It Is, However, The Only
Circumstance Of Duelling, Which Savours Of Common Sense, As It
Puts All Mankind Upon A
Level, the old with the young, the weak
with the strong, the unwieldy with the nimble, and the man who
Knows not how to hold a sword with the spadassin, who has
practised fencing from the cradle. What glory is there in a man's
vanquishing an adversary over whom he has a manifest advantage?
To abide the issue of a combat in this case, does not even
require that moderate share of resolution which nature has
indulged to her common children. Accordingly, we have seen many
instances of a coward's provoking a man of honour to battle. In
the reign of our second Charles, when duels flourished in all
their absurdity, and the seconds fought while their principals
were engaged, Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, not content with
having debauched the countess of Shrewsbury and publishing her
shame, took all opportunities of provoking the earl to single
combat, hoping he should have an easy conquest, his lordship
being a puny little creature, quiet, inoffensive, and every way
unfit for such personal contests. He ridiculed him on all
occasions; and at last declared in public company, that there was
no glory in cuckolding Shrewsbury, who had not spirit to resent
the injury. This was an insult which could not be overlooked. The
earl sent him a challenge; and they agreed to fight, at Barns-Elms,
in presence of two gentlemen, whom they chose for their
seconds. All the four engaged at the same time; the first thrust
was fatal to the earl of Shrewsbury; and his friend killed the
duke's second at the same instant. Buckingham, elated with his
exploit, set out immediately for the earl's seat at Cliefden,
where he lay with his wife, after having boasted of the murder of
her husband, whose blood he shewed her upon his sword, as a
trophy of his prowess. But this very duke of Buckingham was
little better than a poltroon at bottom. When the gallant earl of
Ossory challenged him to fight in Chelsea fields, he crossed the
water to Battersea, where he pretended to wait for his lordship;
and then complained to the house of lords, that Ossory had given
him the rendezvous, and did not keep his appointment. He knew the
house would interpose in the quarrel, and he was not
disappointed. Their lordships obliged them both to give their
word of honour, that their quarrel should have no other
consequences.
I ought to make an apology for having troubled a lady with so
many observations on a subject so unsuitable to the softness of
the fair sex; but I know you cannot be indifferent to any thing
that so nearly affects the interests of humanity, which I can
safely aver have alone suggested every thing which has been said
by, Madam, Your very humble servant.
LETTER XVI
NICE, May 2, 1764.
DEAR DOCTOR, - A few days ago, I rode out with two gentlemen of
this country, to see a stream of water which was formerly
conveyed in an aqueduct to the antient city of Cemenelion, from
whence this place is distant about a mile, though separated by
abrupt rocks and deep hollows, which last are here honoured with
the name of vallies. The water, which is exquisitely cool, and
light and pure, gushes from the middle of a rock by a hole which
leads to a subterranean aqueduct carried through the middle of
the mountain. This is a Roman work, and the more I considered it,
appeared the more stupendous. A peasant who lives upon the spot
told us, he had entered by this hole at eight in the morning, and
advanced so far, that it was four in the afternoon before he came
out. He said he walked in the water, through a regular canal
formed of a hard stone, lined with a kind of cement, and vaulted
overhead; but so high in most parts he could stand upright, yet
in others, the bed of the canal was so filled with earth and
stones, that he was obliged to stoop in passing. He said that
there were air-holes at certain distances (and indeed I saw one
of these not far from the present issue) that there were some
openings and stone seats on the sides, and here and there figures
of men formed of stone, with hammers and working tools in their
hands. I am apt to believe the fellow romanced a little, in order
to render his adventure the more marvellous: but I am certainly
informed, that several persons have entered this passage, and
proceeded a considerable way by the light of torches, without
arriving at the source, which (if we may believe the tradition of
the country) is at the distance of eight leagues from this
opening; but this is altogether incredible. The stream is now
called la fontaine de muraille, and is carefully conducted by
different branches into the adjacent vineyards and gardens, for
watering the ground. On the side of the same mountain, more
southerly, at the distance of half a mile, there is another still
more copious discharge of the same kind of water, called la
source du temple. It was conveyed through the same kind of
passage, and put to the same use as the other; and I should
imagine they are both from the same source, which, though
hitherto undiscovered, must be at a considerable distance, as the
mountain is continued for several leagues to the westward,
without exhibiting the least signs of water in any other part.
But, exclusive of the subterranean conduits, both these streams
must have been conveyed through aqueducts extending from hence to
Cemenelion over steep rocks and deep ravines, at a prodigious
expence. The water from this source du temple, issues from a
stone building which covers the passage in the rock. It serves to
turn several olive, corn, and paper mills, being conveyed through
a modern aqueduct raised upon paultry arcades at the expence of
the public, and afterwards is branched off in very small streams,
for the benefit of this parched and barren country.
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