Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/568

 564 STACKPOLE. highest opinion of him as an intrepid and skilful seaman, adding at the same time that he believed him capable of drawing occasionally a long bow. This answer was publicly talked of in the gun room of the Statira; and at length reached the ears of Captain Stackpole, who, having ascertained that the words were spoken, declared that he would call Lieutenant Cecil to an account for them, when and wherever he met him. It was so far fortunate that they did not meet for four years; but the opportunity at last offered, when the Statira was laying in the harbour of Port Royal, Jamaica, and the Argo, of which Cecil was senior lieutenant, happened to enter that port. Imme diately as Captain Stackpole was aware of the circum stance, he sent his first lieutenant, Mr. White, on board the Argo with a message to Lieutenant Cecil, purporting he must either meet him immediately, or make a suitable apology for the slanderous words he had used. Lieutenant Cecil in reply said, that four years having elapsed since the words were spoken, which he was charged with having uttered, it was quite impossible for him to recollect how far they were correct or not; but as a brother officer, and a man of honour, had quoted the words as his, he could not act otherwise than avow them. As to an apology, he wished Captain Stackpole to understand, that under a l l the circumstances, h e should have had n o objection t o apologise t o any other officer i n his majesty's navy, but t o him i t was impossible, the captain o f the Statira being reputed throughout the navy a s a good shot, and having been the friend and companion o f Lord Camelford. I n consequence o f this reply, the parties met a t a place called Park Henderson, a t a quarter before five o n the following morning, April 28, 1814; took their ground a t ten paces, and fired a s nearly together a s possible, when Captain Stackpole received the ball o f his adversary i n his right side, fracturing the first rib, and passing through the lungs, which almost instantaneously deprived him o f life. He died without speaking a word, o r even uttering a groan. Immediately after the affair h e was removed o n board the