219 

 THE BARKERS. 



At an election for Queen's County, between General Walsh and 

 Mr. Warburton, of Garry-hinch, about the year 1783, took place 

 the most curious duel of any which have occurred within my re- 

 collection. A Mr. Frank Skelton, a half-mounted gentleman, abois- 

 terous joking, fat, youngfellow, was prevailed on, much against his 

 grain, to challenge the exciseman of the town for running the butt- 

 end of a horse-whi p down his throat the night before, whilst he 

 lay drunk and sleeping with his mouth open. The exciseman in- 

 sisted that snoring at a dinner-table was a personal offence to every 

 gentleman in company, and would therefore make no apology. 

 Frank, though he had been nearly choaked, was very reluctant 

 to fight ; he said " he was sure to die if he did, as the exciseman 

 could snuff a candle with his pistol-ball ; and as he himself was 

 as big as a hundred dozen of candles, what chance could he have? " 

 We told him jocosely to give the exciseman no time to take aim 

 at him, by which means he might perhaps hit his adversary first, 

 and thus survive the contest. He seemed somewhat encouraged 

 and consoled by the hint, and most strictly did he adhere to it. 



Hundreds of the towns-people went to see the fight on the green 

 of Maryborough. The ground was regularly measured ; and the 

 friends of each party pitched a ragged lent on the green, where 

 whiskey and salt beef were consumed in abundance. Skelton 

 having taken his ground, and at the same time two heavy drams 

 from a bottle his foster-brother had brought, appeared quite stout 

 till he saw the balls entering the mouths of the exciseman's pistols, 

 which shone as bright as silver, and were nearly as long as fusils. 

 This vision made a palpable alteration in Skelton's sentiments : 

 he changed colour, and looked about him as if he wanted some 

 assistance. However, their seconds, who were of the same rank 

 and description, handed to each party his case of pistols, and 

 half-bellowed to them " blaze away, boys ! " 



Skelton now recollected his instructions, and lost no time : he 

 cocked both his pistols at once ; and as the exciseman was delibe- 

 rately and most scientifically coming to his "dead level," as he 

 called it, Skelton let fly. 

 " Holloa! " said the exciseman, dropping his level, "I'm battered 



by !" 



" The devil's cure to you ; v said Skelton, instantly firing his 

 second pistol. 



One of the exciseman's legs then gave way, and down he came 



