,,the ,,code ,,of ,,honor2  or  ,,rules 
,,for ,,the ,,government  of            
,,principals ,,and ,,seconds  in        
,,duelling   by ,john ,lyde ,wilson     
,summary3  ,originally this was         
published by the author 7#aghd-ahdi71 a 
former governor of ,south ,carolina1 as 
a #bb-page booklet1 in #ahch4 ,before   
his death he added an appendix of the   
#aggg ,irish duelling code1 but this    
second edition was not printed until    
#aheh1 as a #df-page small book1 still  
sized to fit in the case with one's     
duelling pistols4 ,this code is far less
 blood-thirsty than many might suppose1 
but built on a closed social caste and  
standards of behavior quite alien to    
today4  ,transcriber's ,note3 ,in the   
appendix the term rencontre is used4 ,in
 ,british law 7then covering ,ireland7  
this refers to an immediate fight in the
 heat of offense4 ,a duel would be      
undertaken in cold blood if not cool    
temper4 ,killing a man in a rencontre   
counted as manslaughter2 in a duel1 as  

murder4  ,on more than one occasion1 the
 author refers to posting an offender4  
,this refers to posting to the public a 
notice as to his behavior in some       
central club or business spot frequented
 by all men of that level of society2   
exactly where varied from town to town4 
,it was the ultimate sanction1 making   
the challengee's refusal to either      
apologize or fight a public stain upon  
his character4     ,,to ,,the ,,public  
,the man who adds in any way to the sum 
of human happiness is strictly in the   
discharge of a moral duty4 ,when ,howard
 visited the victims of crime and       
licentiousness1 to reform their habits  
and ameliorate their condition1 the     
question was never asked whether he had 
been guilty of like excesses or not8    
,the only question the philanthropist   
would propound1 should be1 has the deed 
been done in the true spirit of         
,christian benevolence8 ,those who know 
me1 can well attest the motive which has
 caused the publication of the following

 sheets1 to which they for a long time  
urged me in vain4 ,those who do not know
 me1 have no right to impute a wrong    
motive2 and if they do1 ,i had rather be
 the object1 than the authors of        
condemnation4 ,to publish a ,,code ,,of 
,,honor1 to govern in cases of          
individual combat1 might seem to imply1 
that the publisher was an advocate of   
duelling1 and wished to introduce it as 
the proper mode of deciding all personal
 difficulties and misunderstandings4    
,such implication would do me great     
injustice4 ,but if the question be      
directly put to me1 whether there are   
not cases where duels are right and     
proper1 ,i would unhesitatingly answer1 
there are4 ,if an oppressed nation has a
 right to appeal to arms in defence of  
its liberty and the happiness of its    
people1 there can be no argument used in
 support of such appeal1 which will not 
apply with equal force to individuals4  
,how many cases are there1 that might be
 enumerated1 where there is no tribunal 

to do justice to an oppressed and deeply
 wronged individual8 ,if he be subjected
 to a tame submission to insult and     
disgrace1 where no power can shield him 
from its effects1 then indeed it would  
seem1 that the first law of nature1     
self-preservation1 points out the only  
remedy for his wrongs4 ,the history of  
all animated nature exhibits a          
determined resistance to encroachments  
upon natural rights1--nay1 ,i might add1
 inanimate nature1 for it also exhibits 
a continual warfare for supremacy4      
,plants of the same kind1 as well as    
trees1 do not stop their vigorous growth
 because they overshadow their kind2    
but1 on the contrary1 flourish with     
greater vigor as the more weak and      
delicate decline and die4 ,those of     
different species are at perpetual      
warfare4 ,the sweetest rose tree will   
sicken and waste on the near approach of
 the noxious bramble1 and the most      
promising fields of wheat yield a       
miserable harvest if choked up with     

tares and thistles4 ,the elements       
themselves war together1 and the angels 
of heaven have met in fierce encounter4 
,the principle of self-preservation is  
co-extensive with creation2 and when by 
education we make character and moral   
worth a part of ourselves1 we guard     
these possessions with more watchful    
zeal than life itself1 and would go     
farther for their protection4 ,when one 
finds himself avoided in society1 his   
friends shunning his approach1 his      
substance wasting1 his wife and children
 in want around him1 and traces all his 
misfortunes and misery to the slanderous
 tongue of the calumniator1 who1 by     
secret whisper or artful innuendo1 has  
sapped and undermined his reputation1 he
 must be more or less than man to submit
 in silence4  ,the indiscriminate and   
frequent appeal to arms1 to settle      
trivial disputes and misunderstandings1 
cannot be too severely censured and     
deprecated4 ,i am no advocate of such   
duelling4 ,but in cases where the laws  

