1824,] 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
A cove of HonouR,.for the REGULA- 
_ TION of DUELS. 
HE following articles have, it is 
understood, been carefully sub- 
mitted to persons of the very first rank, 
courage, discretion, and experience, 
for the purpose of laying the foundation 
of a code, which might lessen the mis- 
chiefs usually attendant upon duelling, 
until its desirable abolition can be 
effectually achieved; and the author, 
Joseph {amilton, esq. of Annandale 
Cottage, near Dublin, has received the 
most flattering assurances of their 
favourable reception by those classes 
in society for whose advantage they 
were benevolently framed. As he 
invites the suggestion of improve- 
ments and additions, there is scarcely 
a doubt but our contributing to the 
universal circulation of the articles 
may confer an important benefit upon 
society. Mr. Hamilton’s reflections 
upon duelling were perhaps more 
flatteringly reviewed than any modern 
publication, and obtained for him: the 
most complimentary communications 
from several distinguished statesnien, 
soldiers, and writers, in Christendom, 
as well as from the executive autho- 
rity in Ireland. The present code 
would certainly prevent that violence 
of language and of action which so 
frequently preciudes an amicable 
settlement; : 
The Code of Honour, us approved of by seve- 
val individuals of Rank, Ccurage, Expe- 
rience, and Discretion, und most respect- 
fully submitted to the Sovereigns, Princes, 
Noblemen, and Gentlemen, throughout the 
. Barth, forthe purpose, of inducing the 
transmission of such improvements and 
corrections, through the Ambassadors at 
the British Court, and the Members of the 
Imperial Senate, as may at least abate. the 
evil consequences attendant upon Duelling, 
until a successful effort can be made for the 
total abolition of the practice. 
Art. 1.—If, A. B. receive an offence 
from C. D. and would remove the stain 
which he conceives attaches to his 
honour, his success in doing so will 
invariably bear an exact proportion to 
the gentlemanly delicacy of his own 
behaviour. . 
Art. 2.—In a case which appears to 
require the recurrence to a duel, tlie 
challenge should always emanate from 
the individual who first conceives him- 
self offended. y 
Art. 3.—If A. B. in order to throw 
upon the first aggressor the supposed 
_ Monruty Mac. No. 400, 
: 
Proposed Code of Honour. 
105 
necessity of ‘originating the challenge 
shall proceed to horsewhip C. D. strike 
him with his fist, a stick, or even with 
his glove, call him liar, coward, or by 
any other irritating appellation, he does 
not efface the stain, which he imagines 
his reputation has contracted; but, on 
the contrary,» be considerably aggra- 
vates it, by descending to a violence of 
action or expression, which every well- 
bred gentleman is habitually anxious 
to avoid, and by associating with his 
conduct the recollection, that violence 
is almost invariably resorted to by per- 
sons whose bodily strength, or pugi- 
listic science, gives them a consider- 
able advantage over the gentleman 
they are determined to assail. 
Art. 4.—When any gentleman neg- 
lects the honourable line of conduct, © 
which is suggested in the two. first 
articles, and adopts that which is the 
subject of the 3d, he ought not to feel 
himself aggrieved if he be brought be- 
fore avery different tribunal] from that 
which he aspires to. 
Art. 5.—Au injury sustained by any 
individual, in his property, can neyer 
be a proper subject for a duel. 
Art, 6.—It is the duty of every 
gentleman, who experiences such. vio- 
lent or abusive treatment as has been 
noticed in Art. 3, to let his assailant 
suffer under the influence of the stain 
supposed to have been imparted by the 
original offence, and to seek redress 
for the assault, or the abusive lan- 
guage, from the Courts of Law, in 
order to suppress a violence which is 
injurious to civilized society. 
Art. 7.—No gentleman, who. values 
his own reputation very highly, will 
refuse to receive, or offer, such repa- 
ration as may be agreed upon by either 
of the seconds, and an umpire, mutually 
chosen by the two; and, in case the 
seconds cannot agree upon an umpire, 
eaeh should nominate a friend whose 
decision should be final. 
Art. 8.—Gentlemen who do not set 
a very exorbitant value upon their 
time and labour, will avoid refusing, 
even upon the ground, such apology as 
they would have accepted, in the ear- 
lier stages of negociation. 
Art. 9.—When giving the lie, or 
using any other irritating, language, 
has been the first aggression, if it 
appear that such language was resort- 
ed to under any erroneous impression, 
and that such impression has been 
satisfactorily removed by explanation, 
the written expression of sincere regret 
P +t for 
