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THE Captain was a good man, but unacquainted
with the world. His ideas were drawn
chiefly from what may be called the old school; the
Greek and Roman notions of things. The combat
of the duel was to them unknown. Though it seems
strange, that a people who were famous for almost
all arts and sciences should have remained ignorant
of its use. I do not conceive how as a people, they
could exist without it. But so it was, they actually
were without the knowledge of it. For we do not
find any trace of this custom in the poets or historians
of all antiquity.

I do not know at what period, precisely, the custom
was introduced; or to whom it was owing; but
omitting this disquisition we content ourselves with
observing, that it has produced as great an improvement
in manners, as the discovery of the load-stone,
and mariner's compass, has in navigation. Not that
I mean to descant, at full length, on the valuable effects
of it; but simply to observe, that it is a greater
aid to government than the alliance of church and
state itself. If Dr. Warburton had had leisure, I

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could wish he had written a treatise upon it. Some
affect to ridicule it, as carrying to a greater length
small differences, than the aggravation may justify.
As for instance, a man is angry enough with you to
give you a slap in the face; but the custom says,
he must shoot you through the head. I think the
smaller the aggravation, the nicer the sense of honour.
The heaviest mind will resent a gross affront;
but to kill a man where there is no affront at all,
shews a great sensibility. It is immaterial whether
there is or is not an injury, provided the world thinks
there is; for it is the opinion of mankind we are to
consult. It is a duty which we owe them to provide
for their amusement. Non nasscimur nobis ipsis;
we are not born for ourselves, but for others. Decorum
pro patria mori; it is a becoming thing to die
for one's country; and shall it not also be accounted
honourable to throw one's life away for the entertainment
of a few particular neighbours and acquaintances.
It is true, the tears that will be shed
upon your grave will not make the grass grow; but
you will have the consolation, when you leave the
world, to have fallen in the bed of honour.

It is certainly a very noble institution, that of the
duel; and it has been carried to very great perfection,
in some respects. Nevertheless, I would submit
it to the public, whether still further improvement
might not be made in the laws and regulations
of it. For instance, could it not be reduced nearer
to an equality of chances, by proportioning the caliber,
or bore of the pistol; the length of the barrel,
also, to the size of the duellist who holds it; or by
fixing the ratio of distance in proportion to the bulk
of combatants. To explain myself: When I am to
fight a man of a small size, I ought to have a longer
pistol than my adversary, because my mark is

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smaller; or I ought to be permitted to come nearer to him.
For it is altogether unfair that men of unequal bulk
should fire at equal distances, and with equal calibers.
The smaller size multiplied by the larger
space, or larger pistol, would equal the larger size
multiplied by the smaller space or smaller pistol....
If this amendment of the duel laws should be approved
by men of honour, let it be added to the
code.

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