Royal Gazette 1817 March 04

 
Mahaica Ferry. [heading]
Notice is hereby given, that the large Punt for the conveyance of carriages across the creek, requires some repairs - which will commence on Monday the 10th instant, and continue for the week; during which time, no two or four-wheeled carriage will be able to pass.
N. B. A proper punt is preparing for the conveyance of horses.
March 2. R. S. Turton.

Original Communications. [heading]

Mr. Baker - The Governor and Court of Policy, as a mark of their approbation of the conduct of the 1st Battalion, Demerary Militia, having voted a new pair of colours to the regiment, and left the device for the regimental flag to their own choice; some of the gentlemen have been toching off little designs, suitable to the purpose.
The first which I saw - a palm or rather cabbage tree, on the one side of which a militia man, of the light company, that is, he wore in his cap a green feather; which is, I believe, their distinguishing mark: - on the other side, a native Indian: - and at the foot of the tree, a sleeping tyger, with the word "security," in a label. The appropriateness of this design, is thus explained: - the palm, emblematic of the prosperity of the colony; the figures, of its internal security.
This was by some approved of; but a gentleman of the Rifle Corps, who is ever solicitous for its honour, declared, (and in my judgment, correctly), that as rifle men were the species of troops best calculated for the internal defence of the country, the soldier ought to be dressed in that costume, and desired a friend to make the alteration in another drawing. this, you may easily suppose, was as strenuously argued against by gentlemen of the Battalion; and the person who was desired to make the alteration, bethought himself of a device to please both parties. It was a shield, in the center of which an armed native Indian - on the right of the shield, a rifle man, and on the left a battalion man - the whole to be ornamented with branches of the cane, coffee, and cotton plants.
This was thought applicable enough, and the difficulty surmounted. But in my humble opinion, not so. For have not the gentlemen of the cavalry a voice also? In fact, it is invidious to thus notice one corps more than another; they are all meritorious, and, joined together, equal to much, but divided, little. It being thus inconsisent to please all parties, give me leave to propose a device that will at least offend none. This is it: in the center of an azure field, an oval wreath, not of laurel but of the cane, coffee, and cotton plants, united in the same manner as you have no doubt seen the rose, the thistle, and the shamrock; and, by the way I believe, the rose derives almost as much benefit from the cane, the coffee, and the cotton, as it does from either the thistle or the shamrock! But to continue: - in the center of the wreath, the Imperial British diadem, and over it, in a label, the words "First Battalion," &c. the whole surmounted by rays of glory; the bordering and tassels, blue and gold - agreeing with the factings of the battalion. This, if properly executed on satin would have a very beautiful, rich, and chaste effect; - and were it necessary, Mr. Bryant would, I dare say, oblige the corps with a sketch of it on paper.
I am, &c.