of the country give no redress for      
injuries received1 where public opinion 
not only authorizes1 but enjoins        
resistance1 it is needless and a waste  
of time to denounce the practice4 ,it   
will be persisted in as long as a manly 
independence1 and a lofty personal pride
 in all that dignifies and ennobles the 
human character1 shall continue to      
exist4 ,if a man be smote on one cheek  
in public1 and he turns the other1 which
 is also smitten1 and he offers no      
resistance1 but blesses him that so     
despitefully used him1 ,i am aware that 
he is in the exercise of great          
,christian forbearance1 highly          
recommended and enjoined by many very   
good men1 but utterly repugnant to those
 feelings which nature and education    
have implanted in the human character4  
,if it was possible to enact laws so    
severe and impossible to be evaded1 as  
to enforce such rule of behavior1 all   
that is honorable in the community would
 quit the country and inhabit the       

wilderness with the ,indians4 ,if such a
 course of conduct was infused by       
education into the minds of our youth1  
and it became praiseworthy and honorable
 to a man to submit to insult and       
indignity1 then indeed the forbearance  
might be borne without disgrace4 ,those1
 therefore1 who condemn all who do not  
denounce duelling in every case1 should 
establish schools where a passive       
submission to force would be the        
exercise of a commendable virtue4 ,i    
have not the least doubt1 that if ,i had
 been educated in such a school1 and    
lived in such a society1 ,i would have  
proved a very good member of it4 ,but ,i
 much doubt1 if a seminary of learning  
was established1 where this ,christian  
forbearance was inculcated and enforced1
 whether there would be many scholars4  
,i would not wish to be understood to   
say1 that ,i do not desire to see       
duelling to cease to exist entirely1 in 
society4 ,but my plan for doing it away1
 is essentially different from the one  

which teaches a passive forbearance to  
insult and indignity4 ,i would inculcate
 in the rising generation a spirit of   
lofty independence2 ,i would have them  
taught that nothing was more derogatory 
to the honor of a gentleman1 than to    
wound the feelings of any one1 however  
humble4 ,that if wrong be done to       
another1 it was more an act of heroism  
and bravery to repair the injury1 than  
to persist in error1 and enter into     
mortal combat with the injured party4   
,this would be an aggravation of that   
which was already odious1 and would put 
him without the pale of all decent      
society and honorable men4 ,i would     
strongly inculcate the propriety of     
being tender of the feelings1 as well as
 the failings1 of those around him4 ,i  
would teach immutable integrity1 and    
uniform urbanity of manners4            
,scrupulously to guard individual honor1
 by a high personal self respect1 and   
the practice of every commendable       
virtue4 ,once let such a system of      

education be universal1 and we should   
seldom hear1 if ever1 of any more       
duelling4  ,the severest penal          
enactments cannot restrain the practice 
of duelling1 and their extreme severity 
in this ,state1 the more effectually    
shields the offenders4 ,the teaching and
 preaching of our eloquent ,clergy1 may 
do some service1 but is wholly          
inadequate to suppress it4 ,under these 
circumstances1 the following rules are  
given to the public1 and if ,i can save 
the life of one useful member of        
society1 ,i will be compensated4 ,i have
 restored to the bosoms of many1 their  
sons1 by my timely interference1 who are
 ignorant of the misery ,i have averted 
from them4 ,i believe that nine duels   
out of ten1 if not ninety-nine out of a 
hundred1 originate in the want of       
experience in the seconds4 ,a book of   
authority1 to which they can refer in   
matters where they are uninformed1 will 
therefore be a desideratum4 ,how far    
this code will be that book1 the public 

will decide4  ,,the ,,author     ,,rules
 ,,for ,,principals ,,and ,,seconds ,,in
 ,,duelling4     ,,chapter ,i4 ,the     
,person ,insulted1 ,before ,challenge   
,sent  #a4 ,whenever you believe that   
you are insulted1 if the insult be in   
public and by words or behavior1 never  
resent it there1 if you have            
self-command enough to avoid noticing   
it4 ,if resented there1 you offer an    
indignity to the company1 which you     
should not4  #b4 ,if the insult be by   
blows or any personal indignity1 it may 
be resented at the moment1 for the      
insult to the company did not originate 
with you4 ,but although resented at the 
moment1 you are bound still to have     
satisfaction1 and must therefore make   
the demand4  #c4 ,when you believe      
yourself aggrieved1 be silent on the    
subject1 speak to no one about the      
matter1 and see your friend1 who is to  
act for you1 as soon as possible4  #d4  
,never send a challenge in the first    
instance1 for that precludes all        

