DUELS

—The duel as it is in modern times did not exist in ancient Greece and Rome. In the Middle Ages trial by compurgation of oath was developed, and from that judicial combat. The modern d. differs from this latter in that it has no elaborate sanction of law or religion. Duelling seems to have developed first in France, and more widely there than in any other country. Frequent attempts were made by legislature to check it (e.g. by Richelieu), but without avail. In the years 1601-9, 2000 men of gentle family are said to have met their death in duelling. At the time of the Revolution it was hoped by some that this would disappear together with other ancient abuses, but though checked for a time it soon ‘came in’ again, and d’s still take place in France. There were few d’s in England before the early XVII. cent. Several famous d’s took place in England in the first half of the XIX. cent. in which, amongst others, the Duke of York, Lord Byron, and the Duke of Wellington took part; 172 d’s, of which 91 proved fatal to one of the combatants, were fought during the reign of George III. In the ‘duelling’ amongst Ger. students precautions are ad to protect all vital parts of the y.