390 THE MAYORALTY OF TRURO. 



severe than I ought to tlie General, roused his anger. He 

 retorted. I was more caustic than before. He went away, and 

 sent me a challenge for the next morning. Six o'clock was the 

 hour fixed upon ; the ground to be the Grreen at Truro, which at 

 that time was sufficiently retired. There were no seconds. The 

 window of my room, however, commanded the Green. I had 

 scarcely got out of bed to dress for the appointment, Avhen pulling 

 aside the curtains, I saw the General walking up and down on 

 the side next the river half an hour before time. The sun was 

 just rising cloudily, the morning bitterly cold, which, with the 

 sight of the General's pistol, and his attendance on the ground 

 before the hour appointed, were by no means calculated to 

 strengthen m}^ nerves. I dressed, and, while doing so, made up 

 my mind it was great folly for two old friends to poj) away each 

 other's lives. My resolution was speedily taken. I rang for my 

 servant girl. " Molly, light the fire instantly, make some good 

 toast, let the breakfast be got in a minute or two." " Yes, sir." 

 My watch was within a minute of the time. Pistol in hand, I 

 went out the back way from my house, which opened on the 

 Green. I crossed it like a lion, and went up to McCarmick. 

 He looked firm, but did not speak. I did. " Good morning t'ye 

 General." The General bowed. ''This is too cold a morning 

 for fighting." " There is but one alternative," said the General. 

 " It is what you soldiers call an apology, I suppose ? My dear 

 fellow, I would rather make twenty, when I was so much in the 

 wrong as I was yesterday, but I will only make it on one con- 

 dition." " I cannot talk of conditions, sir," said the General. 

 " Why, then I will consider the condition assented to. It is that 

 you will come in and take a good breakfast with me, now ready 

 on the table. I am exceedingly sorry if I hurt your feelings 

 yesterday, for I meant not to do it." We shook hands like old 

 friends, and soon forgot our difference over the tea and toast ; but 

 I did not like the pistols and that cold morning notwithstanding. 

 I believe many duels might end as harmlessly, could the com- 

 batants view the field as I did from my window, and on such a 

 cold morning too." 



Christopher Masterman, a merchant of Truro, was mayor in 

 1746; he was grandfather of Thomas Olutterbuck, mayor in 

 1796 (?) and of Henry Olutterbuck, M.D. (1767 — 1856), a dis- 