negotiation4 ,let your note be in the   
language of a gentleman1 and let the    
subject matter of complaint be truly and
 fairly set forth1 cautiously avoiding  
attributing to the adverse party any    
improper motive4  #e4 ,when your second 
is in full possession of the facts1     
leave the whole matter to his judgment1 
and avoid any consultation with him     
unless he seeks it4 ,he has the custody 
of your honor1 and by obeying him you   
cannot be compromitted4  #f4 ,let the   
time of demand upon your adversary after
 the insult1 be as short as possible1   
for he has the right to double that time
 in replying to you1 unless you give him
 some good reason for your delay4 ,each 
party is entitled to reasonable time1 to
 make the necessary domestic            
arrangements1 by will or otherwise1     
before fighting4  #g4 ,to a written     
communication you are entitled to a     
written reply1 and it is the business of
 your friend to require it4             
,,second',s ,,duty ,,before ,,challenge 

,,sent4  #a4 ,whenever you are applied  
to by a friend to act as his second1    
before you agree to do so1 state        
distinctly to your principal that you   
will be governed only by your own       
judgment1--that he will not be consulted
 after you are in full possession of the
 facts1 unless it becomes necessary to  
make or accept the amende honorable1 or 
send a challenge4 ,you are supposed to  
be cool and collected1 and your friend's
 feelings are more or less irritated4   
#b4 ,use every effort to soothe and     
tranquilize your principal2 do not see  
things in the same aggravated light in  
which he views them2 extenuate the      
conduct of his adversary whenever you   
see clearly an opportunity to do so1    
without doing violence to your friend's 
irritated mind4 ,endeavor to persuade   
him that there must have been some      
misunderstanding in the matter4 ,check  
him if he uses opprobrious epithet      
towards his adversary1 and never permit 
improper or insulting words in the note 

you carry4  #c4 ,to the note you carry  
in writing to the party complained of1  
you are entitled to a written answer1   
which will be directed to your principal
 and will be delivered to you by his    
adversary's friend4 ,if this be not     
written in the style of a gentleman1    
refuse to receive it1 and assign your   
reason for such refusal4 ,if there be a 
question made as to the character of the
 note1 require the second presenting it 
to you1 who considers it respectful1 to 
endorse upon it these words3 ,i consider
 the note of my friend respectful1 and  
would not have been the bearer of it1 if
 ,i believed otherwise4  #d4 ,if the    
party called on1 refuses to receive the 
note you bear1 you are entitled to      
demand a reason for such refusal4 ,if he
 refuses to give you any reason1 and    
persists in such refusal1 he treats1 not
 only your friend1 but yourself1 with   
indignity1 and you must then make       
yourself the actor1 by sending a        
respectful note1 requiring a proper     

explanation of the course he has pursued
 towards you and your friend2 and if he 
still adheres to his determination1 you 
are to challenge or post him4  #e4 ,if  
the person to whom you deliver the note 
of your friend1 declines meeting him on 
the ground of inequality1 you are bound 
to tender yourself in his stead1 by a   
note directed to him from yourself2 and 
if he refuses to meet you1 you are to   
post him4  #f4 ,in all cases of the     
substitution of the second for the      
principal1 the seconds should interpose 
and adjust the matter1 if the party     
substituting avows he does not make the 
quarrel of his principal his own4 ,the  
true reason for substitution1 is the    
supposed insult of imputing to you the  
like inequality which if charged upon   
your friend1 and when the contrary is   
declared1 there should be no fight1 for 
individuals may well differ in their    
estimate of an individual's character   
and standing in society4 ,in case of    
substitution and a satisfactory         

arrangement1 you are then to inform your
 friend of all the facts1 whose duty it 
will be to post in person4  #g4 ,if the 
party1 to whom you present a note1      
employ a son1 father or brother1 as a   
second1 you may decline acting with     
either on the ground of consanguinity4  
#h4 ,if a minor wishes you to take a    
note to an adult1 decline doing so1 on  
the ground of his minority4 ,but if the 
adult complained of1 had made a         
companion of the minor in society1 you  
may bear the note4  #i4 ,when an        
accommodation is tendered1 never require
 too much2 and if the party offering the
 amende honorable1 wishes to give a     
reason for his conduct in the matter1 do
 not1 unless offensive to your friend1  
refuse to receive it2 by so doing you   
may heal the breach more effectually4   
#aj4 ,if a stranger wishes you to bear a
 note for him1 be well satisfied before 
you do so1 that he is on an equality    
with you2 and in presenting the note    
state to the party the relationship you 

