MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF A GENERAL COURT MARTIAL, ASSEMBLED AT THE CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE, ON THE 4TH OF JANUARY, 1810. BY ORDER OF THE HON. LIEUT. GEN. H.G. GREY, COMMANDER OF THE FORCES, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, IN SOUTH AFRICA; FOR THE TRIAL OF R. RYAN, ESQ. CAPT. IN THE 93D REGIMENT, AND OF W. BURKE NICOLLS, ESQ. CAPT. IN THE 72D REGT. THE FORMER, ON A CHARGE OF HAVING BEEN THE PRINCIPAL, THE LATTER, ON A CHARGE OF HAVING BEEN SECOND, IN A DUEL ALLEGED TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THE 25TH DECEMBER, 1809; WITH T. PATULLO, ESQ. PAYMASTER OF THE 93D REGT. PRINCIPAL; T. HITCHINS, ESQ. CAPT. IN THE 93D REGT. HAVING BEEN HIS SECOND.
London: Printed by T. Harper, 1811. 114, [1], [1 errata] pp. Bound in modern plain wrappers, old rubberstamp on title page, two light blindstamps. Light scattered foxing. Good+.
The Code Duello is well-reflected in this outraged denunciation of two participants in a duel who agreed to testify in a court martial of their opponents. The prefatory Advertisement explains 'Editor's' reason for publishing this account of one of those "petty questions of private, and personal disputes among the Officers of a Regiment." Such matters, "seldom of any peculiar interest, beyond the limited sphere of their immediate operation, are rarely presented to the notice of the public."
This case, however, is different: Patullo and Hitchins have been "prevailed upon, by a promise of personal indemnity, to assume the contemptible character of informers, or King's Evidence, against two other officers, their opponents, in such duel." Such conduct is "subversive of all those principles of honor, and confidence, which have heretofore regulated the conduct of gentlemen." They have inflicted "a deep, and deadly wound, at those received principles, of mutual confidence, and honor, which form the basis, and the cement of civil society!"
OCLC 69672299 [1- DLC] [as of December 2015]. Item #32592
Price: $450.00