not one of his relatives believed he cared anything about it. In 1834 or '35 he was engaged in ■ largo cotton speculations. News of a rise in price reaclied N. Orleans, soon after he had shipped a large number of bales to NeW York. If he could sell or make particular arrangements he tíduld realize a fortune. But it was neCessarv to go to New Yorki He jumped on board a steamtír, Went to .Monlgomery, Alabaina, and pushed rapidly on fo Washington öity. Over escitement brought on fever, and he was obliged to stop in the interior of South Carolina. f uil nfteen years or more hud elapsed I since he killed his man. í''or the first time he lay on a bed of sickness. He had fevtr uud delirium with it. And in that delirium, with terrible nnguish and maniac fury, he spofce of this deed of death! It made those of us who heard him shudder as we listened! Was his laughter all along Torced! Hnd his merriment been lip oeep; of the inlelltct, and not of the heait? He grevr betler, and his physician thought hitn coiivuleseeiit. Now and ihen he would start up in his sleep exclaiming, "take him oiFmejdon't tie his dead body lo me!" but the fevei' h;id abated and we all ibonght he would soon ba well. Ho cfid grow better, but wutching his oppor'.uniiy he wont to u chest of drawers, as if forsome clothing, slealtliily took frorn it a razor, and drew it rapidty across his thioat! It wus a dreadfjl gash (lint he made, and would have been faial had not one who Was near struck his elbow, as he was making the aitempt upon his lifc! Poor man! He knew, nnd had known, no psaco 6Ínce he kiüed his opponent Whm he !hou;_h' his end near, he made the confession - "he fell,'! he said, "as f lie was a murderer, though no one charged him with the crime!" And our belief is that no man who kills nnolhcr feels otheivviae! The maik of Cain is upon liim, and he sees it ïf no other eye does.