stand towards him1 and what you know and
 believe about him2 for strangers are   
entitled to redress for wrongs1 as well 
as others1 and the rules of honor and   
hospitality should protect him4         
,,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,party ,receiving a
 ,note ,before ,challenge4  #a4 ,when a 
note is presented to you by an equal1   
receive it1 and read it1 although you   
may suppose it to be from one you do not
 intend to meet1 because its requisites 
may be of a character which may readily 
be complied with4 ,but if the           
requirements of a note cannot be acceded
 to1 return it1 through the medium of   
your friend1 to the person who handed it
 to you1 with your reason for returning 
it4  #b4 ,if the note received be in    
abusive terms1 object to its reception1 
and return it for that reason2 but if it
 be respectful1 return an answer of the 
same character1 in which respond        
correctly and openly to all             
interrogatories fairly propounded1 and  
hand it to your friend1 who1 it is      

presumed1 you have consulted1 and who   
has advised the answer2 direct it to the
 opposite party1 and let it be delivered
 to his friend4  #c4 ,you may refuse to 
receive a note1 from a minor1 7if you   
have not made an associate of him72 one 
that has been posted2 one that has been 
publicly disgraced without resenting it2
 one whose occupation is unlawful2 a man
 in his dotage and a lunatic4 ,there may
 be other cases1 but the character of   
those enumerated will lead to a correct 
decision upon those omitted4  ,if you   
receive a note from a stranger1 you have
 a right to a reasonable time to        
ascertain his standing in society1      
unless he is fully vouched for by his   
friend4  #d4 ,if a party delays calling 
on you for a week or more1 after the    
supposed insult1 and assigns no cause   
for the delay1 if you require it1 you   
may double the time before you respond  
to him2 for the wrong cannot be         
considered aggravated2 if borne         
patiently for some days1 and the time   

may have been used in preparation and   
practice4  ,second's ,duty of the ,party
 ,receiving a ,note ,before ,challenge  
,sent4  #a4 ,when consulted by your     
friend1 who has received a note         
requiring explanation1 inform him       
distinctly that he must be governed     
wholly by you in the progress of the    
dispute4 ,if he refuses1 decline to act 
on that ground4  #b4 ,use your utmost   
efforts to allay all excitement which   
your principal may labor under2 search  
diligently into the origin of the       
misunderstanding2 for gentlemen seldom  
insult each other1 unless they labor    
under some misapprehension or mistake2  
and when you have discovered the        
original ground or error1 follow each   
movement to the time of sending the     
note1 and harmony will be restored4  #c4
 ,when your principal refuses to do what
 you require of hi1 decline further     
acting on that ground1 and inform the   
opposing second of your withdrawal from 
the negotiation4     ,,chapter ,,iii4   

,duty of ,challenger and ,his ,second   
,before ,fighting4  #a4 ,after all      
efforts for a reconciliation are over1  
the party aggrieved sends a challenge to
 his adversary1 which is delivered to   
his second4  #b4 ,upon the acceptance of
 the challenge1 the seconds make the    
necessary arrangements for the meeting1 
in which each party is entitled to a    
perfect equality4 ,the old notion that  
the party challenged1 was authorized to 
name the time1 place1 distance and      
weapon1 has been long since exploded2   
nor would a man of chivalric honor use  
such a right1 if he possessed it4 ,the  
time must e as soon as practicable1 the 
place such as had ordinarily been used  
where the parties are1 the distance     
usual1 and the weapons that which is    
most generally used1 which1 in this     
,state1 is the pistol4  #c4 ,if the     
challengee insist upon what is not usual
 in time1 place1 distance and weapon1 do
 not yield the point1 and tender in     
writing what is usual in each1 and if he

 refuses to give satisfaction1 then your
 friend may post him4  #d4 ,if your     
friend be determined to fight and not   
post1 you have the right to withdraw4   
,but if you continue to act1 and have   
the right to tender a still more deadly 
distance and weapon1 and he must accept4
  #e4 ,the usual distance is from ten to
 twenty paces1 as may be agreed on2 and 
the seconds in measuring the ground1    
usually step three feet4  #f4 ,after all
 the arrangements are made1 the seconds 
determine the giving of the word and    
position1 by lot2 and he who gains has  
the choice of the one or the other1     
selects whether it be the word or the   
position1 but he cannot have both4      
,,chapter ,,iv4 ,duty of ,challengee and
 ,second ,after ,challenge ,sent4  #a4  
,the challengee has no option when      
negotiation has ceased1 but to accept   
the challenge4  #b4 ,the second makes   
the necessary arrangements with the     
second of the person challenging4 ,the  
arrangements are detailed in the        

