for the violent and unjustifiable assault upon the
officer; and the short one, for hanging the other--a very odd decision
in the latter case--since the act was murder 'to all intents and
purposes' designed and intended. The report says, however, that, not
having bail, they were committed to Bridewell for trial.(20) The result
I have not discovered.

(20) Annual Register, 1812, vol. liv.

Innumerable duels have resulted from quarrels over the gaming table,
although nothing could be more Draconic than the law especially directed
against such duels. By the Act of Queen Anne against gaming, all persons
sending a challenge on account of gaming disputes were liable to forfeit
all their goods and to be committed to prison for two years. No case of
the kind, however, was ever prosecuted on that clause of the Act, which
was, in other respects, very nearly inoperative.

GAMBLING DUELS IN THE YEAR 1818.

It so happened that almost every month of the year 1818 was
'distinguished' by a duel or two, resulting from quarrels at gambling or
in gambling houses.

January. 'A meeting took place yesterday at an early hour, between
Captain B--r--y and Lieutenant T--n--n, in consequence of a dispute at
play. Wimbledon Common was the ground, and the parties fired twice, when
the lieutenant was slightly wounded in the pistol hand, the ball grazing
the right side; and here the affair ended.'

January. 'A meeting took place on the 9th instant, at Calais, between
Lieut. Finch, 20th regiment of Dragoons, and Lieut. Boileau, on half-pay
of the 41st regiment. Lieut. Finch was bound over, some days back,
to keep the peace in England; in consequence of which he proceeded
to Calais, accompanied by his friend, Captain Butler, where they were
followed by Lieut. Boileau and his friend Lieut. Hartley. It was settled
by Captain Butler, previous to Lieut. Finch taking his ground, that HE
WAS BOUND IN HONOUR to receive LIEUT. BOILEAU'S FIRE as he had given
so serious a provocation as a blow. This arrangement was, however,
defeated, by Lieut. Finch's pistol "accidentally" going off, apparently
in the direction of his opponent, which would probably have led to fatal
consequences had it not been for the IMPLICIT RELIANCE placed by Lieut.
Boileau's friend on the STRICT HONOUR of Capt. Butler, whose anxiety,
steadiness, and gentlemanly conduct on this and every other occasion,
were too well known to leave a doubt on the minds of the opposite
party, that Li