1805.) 
propofed that both parties fhould obey the 
feconds. Lord Shelburne and Col. Fullar- 
ton walked together, while Lord Balcarras 
and Lord Fred. Cavendih adjufted ali cere- 
mofials, and fixed on piftols as the proper 
weapons. When they came to the ground, 
Lord Shelburne told them that his piftois were 
already loaded, and otfered to draw them, 
which was rejected by Lord Balcarras and 
Col. Fallarton ; upon which Lord Balcarras 
loaded Col. Fullarton’s piftols. ‘The feconds 
having agreed that twelve paces was a proper 
difance, the parties took their ground: 
Col. Fullarton defired Lord Shelburne to fire, 
which his Lordfhip declined; and Col. Ful- 
larton was ordered by the feconds to fire; 
he fired, and miffed: Lord Shelburne re- 
turned it, and miffed; Mr. Fullarton then 
fired his fecond piftol, and hit Lerd Shel- 
burne in the right groin, which his Lordthip 
fignified, upon which every body ran up ; 
the feconds interpoted, Lord Fred. Cavendilh 
offered to take the piftol from Lord Shel- 
burne, but his Lordship refufed to deliver it 
up, faying, { have not fired that piftol: Mr. 
Fullarton returned immediately to’ his 
ground, which he had left with a view of 
affitting his Lordfhip, and repeatedly delired 
bis Lordfhip to fire at him. Lord Shelburne 
faid, fure, Sir, you don’t think I would fire 
my piftol at you, and fired it in the’ air. 
The parties and their feconds got together. 
Lord Balcarras afked Lord Shelburne if he 
had any difficulty in declaring he meant no- 
thing perfonal to Col. Fullarton ; his ‘Lord- 
fhip replied, you know it has taken another 
courfe, this is no time for explanation. His 
Lordihip then faid to Col. Futlarton, although 
Iam wounded, I aim able to go on, if you 
feel any refentment. Col. Pullarton faid 
he hoped that he was incapable of harbour- 
ing that fentiment. Lord Fred. Cavendith 
declared, that from the charaéter he had 
heard of Col. Fullerton, he believed fo. 
Co!. Fullarton faid, as your Lordthip is 
wounded, and has fired in the air, it is im- 
poflible for me to go on. Lord Balcarras 
and Lord Fred. Cavendifh immediately de- 
clared, that the parties had ended the affair 
by behaving as men of the ftricteft honour. 
“ Mr. Almon may be affured the above is 
a faithful narrative, and written under the 
immediate infpection of the feconds. 
gies « BALCARRAS, 
Bienes « Prep. Cavenprsn.” 
Lord Shelburne was conveyed to Hyde 
Park-Corner, and there put into a hackney- 
coach, which conveyed him home. 
Adair was fent for, who extraéted the ball 
as foon as poflible. 
This affair was immediately known through 
the town. In the afternoon of the fame day 
Sir James Lowther (atterwards Lord Lonf- 
stale) mentioned it, and complained of it in 
the Houfe of Commons, and there were vio- 
ent debates upon it:—The city of Loudos 
Account of the late Marquis of Lanfdown. 
Mr.” 
509 
fent the following meffage to his Lordthip’s 
houfe in Berkeley-fquare. 
«© Guildhall, London, March 22, 788. 
«© The Committee of Common-council for 
correfponding’ with the Committees ap- 
pointed, or to be appointed, by the feveral 
counties and boroughs im this kingdoms, 
anxious for the prefervation of the valuaole 
life of fo true a friend to the people, and 
defender of the liberties of Englifunen, as 
the Earl of Shelburne, refpecttully enquire 
after his Lordthip’s fafety, highly endan~ 
gered in confequence of his apright and 
fpirited conduct im Parliament. 
« By order of the Cominittee, 
«Wirtran Rix 
« Rarl of Shelburne,” 
ANSWER. | 
« Berkeley-fquare, March 28, 1780. 
(<4 Srr, i 
«“T am truly fenfible of the obliging and 
affecting terms in which the Committee of 
Common-ceuncil directed you to make to 
éarly an enquiry after my health. T can 
only anfwer their goodnefs by affuring them, 
that my Hfe always has been, and always 
fhall be, devoted to the public, and ny bett 
and warmett fervices ever at the conimend 
ef the City of London. 
‘cT have the honour to be, with great 
“ regard, Sir, your moft obedient 
«hamble fervant, 
‘* SHELBURNE. 
<¢ William Rix, efq. Town-clerk.” 
This affair happening fo foon after a fienilar 
one between Mr. Fox and Mr. Acara 
(November 29, 1779) and being attributed te 
the fame caufes and motives, occationed no 
fmall degree of agitation throughout the 
kingdom. The public addreffes of congratu- 
lation from the cities of London and Weit- 
minfter, from feveral of the county meet- 
ings which happened aboat this time, and 
from the committees of aflociation, to the 
Ear! of Shelburne upon his recovery: all 
held out the idea, in the moft forcible lan- 
guage, that his life had been endangered by 
the faithful and fpirited difcharge of his 
public duty as a peer of Parliament. —The 
varigus addreffes, refolutions, and thanks to 
the Earl of Shelburne on this oceation, are 
too numerous and too long to be printed here. 
Lord Shelburne’s opinion of the reform of 
Parliament, and of fevera! public abules, ig 
to be found in his aulwers to thefe addreffes, 
The death of Lord Chatham placed him at 
the head of his political conneétion, which 
had already been denominated the ‘She!+ 
burne Party; and which reckoned among its 
fupporters the names of 'Townfend, of Cam- 
den, and of Dunning, He continued in op- 
pofition to the meafures of the Court until 
the termination of Lord North's minitiry, 
which was atthe end of March, 1782. A 
new Miniftry being then formed, bis Lord- 
fuip was wppointed Secretary of States but 
Bh 2 