preceding chapter4     ,,chapter ,v4    
,duty of ,principals and ,seconds on the
 ,ground4  #a4 ,the principals are to be
 respectful in meeting1 and neither by  
look or expression irritate each other4 
,they are to be wholly passive1 being   
entirely under the guidance of their    
seconds4  #b4 ,when once posted1 they   
are not to quit their positions under   
any circumstances1 without leave or     
direction of their seconds4  #c4 ,when  
the principals are posted1 the second   
giving the word1 must tell them to stand
 firm until he repeats the giving of the
 word1 in the manner it will be given   
when the parties are at liberty to fire4
  #d4 ,each second has a loaded pistol1 
in order to enforce a fair combat       
according to the rules agreed on2 and if
 a principal fires before the word or   
time agreed on1 he is at liberty to fire
 at him1 and if such second's principal 
fall1 it is his duty to do so4  #e4 ,if 
after a fire1 either party be touched1  
the duel is to end2 and no second is    

excusable who permits a wounded friend  
to fight2 and no second who knows his   
duty1 will permit his friend to fight a 
man already hit4 ,i am aware there have 
been many instances where a contest has 
continued1 not only after slight1 but   
severe wounds1 had been received4 ,in   
all such cases1 ,i think the seconds are
 blamable4  #f4 ,if after an exchange of
 shots1 neither party be hit1 it is the 
duty of the second of the challengee1 to
 approach the second of the challenger  
and say3 ,our friends have exchanged    
shots1 are you satisfied1 or is there   
any cause why the contest should be     
continued8 ,if the meeting be of no     
serious cause of complaint1 where the   
party complaining had in no way been    
deeply injured1 or grossly insulted1 the
 second of the party challenging should 
reply3 ,the point of honor being        
settled1 there can1 ,i conceive1 be no  
objection to a reconciliation1 and ,i   
propose that our principals meet on     
middle ground1 shake hands1 and be      

friends4 ,if this be acceded to by the  
second of the challengee1 the second of 
the party challenging1 says3 ,we have   
agreed that the present duel shall      
cease1 the honor of each of you is      
preserved1 and you will meet on middle  
ground1 shake hands and be reconciled4  
#g4 ,if the insult be of a serious      
character1 it will be the duty of the   
second of the challenger1 to say1 in    
reply to the second of the challengee3  
,we have been deeply wronged1 and if you
 are not disposed to repair the injury1 
the contest must continue4 ,and if the  
challengee offers nothing by way of     
reparation1 the fight continues until   
one or the other of the principals is   
hit4  #h4 ,if in cases where the contest
 is ended by the seconds1 as mentioned  
in the sixth rule of this chapter1 the  
parties refuse to meet and be           
reconciled1 it is the duty of the       
seconds to withdraw from the field1     
informing their principals1 that the    
contest must be continued under the     

superintendence of other friends4 ,but  
if one agrees to this arrangement of the
 seconds1 and the other does not1 the   
second of the disagreeing principal only
 withdraws4  #i4 ,if either principal on
 the ground refuses to fight or continue
 the fight when required1 it is the duty
 of his second to say to the other      
second3 ,i have come upon the ground    
with a coward1 and do tender you my     
apology for an ignorance of his         
character2 you are at liberty to post   
him4 ,the second1 by such conduct1      
stands excused to the opposite party4   
#aj4 ,when the duel is ended by a party 
being hit1 it is the duty of the second 
to the party so hit1 to announce the    
fact to the second of the party hitting1
 who will forthwith tender any          
assistance he can command to the        
disabled principal4 ,if the party       
challenging1 hit the challengee1 it is  
his duty to say he is satisfied1 and    
will leave the ground4 ,if the          
challenger be hit1 upon the challengee  

being informed of it1 he should ask     
through his second1 whether he is at    
liberty to leave the ground which should
 be assented to4     ,,chapter ,,vi4    
,who ,should ,be on the ,ground4  #a4   
,the principals1 seconds1 one surgeon   
and one assistant surgeon to each       
principal2 but the assistant surgeon may
 be dispensed with4  #b4 ,any number of 
friends that the seconds agree on1 may  
be present1 provided they do not come   
within the degrees of consanguinity     
mentioned in the seventh rule of        
,chapter ,i4 #c4 ,persons admitted on   
the ground1 are carefully to abstain by 
word or behavior1 from any act that     
might be the least exceptionable2 nor   
should they stand near the principals or
 seconds1 or hold conversations with    
them4     ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,arms1 and   
,manner of ,loading and ,presenting     
,them4  #a4 ,the arms used should be    
smooth-bore pistols1 not exceeding nine 
inches in length1 with flint and steel4 
,percussion pistols may be mutually used

