have given, on our first interview, proofs that I want not courage. I give you now, as I think, the highest I can give, in refusing your challenge. A personal insult I know how to repel. I know how to defend myself-But, as I said, I will not repeat any thing I have written.

'MR. MER. But, Sir Charles, you have threatened a man of honour in what you have written, if we take you right, with a weapon that ought to be used only to a scoundrel; yet refuse

'SIR CH. The mau, sir, that shall take it into his head to insult me, may do it with the greater safety, though perhaps not with impunity, as he may be assured I will not kill him for it, if I can help it. I can play with my weapons, sir (it may look like boasting) but will not play with any man's life, nor consent to make a sport of my own.

SIR HAR. D-n your coolness, sir-I cannot bear

SIR CH. Curse not your safety, Sir Hargrave. 'MR. JOR. Indeed, Sir Charles, I could not bear such an air of superiority

'SIR CH. It is more than an air, Mr. Jordan. The man who can think of justifying one violent action by another, must give a real superiority against himself. Let Sir Hargrave confess his fault-I have put him in the way of doing it, with all the credit to himself that a man can have who has committed a fault-and I offer him my hand.

'SIR HAR. Damnable insult!-What, own a fault to a man who, without any provocation, has dashed my teeth down my throat; and, as you see-Gentlemen—say, Can Í, ought I, now to have patience?

'SIR CH. I intended not to do you any of this mischief, Sir Hargrave. I drew not my sword, to return a pass made by yours-actually received a

raking on my shoulder from a sword that was aimed at my heart. I sought nothing but to hinder you from doing that mischief to me, which I was resolved not to do to you. This, Sir Hargrave-this, gentlemen-was the state of the case; and, the cause such, as no man of honour could refuse engaging in.- -And now, sir, I meet you, upon my own invitation, in your own house, unattended, and alone, to show you, that I have the same disposition as I had from the first, to avoid doing you injury-and this it is, gentlemen, that gives me a superiority to Sir Hargrave, which he may lessen by behaving as I, in this case, would behave to him.

'MR. BAG. By G- this is nobly said.

'Mr. JOR. I own, Sir Hargrave, that I would sooner kneel to such a man as this than to a king on his throne.

'SIR HAR. D-n me, if I forgive him, with these marks about me!-I insist upon your taking one of those pistols, sir.-Gentlemen, my friends, he boasts of his advantages: he may have some from his cursed coolness: he can have none any other way. Bear witness, I forgive him if he lodges a brace of bullets in my heart-Take one of those pistols, sir. They are equally loadedBear witness, if I die, that I have provoked my fate. But I will die like a man of honour.

'SIR CH. To die like a man of honour, Sir Hargrave, you must have lived like one. You should be sure of your cause. But these pistols are too ready a mischief. Were I to meet you in your own way, Sir Hargrave, I should not expect that a man so enraged would fire his over my head, as I should be willing to do mine over his. Life I would not put upon the perhaps involuntary twitch of a finger.

'SIR HAR. Well, then, the sword. You came, though undressed, with your sword on.

'SIR CH. I did; and for the reason I gave to Mr. Bagenhall. I draw it not, however, but in my own defence.

SIR HAR. (Rising from his seat) Will you favour me with your company into my own garden? Only you and I, Sir Charles. Let the gentlemen, my friends, stay here. They shall only look out of the windows, if they please-Only to that grassplot, sir (pointing, as I saw)—If you fall, I shall have the worst of it from the looks of the matter, killing a man in my own garden: if I fall, you will have the evidence of my friends to bring you off.

'SIR CH. I need not look at the place, Sir Hargrave. And since, gentlemen, it is allowed, that the pistols may be dismissed; and since by their lying loaded on the table they seem but to stimulate to mischief, you will all excuse me-and you, Sir Hargrave, will forgive me

And so saying, he arose, with great tranquillity, as I saw; and taking the pistols, lifted up the sashi that was next to that at which Sir Hargrave stood, and discharged them both out of the window.

By the report, the writer is sure they were well loaded.

In ran a crowd of servants, men and women, in dismay. The writer sat still in the closet, knowing the matter to be no worse. One of the men cried out "This is the murderer!" And they all (not seeing their master, as I suppose, at the window beyond Sir Charles, and who afterwards owned himself too much surprised to stir or speak) were for making up to Sir Charles.

Sir Charles then retiring, put his hand upon

his sword: but mildly said-" My friends, your master is safe. Take care I hurt not any of you." 'SIR HAR. I am safe-Begone, scoundrels! 'MR. BAG. Begone! Quit the room. Sir Hargrave is safe.

'MR. MER.

MR. JOR. Begone! begone!

The servants, as I saw, crowded out as fast as they came in.

Sir Charles, then stepping towards Sir Hargrave, said "You will, some time hence, Sir, think the discharge of those pistols much happier than if they had been put to the use designed when they were loaded. I offer you my band: it is an offer that is not to be twice refused. If you have malice to me, I have none to you. I invited myself to breakfast with you. You and your friends shall be welcome to dine with me. My time is near expired,' (looking at his watch)-for Sir Hargrave seemed too irresolute either to accept or refuse his hand.

MR. JOR. I am astonished!-Why, Sir Charles, what a tranquillity must you have within you!The devil take me, Sir Hargrave, if you shall not make up matters with such a noble adversary.

MR. MER. He has won me to his side-By the great God of heaven, had rather have Sir Charles Grandison for my friend, than the greatest prince on earth!

'MR. BAG. Did I not tell you, gentlemen?— D-n me, if I have not hitherto lived to nothing but to my shame! I had rather be Sir Charles Grandison in this one past hour, than the Great Mogul all my life.

Sir Hargrave even sobbed, as I could hear by his voice, like a child. D-n my heart,' said he, in broken sentences- and must I thus put-up

and must I be thus overcome?-By G-, by G-, Grandison, you must, you must, walk down with me into the garden. I have something to propose you; and it will be in your own choice either to compromise, or to give me the satisfaction of a gentleman: but you must retire with me into the garden.'

to

'SIR CH. With all my heart, Sir Hargrave.

' And taking off his sword, he laid it on the table. 'SIR HAR. And must I do so too?-D-n me, if I do!-Take up your sword, sir.

'SIR CH. I will, to oblige you, Sir Hargrave. It will be always in my choice to draw it, or not. 'SIR HAR. D-n me, if I can live to be thus treated!-Where the devil have you been till now? -But you must go down with me into the garden. 'SIR CH. Show me the way, Sir Hargrave. 'They all interposed: but Sir Charles saidPray, gentlemen, let Sir Hargrave have his way. We will attend you presently.'

"The writer then came cut, by the gentlemens' leave, who staid behind, at the windows, They expressed their admiration of Sir Charles. And Mr. Merceda and Mr. Bagenhall (the writer mentions it to their honour) reproached each other, as if they had no notion of what was great and noble in man till now.

< Sir Charles and Sir Hargrave soon appeared in sight, walking, and as conversing earnestly. The subject, it seems, was some proposals made by Sir Hargrave, about the lady, which Sir Charles would not comply with. And when they came to the grass-plot, Sir Hargrave threw open his coat and waistcoat, and drew; and seemed, by his motions, to insist upon Sir Charles's drawing likewise. Sir Charles had his sword in one hand: but it was