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hunters of Kentucky." I looked at my comrade, and had he experienced the effect of a full charged galvanic battery, he could not have exhibited stronger symptoms of amazement and agony. His lower jaw had fallen almost upon his breast, and his right hand had convulsively grasped the round of the chair at his side. The death-like silence which followed the first peal, was interpreted into admiration and-"Oh! Kentucky, the hunters of Kentucky," again burst upon our ears like the full swell of a conch, and was echoed in the apartment above. Heavens! what a volume of sound could that damsel pour forth at a breath. Kelly's Madame Tallyho had a mere infant's voice in comparison.

The song at length closed, and my companion, with a hurried excuse of business, made a precipitate retreat. I shortly after followed him, and found him lying in bed suffering under the effects of a most pitiable nervous tremour, and for several nights afterwards was he tormented with visions of cracked pianos, gridiron turnpikes, broken safety valves, and bursting of boilers."

The painter having thus somewhat abruptly ceased, conversation among the company was again commenced, and continued without intermission; the wine began to have its effect, and elicited divers songs and catches from the company, especially from the backwoodsman, who gave us,

"Here's to you, Tom Brown,
Here's to you, all around,”

with great glee.

At length, an animated discussion was commenced at one end of the table, upon the propriety of duelling, in which the whole company took a part. My uncle, the backwoodsman, and the sea captain, with about an equal number in their behalf, took a firm stand in support of the practice. The backwoodsman insisted that "nothing was so well calculated to preserve gentility from insult, as the dread of ten steps and a brace of pistols;" in this position, he was vigorously supported by his whole party. His immediate antagonist promptly rejoined, by observing, that "the inequality of skill was universally prevalent, and far more than counterbalanced the inequality of size, which in reality was the only cause for a duel in the present day; and furthermore, that the perfection and test of courage depended very little upon the readiness evinced by any man, in accepting or giving a challenge, and fighting with weapons; for, the degree of address requisite to ensure triumph, was common to all, and most generally possessed by cowards." The discussion became still more and more animated, until my uncle proposed leaving the decision of the dispute to the Minister, who had, as yet, not advanced an opinion in support of either party. Upon being requested to give his opinion, the Minister observed, that his opinions upon matters of conscience were welcome to all persons, and thus proceeded to give them upon the subject of duelling:

THE DUEL.

"Behold, where yon red rolling star doth shine,
From out the darkness, that fierce star is thine;
Thy destiny, thy spirit, and its power,
Shall guard and rule thee to thy latest hour;
And never shall it quit thy side, but be,
Invisible to all, and dim to thee;

Save when the fever of thy soul shall rise,
And then that light shall flash before thine eyes;
And thou shalt then remember that thy fate,
Is-murder."

"There is no remnant of the feudal system extant," said he, "concerning which there has been so complete a diversity of opinion, as the expediency of settling private quarrels and disagreements by the duel. By some it is upheld as the only security which the weak possess against the strong; by others it is deprecated with all the energy of morality and true courage. The lowlander, with the readiness of one convinced of its efficacy, will redress an injury by pistoling his antagonist at the distance of an arm's length; while the mountaineer, more slow to revenge, but not less determined, will punish him by the certain death which belongs even to the chance of a rifle shot. Strange and inconsistent as the reasoning may be upon which the principle of duelling is founded, yet its custom is cherished by the great majority of our population. Legislative enactments have, it is true, suppressed the practice for a time; but when will it cease to be the mode of terminating private brawls, sanctioned, as it has been, by

men not only acting in the highest legislative capacity in our country, but who actually stand at the helm of government and preside over the destinies of the Union. True courage hoots at the necessity of an appeal to its interference, yet by its influence was the star that shone brightest in American gallantry, forever extinguished. And notwithstanding the custom is opposed by reason, law and conscience, let one member of a respectable society be challenged to a duel by another, let the causes opposed to its acceptance, be as numerous as the heads of the Hydra, let ruin, wretchedness and exile be the consequences of its acceptance, and let him refuse the defiance; he is at once tacitly proscribed, and marked as the object for the most heart-burning contumely. Strange and unaccountable as are the thousand aberrations from the correct line of guidance, surely there is none so completely preposterous as the adherence in public opinion to this worst resort of madness, this last subterfuge of cowardice."

Here my uncle and the sea captain both rose from their seats. "I see, gentlemen," exclaimed the young Minister meekly, "that you are somewhat surprised, and perhaps offended, at the freedom of my remarks. If you will wait, however, until 1 shall have related an adventure which it was once my chance to encounter, you will at least excuse the liberty I have taken, if you do not concur with me in opinion." "My dear sir," replied my uncle, "you misinterpret the cause of my emotion. I was only reminded by your words, of the glorious days of the revolution, when it was customary to wear

the weapons of retaliation, and when it was so convenient to resent an insult by a few passes with the broad or small sword." “And I,” said the gallant son of the ocean," was forced from my seat by the allusions you made to my old friend and commander, Decatur. Believe me, reverend sir, although I advocate the principle of duelling, yet I think with you, that there was no necessity for his seeking fate from the hands of a countryman, when he had defied a thousand deaths from Britons and Turks." He grasped the hand of the young Minister, as he spoke, and a tear stood in his eye. "But, sir," he continued, while his countenance lightened, "you mentioned something of an adventure. Do relate it." The young Minister returned the grasp with mildness, as his mild features brightened with a placid smile, and he thus proceeded:

"Being in a declining state of health many years since, I was advised by my physicians to try the efficacy of mountain air. I accordingly paid a visit to a kind relative who resided in one of the beautiful vallies which lie between the mountains in the upper parts of Virginia. In this delightful region, by constantly roaming through the cliffs in search of game, or of some magnificent view, I found my system rapidly recruiting in a very short time: my chest expanded, and my face glowed with the genial effect of the health inspiring breeze of the mountains. Oft at the earliest dawn of the morning, would I ascend the highest pinnacles in this mountain clime, to catch a sight of the rising sun, and frequently with the angling rod would I enjoy an age of sport

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