[right pointing hand icon] Having been told, that for the sake of impartiality at least, as well as in consequence of something having been "erroneously stated," we ought to present the following - the same is given verbatim, from the Guiana Chronicle:
"In the course of the evening, some words were used by the unfortunate gentleman who fell, which, it appears, gave offence to the survivor. Of these words the gentleman shortly after was reminded, but no explanation of them whatever demanded, as has been most erroneously stated; on the contrary, when, assuming it as a fact that, from the distance between them at table, there could have been no distinct understanding of the words or their tendency, the unfortunate gentleman proceeded calmly to explain them, he was told that he was asked for no explanation, but that if he ever presumed to use such expressions again, that he (the survivor of this unfortunate affair) would wring his nose. - These were his very words. (It is here necessary to observe, that, from the united testimony of several gentlemen who were at table with the parties when the words excepted to were spoken, it appears they were not only perfectly inoffensive in themselves, but were not even addressed to the person who was pleased to resent them, as indeed it was remarked by all, that no conversation whatever had taken place between them.) Mr. Hewlings, one receiving such an intimation as is related above, although, perhaps, the most moderate person will think that there could scarcely be made too harsh a return, merely replied, "You dare not." The expression of "You scoundrel, I will shew you what I dare do," and a blow on the forehead, which felled him instantly to the ground, were the immoderate acts of the party considering himself offended. This blow was followed by others, and by a violent kick on the private parts - the consequences of which alone might have been fatal. During this assault, the unfortunate gentleman endeavoured to defend himself, but ineffectually, as the bodily strength of the assailant was much superior to his - the whole was accompanied with expressions of so outrageous a nature, that it is diffult to suppose that the whole affair was not premeditated. On being separated, a challenge was given by him who first struck the blow, in these words: - "This is a fine moon-light night, and if you have the courage to meet me, be here in the course of half an hour, and you will find me ready at that house;" pointing to one near the spot. To this was replied, "Never fear, I will be within your time." The challenger then rejoined - "I don't believe I shall see you again to-night, you cowardly scoundrel: but, remember, if you are not here at the time I say, I will, wherever I meet you, horsewhip you as a coward and a scoundrel." After this, the gentleman who received such injurious treatment, drove into town to the house of a friend, to whom he communicated the particulars of the whole. This friend accompanied him immediately to the house appointed; deferring all remark on the facts, until an opportunity should occur of hearing a statement from the friend of the challenger, as a person understood to have been present when the words, in which the matter originated, were spoken, and, at all events, as one less liable to be biassed than either of the parties immediately interested. When he demanded how the whole affair stood between the gentlemen, he was required, as a preliminary, to state how it had been represented to him - he did so, in the manner above-related. When he had finished, he was informed that every thing was perfectly correct, with the exception, that when his friend used tha [sic] threat of wringing the nose, the reply of "You dare not," was given by the other in a threatening attitude, and that at the same time he raised and shook his clenched hand. To this was immediately said - such attitude, and such motion were, whether true or not, extremely natural, and threw a very slight and immaterial shade of difference over the two statements, which, in all their important points, must be said to agree. It was also said, "we are here, according to the challenge given by your friend, under the threat of horse-whipping if not accepted within half an hour, within our time, and quite ready." The reply was - "I doubt not, and so are we: but don't you think it would be better for us, that no meeting should take place until morning? this I merely say as a matter that may regard ourselves; for as to any real difference there is none, as I should think it must come, at last, to an affair." To this was replied, "I agree with you most perfectly, both as to the turn appearances may take, should any serious consequences occur, and to the ultimate decision, which must be, I should think, just as you suppose, after such a horrible outrage: if you, therefore, please to express your willingness (as we cannot, coming here challenged under a threat, so do), I will immediately take my friend home, though much against his inclination, and meet you at your own hour in the morning." This expression of readiness to wait was most pointedly refused, and the party challenged was informed, that unless he first asked the delay, it could not take place. The expression originally used was then repeated - "We come here in consequence of your friend's challenge to mine, to meet him in half an hour, under the threat of being horse-whipped if he refused, and we are quite ready." The other said immediately - "So are we - when shall it take place?" "Whenever you please: you are the challenger, have chosen your own time, choose also the place, as is customary in such cases." "Very well; send home the servant and gig, and we will walk towards the sea-side, near the Block-house." To this was answered - "No, we cannot yet; we will draw up to the turn-off to the Kitty road, and there wait for you; when you join us there, I will direct the servant to drive up the Kitty road, that in case of accident the gig may be at hand; we can then walk in any direction you please, and, at all events, he (the servant) shall go far enough from the spot, wherever it may be, to prevent his witnessing what may occur." When the party joined at the turn of the road as agreed on, and theservant had been dismissed with the gig, the friend of the challenger said, "We will walk up there," pointing to the samll dam leading to the site of the old Block-house - the party did so accordingly. When the friend of the gentleman challenged had walked with his principal about a hundred yards, he was called to stop, and informed that there was a little to the left, a place that would answer the purpose. When he was made to understand the place intended, he asked his principal whether he had any objection to it: the answer was in the negative, and acquiescence was immediately made. When the seconds came on the ground to adjust preliminaries, the gentleman on the side of the challenger, said, "Will you mark the ground, and how many paces shall be the distance?" To this was replied, "You should certainly, as challenger, mark the ground, and choose your own distance, and I dare say we shall not disagree." He immediately, after asking and receiving the other's acquiescence, marked out twelve paces, which were fairly stepped. The principals were placed in their places and armed. The question was asked by the challenger's second - "Shall you or I give the word?" The answer was, "It can be of no consequence, but I believe it more properly belongs to us, as challenger, to give it." He then gave the word in the usual manner, both parties fired at precisely the same time, but without effect. The gentleman who gave the word, called out immediately - "Is your friend satisfied, Sir?" To this was replied, "That should be the question of the party demanidng satisfaction; for our part, we are here in consequence of a challenge given by your friend, attended by a threat of horse-whipping if declined." To this was said, "If you persist then, Sir, in that, we must go on." To which was replied, "We cannot help it." Whilst the friend of the challenger held this partly with the other, the principal said, in a loud composed voice, "I think [illegible] had better close in a couple of paces." to this, however, no attention was paid. The parties were again [illegible], fired precisely as before, and the fatal wound was [illegible] by the unfortunate gentleman, who was alledg- [illegible], and who certainly received such treament, as no person merely actuated by a nice sense of honour would have afforded. - The difference as to who challenged in this unfortunate affair, was urged by the second to the survivor, as a mere salve to protect his friend [illegible] of accident. Most assuredly satisfaction would have [illegible] demanded of his principal in the morning, if he had not anticipated the intention of the other in such a [illegible] But on a former occasion, of which this gentleman [illegible] reminded when he first mentioned the matter, he endeavoured to raise the same distinctions, and with much the same success.

The schooner Demerary Packet, arrived yesterday from Barbados. . . .

SLAVES in the COLONY-JAIL. [heading]

March 4. F. Strunkay, Scout.

Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
By William Baker.

Created: 18 June 2008   Last modified:     Creator: Wilmer, John Lance    Maintainer: Rodney Van Cooten

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