Theevilhadreachedanalarmingheight，when，intheyear1808，anopportunitywasaffordedtoKingGeorgeIIIofshowinginastrikingmannerhisdetestationofthepractice，andofsettinganexampletotheIrishthatsuchmurderswerenottobecommittedwithimpunity。Adisputearose，inthemonthofJune1807，betweenMajorCampbellandCaptainBoyd，officersofthe21stregiment，stationedinIreland，aboutthepropermannerofgivingthewordofcommandonparade。Hotwordsensuedonthisslightoccasion，andtheresultwasachallengefromCampbelltoBoyd。Theyretiredintothemess-roomshortlyafterwards，andeachstationedhimselfatacorner，thedistanceobliquelybeingbutsevenpaces。Here，withoutfriendsorsecondsbeingpresent，theyfiredateachother，andCaptainBoydfellmortallywoundedbetweenthefourthandfifthribs。Asurgeonwhocameinshortly，foundhimsittinginachair，vomitingandsufferinggreatagony。Hewasledintoanotherroom，MajorCampbellfollowing，ingreatdistressandperturbationofmind。Boydsurvivedbuteighteenhours；andjustbeforehisdeath，said，inreplytoaquestionfromhisopponent，thattheduelwasnotfair，andadded，“Youhurriedme，Campbell——you’reabadman。“——“GoodGod！“repliedCampbell，“willyoumentionbeforethesegentlemen，wasnoteverythingfair？Didyounotsaythatyouwereready？“Boydansweredfaintly，“Oh，no！youknowIwantedyoutowaitandhavefriends。“Onbeingagainaskedwhetherallwasfair，thedyingmanfaintlymurmured“Yes:“butinaminuteafter，hesaid，“You’reabadman！“Campbellwasnowingreatagitation，andwringinghishandsconvulsively，heexclaimed，“Oh，Boyd！youarethehappiestmanofthetwo！Doyouforgiveme？“Boydreplied，“Iforgiveyou——Ifeelforyou，asIknowyoudoforme。“
Heshortlyafterwardsexpired，andMajorCampbellmadehisescapefromIreland，andlivedforsomemonthswithhisfamilyunderanassumedname，intheneighbourhoodofChelsea。Hewas，however，apprehended，andbroughttotrialatArmagh，inAugust1808。Hesaidwhileinprison，that，iffoundguiltyofmurder，heshouldsufferasanexampletoduellistsinIreland；butheendeavouredtobuoyhimselfup，withthehopethatthejurywouldonlyconvicthimofmanslaughter。Itwasprovedinevidenceuponthetrial，thattheduelwasnotfoughtimmediatelyaftertheoffencewasgiven，butthatMajorCampbellwenthomeanddrankteawithhisfamily，beforehesoughtBoydforthefatalencounter。Thejuryreturnedaverdictofwilfulmurderagainsthim，butrecommendedhimtomercyonthegroundthattheduelhadbeenafairone。HewascondemnedtodieontheMondayfollowing，butwasafterwardsrespitedforafewdayslonger。Inthemeantimethegreatestexertionsweremadeinhisbehalf。HisunfortunatewifewentuponherkneesbeforethePrinceofWales，tomovehimtousehisinfluencewiththeKing，infavourofherunhappyhusband。Everythingafondwifeandacourageouswomancoulddo，shetried，togaintheroyalclemency；butGeorgeIIIwasinflexible，inconsequenceoftherepresentationsoftheIrishViceroythatanexamplewasnecessary。Thelawwasthereforeallowedtotakeitscourse，andthevictimofafalsespiritofhonourdiedthedeathofafelon。
ThemostinveterateduellistsofthepresentdayarethestudentsintheUniversitiesofGermany。Theyfightonthemostfrivolouspretences，andsettlewithswordsandpistolstheschoolboydisputeswhichinothercountriesarearrangedbythemoreharmlessmediumofthefisticuffs。Itwasatonetimethecustomamongthesesavageyouthstoprefertheswordcombat，forthefacilityitgavethemofcuttingoffthenosesoftheiropponents。Todisfiguretheminthismannerwasanobjectofambition，andtheGermanduellistsreckonedthenumberofthesedisgustingtrophieswhichtheyhadborneaway，withasmuchsatisfactionasasuccessfulgeneraltheprovinceshehadreducedorthecitieshehadtaken。
Butitwouldbewearisometoenterintotheminutedetailofalltheduelsofmoderntimes。Ifanexaminationweremadeintothegeneralcauseswhichproducedthem，itwouldbefoundthatineverycasetheyhadbeeneitherofthemosttrivialorthemostunworthynature。Parliamentaryduelswereatonetimeverycommon，andamongstthenamesofthosewhohavesoiledagreatreputationbyconformingtothepractice，maybementionedthoseofWarrenHastings，SirPhilipFrancis，Wilkes，Pitt，Fox，Grattan，Curran，Tierney，andCanning。Sodifficultisitevenforthesuperiormindtofreeitselffromthetrammelswithwhichfoolishopinionhasenswathedit——notoneofthesecelebratedpersonswhodidnotinhissecretsoulcondemnthefollytowhichhelenthimself。Thebondsofreason，thoughiron-strong，areeasilyburstthrough；butthoseoffolly，thoughlitheandfrailastherushesbyastream，defythestoutesthearttosnapthemasunder。ColonelThomas，anofficeroftheGuards，whowaskilledinaduel，addedthefollowingclausetohiswillthenightbeforehedied:——“Inthefirstplace，IcommitmysoultoAlmightyGod，inhopeofhismercyandpardonfortheirreligiousstepInowincompliancewiththeunwarrantablecustomsofthiswickedworld
putmyselfunderthenecessityoftaking。“Howmanyhavebeeninthesamestateofmindasthiswise，foolishman！Heknewhiserror，andabhorredit，butcouldnotresistit，forfearoftheopinionoftheprejudicedandunthinking。Noothercouldhaveblamedhimforrefusingtofightaduel。