The story of the duel is, briefly, this. The two noblemen were opposing parties in a lawsuit; and, on Nov. 13, 1712, met in the chambers of a Master in Chancery, when the Duke remarked of a witness--“There is no truth or justice in him.” Lord Mohun replied, “I know Mr. Whitworth; he is an honest Man, and has as much truth as your Grace.” This, fanned to flame by officious friends, was enough; and, two days afterwards, they fought, early in the morning, in Hyde Park, near Price’s Lodge; their seconds, Col. Hamilton and General Macartney, also fighting, as was the custom; or, as they expressed it, “taking their share in the dance.”
The duel is shortly described by a witness, “John Reynolds _of_ Price’s _Lodge in the_ Park, Swore, That hearing of a Quarrel, he and one _Nicholson_, got Staves and ran to part them: that he _Reynolds_ was within 30 or 40 yards of Duke _Hamilton_ and my Lord _Mohun_ when they fell. That my Lord _Mohun_ fell into the ditch upon his back, and Duke _Hamilton_ fell near him, leaning over him. That the two seconds ran in to them; and immediately after them this _John Reynolds_, who demanded the Seconds’ Swords, which they gave him, without any Resistance. He then wrested the Duke’s Sword out of his Hand, and _Nicholson_ took away my Lord _Mohun’s_, and gave it to _Reynolds_, who carried the four swords some distance from the parties: He return’d and help’d Duke _Hamilton_ up, who still lay on his Face. He got him up, and he walk’d about 30 Yards: they desir’d him to walk farther, and he said he could walk no farther.”
By this witness, supported by two others, we see no mention of General Macartney stabbing the Duke, as represented in the illustration, and as it was currently reported at the time. Macartney fled; but Col. Hamilton remained, stood his trial, and was found guilty of manslaughter. He accused Macartney of the foul deed, and great was the hue and cry after him. The Duchess was naturally enraged, and offered a reward of £300 for his apprehension, the Government supplementing her offer by an additional £500, but Macartney got away safely. When things were quieter, he returned, stood his trial at the Queen’s Bench, Colonel Hamilton’s testimony was contradicted, and he was acquitted of the murder, but found guilty of manslaughter. The punishment for this, by pleading benefit of Clergy, which, of course, was always done, was reduced to a very minimum--something amounting to the supposed burning of the hand with a barely warm, or cold iron--and he was restored to his rank in the army, and had a regiment given him.