t, had been engaged in many meetings of the kind, and the
blood of more than one fellow-creature lay at his door. As he had sowed,
so did he reap; and the violent man met an appropriate death.

It now only remains to notice the means that have been taken to stay the
prevalence of this madness of false honour in the various countries of the
civilised world. The efforts of the governments of France and England have
already been mentioned, and their want of success is but too well known.
The same efforts have been attended with the same results elsewhere. In
despotic countries, where the will of the monarch has been strongly
expressed and vigorously supported, a diminution of the evil has for a
time resulted, but only to be increased again, when death relaxed the iron
grasp, and a successor appeared of less decided opinions on the subject.
This was the case in Prussia, under the great Frederick, of whose aversion
to duelling a popular anecdote is recorded. It is stated of him that he
permitted duelling in his army, but only upon the condition that the
combatants should fight in presence of a whole battalion of infantry,
drawn up on purpose to see fair play. The latter received strict orders,
when one of the belligerents fell, to shoot the other immediately. It is
added, that the known determination of the king effectually put a stop to
the practice.

The Emperor Joseph II. of Austria was as firm as Frederick, although the
measures he adopted were not so singular. The following letter explains
his views on the subject:

"TO GENERAL * * * * *

"MY GENERAL,

"You will immediately arrest the Count of K. and Captain W. The
count is young, passionate, and influenced by wrong notions of
birth and a false spirit of honour. Captain W. is an old soldier,
who will adjust every dispute with the sword and pistol, and who
has received the challenge of the young count with unbecoming
warmth.

"I will suffer no duelling in my army. I despise the principles of
those who attempt to justify the practice, and who would run each
other through the body in cold blood.

"When I have officers who bravely expose themselves to every
danger in facing the enemy--who at all times exhibit courage,
valour, and resolution in attack and defence, I esteem them
highly. The coolness with which they meet death on such occasions
is serviceable to their country, and at