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evening before； in company with Dick England； and at length； from
what the two gentlemen said； he had no doubt of the fact； and
thought it a fit opportunity to make a due acknowledgment of the
gentlemanly conduct of their friend； who had paid him a bet which
he had no remembrance of having made。
No mood could be better for the purpose of the meeting； so the
two gentlemen not only approved of the conduct of Dick； and
descanted on the propriety of paying drunken men what they won；
but also declared that no _GENTLEMAN_ would refuse to pay a
debt of honour won from him when drunk； and at once begged
leave to ‘remind' Mr D that he had lost to them 180 guineas！
In vain the astounded Mr D denied all knowledge of the
transaction； the gentlemen affected to be highly indignant； and
talked loudly of injured honour。 Besides； had he not received 30
guineas from their friend？ So he assented； and appointed the
next morning to settle the matter。
Fortunately for Mr D； however； some intelligent friends of his
arrived in the mean time； and having heard his statement about
the whole affair； they ‘smelt a rat；' and determined to ferret it
out。 They examined the waiterpreviously handing him over five
guineasand this man declared the truth that Mr D did not play
at allin fact； that he was in such a condition that there could
not be any real play。 Dick England was therefore ‘blown' on this
occasion。 Mr D returned him his thirty guineas； and paid five
guineas for his share of the supper； and well he might；
considering that it very nearly cost him 150 guineasthat is；
having to receive 30 guineas and to pay 180 guineas to the
Greeksprofit and loss with a vengeance。
Being thus ‘blown' at Scarborough； Dick England and his
associates decamped on the following morning。
He next formed a connection with a lieutenant on half pay； nephew
to an Irish earl。 With this lieutenant he went to Spa； and
realized something considerable； but not without suspicionfor a
few dice were missed。
Dick England returned to London； where he shortly disagreed with
the lieutenant。 The latter joined the worthy before described；
Captain O'Kelly； who was also at enmity with Dick England； and
the latter took an opportunity of knocking their heads together
in a public coffee…room； and thrashing them both till they took
shelter under the tables。 Dick had the strength of an ox； the
ferocity of a bull…dog； and ‘the cunning of the serpent；'
although what the latter is no naturalist has ever yet discovered
or explained。
The lieutenant determined on revenge for the thrashing。 He had
joined his regiment； and he ‘peached' against his former friend；
disclosing to the officers the circumstance of the dice at Spa；
before mentioned； and； of course； upset all the designs of Dick
England and his associates。 This enraged all the blacklegs； a
combination was formed against the lieutenant； and he was
shot through the head by ‘a brother officer；' who belonged to the
confraternity。
The son of an earl lost forty thousand pounds in play to Dick
England； and shot himself at Stacie's Hotel in consequencethe
very night before his honourable father sent his steward to pay
the ‘debt of honour' in fullthough aware that his son had been
cheated out of it。
But the most extraordinary ‘pass' of Dick England's career is
still to be relatednot without points in it which make it
difficult to believe； in spite of the evidence； that it is the
same ‘party' who was concerned in it。 Here it is。
In the _Gentleman's Magazine_； in Gilchrist's Collection of
British Duels； in Dr Millingen's reproduction of the latter； the
following account occurs：
‘Mr Richard England was put to the bar at the Old Bailey； charged
with the 〃wilful murder〃 of Mr Rowlls； brewer； of Kingston； in
a duel at Cranford…bridge； June 18； 1784。
‘Lord Derby； the first witness； gave evidence that he was present
at Ascot races。 When in the stand upon the race…course； he heard
Mr England cautioning the gentlemen present not to bet with
the deceased； as he neither paid what he lost nor what he
borrowed。 On which Mr Rowlls went up to him； called him rascal
or scoundrel； and offered to strike him； when Mr England bid him
stand off； or he would be obliged to knock him down； saying； at
the same time〃We have interrupted the company sufficiently
here； and if you have anything further to say to me； you know
where I am to be found。〃 A further altercation ensued； but his
Lordship being at the other end of the stand； did not distinctly
hear it； and then the parties retired。
‘Lord Dartrey； afterwards Lord Cremorne； and his lady； with a
gentleman； were at the inn at the time the duel was fought。 They
went into the garden and endeavoured to prevent the duel； several
other persons were collected in the garden。 Mr Rowlls desired
his Lordship and others not to interfere； and on a second attempt
of his Lordship to make peace； Mr Rowlls said； if they did not
retire； he must； though reluctantly； call them impertinent。 Mr
England at the same time stepped forward； and took off his hat；
he said〃Gentlemen； I have been cruelly treated； I have been
injured in my honour and character； let reparation be made； and I
am ready to have done this moment。〃 Lady Dartrey retired。
His Lordship stood in the bower of the garden until he saw Mr
Rowlls fall。 One or two witnesses were called； who proved
nothing material。 A paper； containing the prisoner's defence；
being read； _the Earl of Derby； the Marquis of Hertford； Sir
Whitbread； jun。； Colonel Bishopp； and other gentlemen_； were
called to his character。 They all spoke of him as a man of
_decent gentlemanly deportment_； who； instead of seeking
quarrels； was studious to avoid them。 He had been friendly to
Englishmen while abroad； and had rendered some service to the
military at the siege of Newport。
‘Mr Justice Rooke summoned up the evidence； after which the jury
retired for about three quarters of an hour； when they returned a
verdict of 〃manslaughter。〃
‘The prisoner having fled from the laws of his country for twelve
years； the Court was disposed to show no lenity。 He was
therefore sentenced to pay a fine of one shilling； and be
imprisoned in Newgate twelve months。'
This trial took place in the year 1796； and the facts in evidence
give a strange picture of the times。 A duel actually fought in
the garden of an inn； a noble lord close by in a bower therein；
and his lady certainly within _HEARING_ of the shots； and
doubtless a spectator of the bloody spectacle。 But this is not
the point；the incomprehensible point；to which I have
alludedwhich is； how Lord Derby and the other gentlemen of the
highest standing could come forward to speak to the character of
_DICK ENGLAND_； if he was the same man who killed the
unfortunate brewer of Kingston？
Here is _ANOTHER_ account of the matter； which warrants the
doubt； although it is fear