 if agreed on1 but to object on that    
account is lawful4  #b4 ,each second    
informs the other when he is about to   
load1 and invites his presence1 but the 
seconds rarely attend on such           
invitation1 as gentlemen may be safely  
trusted in the matter4  #c4 ,the second1
 in presenting the pistol to his friend1
 should never put it in his pistol hand1
 but should place it in the other1 which
 is grasped midway the barrel1 with     
muzzle pointing in the contrary way to  
that which he is to fire1 informing him 
that his pistol is loaded and ready for 
use4 ,before the word is given1 the     
principal grasps the butt firmly in his 
pistol hand1 and brings it round1 with  
the muzzle downward1 to the fighting    
position4  #d4 ,the fighting position1  
is with the muzzle down and the barrel  
from you2 for although it may be agreed 
that you may hold your pistol with the  
muzzle up1 it may be objected to1 as you
 can fire sooner from that position1 and
 consequently have a decided advantage1 

which ought not to be claimed1 and      
should not be granted4     ,,chapter    
,,viii4 ,the ,degrees of ,insult1 and   
,how ,compromised  #a4 ,the prevailing  
rule is1 that words used in retort1     
although more violent and disrespectful 
than those first used1 will not         
satisfy1--words being no satisfaction   
for words4  #b4 ,when words are used1   
and a blow given in return1 the insult  
is avenged2 and if redress be sought1 it
 must be from the person receiving the  
blow4  #c4 ,when blows are given in the 
first instance and not returned1 and the
 person first striking1 be badly beaten 
or otherwise1 the party first struck is 
to make the demand1 for blows do not    
satisfy a blow4  #d4 ,insults at a wine 
table1 when the company are             
over-excited1 must be answered for2 and 
if the party insulting have no          
recollection of the insult1 it is his   
duty to say so in writing1 and negative 
the insult4 ,for instance1 if the man   
say3 you are a liar and no gentleman1 he

 must1 in addition to the plea of the   
want of recollection1 say3 ,i believe   
the party insulted to be a man of the   
strictest veracity and a gentleman4  #e4
 ,intoxication is not a full excuse for 
insult1 but it will greatly palliate4   
,if it was a full excuse1 it might be   
well counterfeited to wound feelings1 or
 destroy character4  #f4 ,in all cases  
of intoxication1 the seconds must use a 
sound discretion under the above general
 rules4  #g4 ,can every insult be       
compromised8 is a mooted and vexed      
question4 ,on this subject1 no rules can
 be given that will be satisfactory4    
,the old opinion1 that a blow must      
require blood1 is not of force4 ,blows  
may be compromised in many cases4 ,what 
those are1 much depend on the seconds4  
,,appendix4  ,since the above ,code was 
in press1 a friend has favored me with  
the ,,irish ,,code ,,of ,,honor1 which  
,i had never seen2 and it is published  
as an ,appendix to it4 ,one thing must  
be apparent to every reader1 viz41 the  

marked amelioration of the rules that   
govern in duelling at the present time4 
,i am unable to say what code exists now
 in ,ireland1 but ,i very much doubt    
whether it be of the same character     
which it bore in #aggg4 ,the ,american  
,quarterly ,review for ,september1      
#ahbd1 in a notice of ,sir ,jonah       
,barrington's history of his own times1 
has published this code2 and followed it
 up with some remarks1 which ,i have    
thought proper to insert also4 ,the     
grave reviewer has spoken of certain    
,states in terms so unlike a gentleman1 
that ,i would advise him to look at     
home1 and say whether he does not think 
that the manners of his own countrymen1 
do not require great amendment8 ,i am   
very sure1 that the citizens of the     
,states so disrespectfully spoken of1   
would feel a deep humiliation1 to be    
compelled to exchange their urbanity of 
deportment1 for the uncouth incivility  
of the people of ,massachusetts4 ,look  
at their public journals1 and you will  

