INFORMATION. 223 



man to sanction the practice; but on 

 my naming an officer of Marines whom 

 we both knew, and who happened to pass 

 on horseback while we were under the 

 gateway, a note was instantly despatched 

 to him. He then asked me to lend him 

 or get him a pair of pistols; this I also 

 refused, but told him where they could 

 be procured. They were sent for and 

 approved, and on the arrival of his 

 friend they, much to my satisfaction, 

 wishing me a good night, walked away 

 together. 



I felt it then to be my duty as a 

 civilian to give information of the in- 

 tention of the two interested parties to 

 the magistrates, which I could easily 

 have done, and that meeting would 

 have been prevented. But how should 

 I have stood with my naval and military 

 acquaintance ? They knowing that I, 

 and I only, as a disinterested party, 

 was in the secret, I could not escape 



