1830.] Affairs in General. 205 



will be absurd enough to say that things can go on as they are ? There 

 are sullen visions upon the clouds, to which the brute feeders in the 

 mire of corruption cannot lift up their eyes. But those visions will take 

 substance yet, and those clouds let loose the thunders. 



Since Battersea-fields were the scene of his Grace of Wellington's 

 shooting at Lord Winchelsea, they have been embellished by another 

 exhibition of the " only way of settling matters between gentlemen." 

 The difference in the parties Was considerable, we must allow ; for in- 

 stead of the noble lord shot at, the present sufferer was a poor literary 

 struggler ; and, instead of the magnificent field-marshal with half a 

 hundred uniforms, the present shooter was a commissionless lieutenant 

 with a waistcoatless coat. The catastrophe was succinctly told by one 

 of the witnesses on the coroner's inquest : 



" Thomas Skinner said : I live in Battersea-fields. I am a labourer in 

 the employ of the proprietor of this house. On Friday morning last, 

 about half-past six o'clock, I was going to my work at the Red House. 

 I was in the field, and observed two flashes, about 300 yards from me, 

 and pop, pop, almost at the same moment. It was dark and snowy at the 

 time. I heard the parties speak, but could see nothing of thenl On my 

 arrival near the Red House, I observed four persons carrying the body 

 of a man on a shutter, or a board. I heard the deceased say, ' Oh, do 

 not shake me !' They placed him at the front door of this house. Mr. 

 Swaine's family were in bed at the time. I knocked at the door, and 

 told them there was a dead man, and then went to my work. I knew none 

 of the persons concerned." 



Such was the " affair of honour." Two wretched men going out to 

 a common in this bitterest of seasons before day-break, without light 

 enough to see each other ; and going out for the purpose of mutual 

 murder. The witness's sang froid is characteristically worthy of the 

 affair. He knocked at the door, told them there was a dead man, (as if 

 it had been a dead rat,) " and then went to his work." The victim, 

 Clayton, died in twelve hours. The antagonist was stated, by the police 

 officer who arrested him, to be drunk. Yet this fellow had the flourish 

 of " honour" about him as loftily as any Patrician of St. James's. 



" Mr. Hone arrived just before the prisoner gave the account, and his 

 worship now asked whether it had not occurred to him, seeing that he 

 had given the offence, and had declined giving a written apology, to fire 

 his shot in the air. 



" The prisoner (with an appearance of surprise) : I would notjire in 

 the air with any man. If I had it again to do, I would not. 



" Mr. Chambers inquired whether both pistols were fired at the same 

 moment ? 



" Prisoner : I believe they were. It was dark. I could not see 

 Clayton. 



" Mr. Chambers now told the prisoner he would advise him seriously 

 to make his peace with God, for, if he were found guilty, he would, in 

 all probability, be executed. 



" The prisoner seemed rather astonished to hear this ; but, after a short 

 pause, as if weighing the advice in his mind, he said, ' I have seen a good 

 deal of service, and shall meet my fate with becoming fortitude, I have 

 reason to believe : but I must say that I think it unjust, if I should be 

 used as you say.' " 