find them1 very generally1 teeming with 
abuse of private character1 which would 
not be countenanced here4 ,the idea of  
,new ,england becoming a school for     
manners1 is about as fanciful as        
,bolinbroke's idea of a patriot king4 ,i
 like their fortiter in re1 but utterly 
eschew their suaviter in modo4  ,the    
practice of duelling and points of honor
 settled at ,clonmell summer assizes1   
#aggg1 by the gentleman delegates of    
,tipperary1 ,galway1 ,mayo1 ,sligo and  
,roscommon1 and prescribed for general  
adoption throughout ,ireland4  ,rule    
#a4--,the first offence requires the    
apology1 although the retort may have   
been more offensive than the            
insult4--,example3 ,a4 tells ,b4 he is  
impertinent1 ,c42 ,b4 retorts1 that he  
lies2 yet ,a4 must make the first       
apology1 because he gave the first      
offence1 and then1 7after one fire17 ,b4
 may explain away the retort by         
subsequent apology4  ,rule #b4--;,but if
 the parties would rather fight on3     

then1 after two shots each1 7but in no  
case before17 ,b4 may explain first1 and
 ,a4 apologize afterward4  ,rule        
#c4--;,if a doubt exist who gave the    
first offence1 the decision rests with  
the seconds2 if they won't decide or    
can't agree1 the matter must proceed to 
two shots1 or a hit1 if the challenger  
requires it4  ,rule #d4--,when the lie  
direct is the first offence1 the        
aggressor must either beg pardon in     
express terms2 exchange tow shots       
previous to apology2 or three shots     
followed up by explanation2 or fire on  
till a severe hit be received by one    
party or the other4  ,rule #e4--;,as a  
blow is strictly prohibited under any   
circumstances among gentlemen1 no verbal
 apology can be received for such an    
insult2 the alternatives therefore are3 
the offender handing a can to the       
injured party1 to be used on his own    
back1 at the same time begging pardon2  
firing on until one or both is disabled2
 or exchanging three shots1 and then    

asking pardon without the proffer of the
 cane4  ,if swords are used1 the parties
 engage till one is well-blooded1       
disabled or disarmed2 or until1 after   
receiving a wound1 and blood being      
drawn1 the aggressor begs pardon4       
,n4,b4 ,a disarm is considered the same 
as a disable2 the disarmer may          
7strictly7 break his adversary's sword2 
but if it be the challenger who is      
disarmed1 it is considered ungenerous to
 do so4  ,in case the challenged be     
disarmed and refuses to ask pardon or   
atone1 he must not be killed as         
formerly2 but the challenger may lay his
 sword on the aggressor's shoulder1 than
 break the aggressor's sword1 and say1  
',i spare your life6' ,the challenged   
can never revive the quarrel1 the       
challenger may4  ,rule #f4--;,if ,a4    
give ,b4 the lie1 and ,b4 retorts by a  
blow1 7being the two greatest offences17
 no reconciliation can take place till  
after two discharges each1 or a severe  
hit2 after which1 ,b4 may beg ,a4's     

pardon for the blow1 and then ,a4 may   
explain simply for the lie2 because a   
blow is never allowable1 and the offence
 of the lie therefore merges in it4     
7,see preceding rule47  ,n4,b4          
,challenges for individual causes1 may  
be reconciled on the ground1 after one  
shot4 ,an explanation1 or the slightest 
hit should be sufficient in such cases1 
because no personal offence transpired4 
,rule #g4--;,but no apology can be      
received1 in any case1 after the parties
 have actually taken their ground1      
without exchange of fires4  ,rule       
#h4--;,in the above case1 no challenger 
is obliged to divulge the cause of his  
challenge1 7if private17 unless required
 by the challenged to do so before their
 meeting4  ,rule #i4--;,all imputations 
of cheating at play1 races1 c1 to be    
considered equivalent to a blow2 but may
 be reconciled after one shot1 on       
admitting their falsehood1 and begging  
pardon publicly4  ,rule #aj4--;,any     
insult to a lady under a gentleman's    

care or protection1 to be considered as1
 by one degree1 a greater offence than  
if given to the gentleman personally1   
and to be regulated accordingly4  ,rule 
#aa4--,offences originating or accruing 
from the support of a lady's reputation1
 to be considered as less unjustifiable 
than any other of the same class1 and as
 admitting of lighter apologies by the  
aggressor2 this to be determined by the 
circumstances of the case1 but always   
favorably to the lady4  ,rule #ab4--;,in
 simple unpremeditated rencontres with  
the small sword or couteau-de-chasse1   
the rule is1 first draw1 first sheathe2 
unless blood be drawn3 then both        
sheathe1 and proceed to investigation4  
,rule #ac4--,no dumb-shooting1 or firing
 in the air1 admissible in any case4    
,the challenger ought not to have       
challenged without receiving offence2   
and the challenged ought1 if he gave    
offence1 to have made an apology before 
he came on the ground3 therefore1       
children's play must be dishonorable on 

