noblemen were a little staggered by this
announcement; and, after a panse during which
gloom and disappointment gathered upon their
faces, Lord Bellamont said, "I confess, my lord,
this is more than I expected. But since Lord
Townshend's first care is to justify his intention
towards me, and end his present situation, let
him do it in such a manner as to justify me in
releasing him from that situation. The apology
your lordship has delivered is not yet sufficient."
Then Lord Ligonier begged permission to return
to his principal; and, by–and–by came back with
another apology shaped more satisfactorily; in
which he repeated that he never meant to offend,
and was sorry, generally, that the business had
occurred.

This last "article" was surely sufficient for
the noble lord, for it made him play penitent for
what he owned to having known nothing of.
But the insatiable Irish noblemen were not to be
balked. The Earl of Bellamont now requested
permission to send for a fourth actor in the
piece, who had not as yet "come on," but who
was to figure, he said, in the responsible
function of his "second in the field"—namely, Lord
Ancram. Lord Charlemont's powers, it would
appear, did not stretch beyond that of pacificator
and diplomatist: the new negotiator had
sterner duties. Accordingly, Lord Ancram presented
himself. The original expression of regret,
together with its amendment, was read over to
him, considered gravely, and pronounced
satisfactory. A wonderful instance of abnegation on
the part of the new negotiator, considering that
it was a virtual renunciation of his new office
and powers. Still the earl was not yet easy in his
mind. The atonement offered was almost too
complete to be satisfactory. The very
handsomeness of the apology disturbed him. There
should at least have been qualification and
protocolling.There may have been a snake hidden in
the grass. So, on the whole, the noble earl
requested permission to retire into an adjoining
chamber to think the matter over. Presently
he reappeared with an instrument drawn up
carefully, embodying the apology given, and
framed with great legal nicety. He presented
this with some mistrust, as though he were
doing something prejudicial to his own interests,
but generously said he will not insist on this
exact shape of words. Lord Ligonier, however,
accepted it, took it with him, and went his way
home to his principal.

This affair of honour may be said to have
been thus far happily piloted through all its
stages; and, though some nice perceptions may
consider it to have been strictly an affair of
honour spoiled, and, like abortive actions–at–law,
to have gone off on a technical point,
still it reflected credit on all the parties concerned.
No doubt my Lord Townshend, thinking
the business over, was not quite pleased
with the gentle and submissive part he had been
made to play in the matter. But it was not
fated to end in this lame and prosaic fashion:
awkward versions of the arrangements began
to be whispered about the clubs. Therefore
when, about three weeks afterwards, a paper
was tendered to my Lord Ligonier for signature,
embodying a version of the whole transaction,
he gladly seized the opportunity of
protesting against that version, and gave this
very remarkable explanation. Who would
imagine that the visit of "Lord Viscount"
Ligonier, on Sunday morning, was for the
express purpose of challenging Lord Bellamont,
for the forcible and depreciatory opinion which
Lord Charlemont read out? Who could
suppose that he had instructed primarily to call
the noble earl to account, and that the
apologetical disclaimers of any intention to offend
was mere prefatory matter? Yet this is Lord
Ligonier's version. When he found this
overture so well received, he thought it possible
that the affair might be patched up in a
conciliatory way. Still it is mentioned that he
returned to his principal, and got him to amend
his apology, by which it would appear that he
had put him in possession of the entire facts of
the case, as it proceeded, which is not very
consistent with his story.

However, on this, negotiations were opened
afresh, and a meeting happily arranged. The
lovers of this manly mode of adjusting human
differences were gratified with a genuine duel.
The belligerents met behind Marylebone–fields,
Lord Bellamont having been attended by an
Irish gentleman, the Hon. Mr. Dillon; Lord
Townshend by Lord Viscount Ligonier. The
Earl of Bellamont was destined to be the
sufferer; for he missed his adversary, who
succeeded in lodging his ball in the fleshy part of
the earl's groin. He was placed in a coach,
but the pain of the wound was such, that he
had to be moved to a sedan–chair. The
surgeons were long in finding the ball, and, after
a doubtful struggle, lie was pronounced out of
danger, and finally recovered.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S NEW READINGS.

On Saturday Evening, May 17th, at ST. JAMES'S HALL,
                  Piccadilly, at 8 o'clock precisely,
             Mr. CHARLES DICKENS will read his
                             NICHOLAS NICKLEBY
                     AT MR. SQUEERS'S SCHOOL,
                                         AND
                  BOOTS AT THE HOLLY–TREE INN,
                                        AND
                      MR. BOB SAWYER'S PARTY,
                               FROM PICKWICK.
          And on Wednesday Afternoon, May 21st, at 3,
                   Mr. CHARLES DICKENS will read his
                                DAVID COPPERFIELD.
              This is THE LAST AFTERNOON READING.