the
duel was not premeditated, but fought at once, and in the heat of passion,
he was found guilty of manslaughter only, and ordered to be discharged
upon payment of his fees. This was a very bad example for the country, and
duelling of course fell into no disrepute after such a verdict.

In France more severity was exercised. In the year 1769, the Parliament of
Grenoble took cognisance of the delinquency of the Sieur Duchelas, one of
its members, who challenged and killed in a duel a captain of the Flemish
legion. The servant of Duchelas officiated as second, and was arraigned
with his master for the murder of the captain. They were both found
guilty. Duchelas was broken alive on the wheel, and the servant condemned
to the galleys for life.

A barbarous and fiercely-contested duel was fought in November 1778,
between two foreign adventurers, at Bath, named Count Rice and the Vicomte
du Barri. Some dispute arose relative to a gambling transaction, in the
course of which Du Barri contradicted an assertion of the other, by saying
"That is not true!" Count Rice immediately asked him if he knew the very
disagreeable meaning of the words he had employed. Du Barri said he was
perfectly well aware of their meaning, and that Rice might interpret them
just as he pleased. A challenge was immediately given and accepted.
Seconds were sent for, who, arriving with but little delay, the whole
party, though it was not long after midnight, proceeded to a place called
Claverton Down, where they remained with a surgeon until daylight. They
then prepared for the encounter, each being armed with two pistols and a
sword. The ground having been marked out by the seconds, Du Barri fired
first, and wounded his opponent in the thigh. Count Rice then levelled his
pistol, and shot Du Barri mortally in the breast. So angry were the
combatants, that they refused to desist; both stepped back a few paces,
and then rushing forward, discharged their second pistols at each other.
Neither shot took effect, and both throwing away their pistols, prepared
to finish the sanguinary struggle by the sword. They took their places,
and were advancing towards each other, when the Vicomte du Barri suddenly
staggered, grew pale, and, falling on the ground, exclaimed, "_Je vous
demande ma vie_." His opponent had but just time to answer, that he
granted it, when the unfortunate Du Barri turned upon the grass, and
expired with a heavy groan. The survivor of this savage