one side or the other1 and is           
accordingly prohibited4  ,rule          
#ad4--,seconds to be of equal rank in   
society with the principals they attend1
 inasmuch as a second may choose or     
chance to become a principal1 and       
equality is indispensable4  ,rule       
#ae4--;,challenges are never to be      
delivered at night1 unless the party to 
be challenged intend leaving the place  
of offence before morning2 for it is    
desirable to avoid all hot-headed       
proceedings4  ,rule #af4--,the          
challenged has the right to choose his  
own weapon1 unless the challenger gives 
his honor he is no swordsman2 after     
which1 however1 he cannot decline any   
second species of weapon proposed by the
 challenged4  ,rule #ag4--,the          
challenged chooses his ground2 the      
challenger chooses his distance2 the    
seconds fix the time and terms of       
firing4  ,rule #ah4--,the seconds load  
in presence of each other1 unless they  
give their mutual honors that they have 

charged smooth and single1 which should 
be held sufficient4  ,rule              
#ai4--;,firing may be regulated1 first  
by signal2 secondly1 by word of command2
 or1 thirdly1 at pleasure1 as may be    
agreeable to the parties4 ,in the latter
 case1 the parties may fire at their    
reasonable leisure1 but second presents 
and rests are strictly prohibited4      
,rule #bj4--;,in all cases a miss-fire  
is equivalent to a shot1 and a snap or a
 non-cock is to be considered as a      
miss-fire4  ,rule #ba4--,seconds are    
bound to attempt a reconciliation before
 the meeting takes place1 or after      
sufficient firing or hits1 as specified4
  ,rule #bb4--;,any wound sufficient to 
agitate the nerves and necessarily make 
the hands shake1 must end the business  
for that day4  ,rule #bc4--;,if the     
cause of meeting be of such a nature    
that no apology or explanation can or   
will be received1 the challenged takes  
his ground1 and calls on the challenger 
to proceed as he chooses3 in such cases 

firing at pleasure is the usual         
practice1 but may be varied by          
agreement4  ,rule #bd4--;,in slight     
cases1 the second hands his principal   
but one pistol2 but in gross cases1 two1
 holding another case ready charged in  
reserve4  ,rule #be4--,when seconds     
disagree1 and resolve to exchange shots 
themselves1 it must be at the same time 
and at right angles with their          
principals4  ,if with swords1 side by   
side1 at five paces interval4  ,n4,b4   
,all matters and doubts not herein      
mentioned1 will be explained and cleared
 up by application to the committee1 who
 meet alternately at ,clonmell and      
,galway1 at their quarter sessions1 for 
the purpose4       ,,crow ,,ryan1       
,president4       ,,james ,,keog1       
,,amby ,,bodkin1 ,secretaries4          
,,additional ,,galway ,,articles  ,rule 
#a4--,no party can be allowed to bend   
his knee or cover his side with his left
 hand2 but may present at any level from
 the hip to the eye4  ,rule #b4--,one   

can neither advance nor retreat1 if the 
ground be measured4 ,if the ground be   
unmeasured1 either party may advance at 
pleasure1 even to touch muzzle2 but     
neither can advance on his adversary    
after the fire1 unless his adversary    
step forward on him4  ,the seconds stand
 responsible for this last rule being   
strictly observed2 bad cases have       
accrued from neglecting it4  ,this      
precise and enlightened digest was      
rendered necessary by the multitude of  
quarrels that arouse without sufficient 
dignified provocation3 the point of     
honor men required a uniform government2
 and the code thus formed was           
disseminated throughout the island1 with
 directions that it should be strictly  
observed by all gentlemen1 and kept in  
their pistol cases4 ,the rules1 with    
some others1 were commonly styled the   
thirty-six commandments1 and1 according 
to the author1 have been much acted upon
 down to the present day4 ,tipperary and
 ,galway were the chief schools of      

duelling4 ,we remember to have heard1 in
 travelling to the town of the former   
name in a stage coach1 a dispute between
 two ,irish companions1 on the point1   
which was the most gentlemanly country  
in all ,ireland--,tipperary or ,galway8 
and both laid great stress upon the     
relative duelling merits of those       
counties4 ,by the same criterion1       
,tennessee1 ,kentucky1 ,georgia and     
,south ,carolina1 would bear away the   
palm of gentility among the ,states of  
the ,union4