the only political difference that existed between
them. He is a very extraordinary man certainly, and with many
contradictions in his character; in him, however, they are so
much more apparent than in any other man, for he is always before
the world--all his actions, his motives, and even his thoughts.

[6] [Robert Grant, Esq., M.P., brother of Mr. Charles
Grant. He was afterwards appointed Governor of Bombay.]

[Page Head: DUEL OF THE DUKE AND LORD WINCHELSEA.]

March 21st, 1829, at night {p.192}

This morning the Duke fought a duel with Lord Winchelsea. Nothing
could equal the astonishment caused by this event. Everybody of
course sees the matter in a different light; all blame Lord W.,
but they are divided as to whether the Duke ought to have fought
or not. Lord W.'s letter appeared last Monday, and certainly from
that time to this it never entered into anybody's head that the
Duke ought to or would take it up, though the expressions in it
were very impertinent. But Lord Winchelsea is such a maniac, and
has so lost his head (besides the ludicrous incident of the
handkerchief[7]), that everybody imagined the Duke would treat
what he said with silent contempt. He thought otherwise, however,
and without saying a word to any of his colleagues or to anybody
but Hardinge, his second, he wrote and demanded an apology. After
many letters and messages between the parties (Lord Falmouth
being Lord Winchelsea's second) Lord Winchelsea declined making
any apology, and they met. The letters on the Duke's part are
very creditable, so free from arrogance or an assuming tone;
those on Lord Winchelsea's not so, for one of them is a senseless
repetition of the offence, in which he says that if the Duke will
deny that his allegations are true he will apologise. They met at
Wimbledon at eight o'clock. There were many people about, who saw
what passed. They stood at a distance of fifteen paces. Before
they began Hardinge went up to Lords Winchelsea and Falmouth, and
said he must protest against the proceeding, and declare that
their conduct in refusing an apology when Lord Winchelsea was so
much in the wrong filled him with disgust. The Duke fired and
missed, and then Winchelsea fired in the air. He immediately
pulled out of his pocket the paper which has since appeared, but
in which the word 'apology' was omitted. The Duke read it and
said it would not do. Lord Falmouth said he was not come there to
quibble abo