[1] DUELLING ON CLAVERTON DOWN.
In the year 1778 many foreign nobles made Bath their residence. The Viscount du Barré and two ladies of great beauty and accomplishments, and Count Rice, an Irish gentleman who had borne arms in the service of France, lived in the Royal Crescent.
A quarrel at cards between Du Barré and Rice resulted in an immediate challenge—given and accepted. At one o'clock in the morning of November 18, 1778, a coach was procured from the Three Tuns in Stall Street, and Claverton Down was reached at day-dawn.
"Each man," says a contemporary, "was armed with two pistols and a sword, the ground being marked out by the seconds. Du Barré fired first, and lodged a ball in Count Rice's thigh, which penetrated to the bone. Count Rice fired, and wounded Du Barré in the breast. Afterwards the pistols were thrown away, and the combatants took to their swords.
"The Viscount du Barré fell, and cried out, 'Je vous demande ma vie!' to which Count Rice answered, 'Je vous la donne!' and in a few moments Du Barré fell back and expired. Count Rice was brought with difficulty to Bath, being dangerously wounded; and was found guilty, at the Coroner's inquest held on the Viscount's body, of manslaughter.
"Du Barré's body was left exposed on Claverton Down the whole day, and was subsequently buried in Bathampton Churchyard. Count Rice recovered; he was tried at Taunton for murder, and acquitted. He died in Spain in 1809. A stone slab in a wall skirting Claverton Down marks the spot where Du Barré fell. The ivory hilt of the sword once belonging to Count Rice is now attached to the City Seal in the town clerk's office."—Condensed from R. E. Peach's "Rambles about Bath."
ON THE BANKS OF THE OUSE; or, Life in Olney a Hundred Years Ago.
"No better story than this has been written by Mrs. Marshall."—Guardian.
IN FOUR REIGNS: Recollections of Althea Allingham from George III. to Victoria.
"A most charming tale of bygone days. The tone of the book is eminently high and refined."—Literary World.
UNDER THE MENDIPS: a Tale.
"One of Mrs. Marshall's charming stories, told with all the wonted freshness and grace which characterize her books."—Westminster Review.
THE TOWER ON THE CLIFF.
"The old dead time lives once more in her pages."—Saturday Review.
THE MISTRESS OF TAYNE COURT.
IN THE EAST COUNTRY WITH SIR THOMAS BROWN, Kt.
"A singularly delightful and interesting work."—Spectator.
MRS. WILLOUGHBY'S OCTAVE.
"We have seldom read anything more pathetic."—Spectator.
IN COLSTON'S DAYS.
"Extremely well written."—Morning Post.
CONSTANTIA CAREW: an Autobiography.
"Much superior to ordinary religious fiction."—Spectator.
TWO SWORDS: a Tale of Old Bristol.
"The lesson of the book is excellent, and the story is gracefully told."—Literary World.
CHRISTABEL KINGSCOTE.
"As fascinating a tale, and as prettily told, as the reader can wish for. We remember no book which we have more pleasure in recommending."—Athenæum.
BRISTOL DIAMONDS; or, The Hotwells in the year 1773.
"Mrs. Marshall's stories are always first-rate."—Church Bells.
BENVENUTA; or, Rainbow Colours.
"A pleasant story of family life."—Athenæum.
DOROTHY'S DAUGHTERS: a Tale.
"This interesting and well-written volume."—Record.
DAME ALICIA CHAMBERLAYNE: of Ravenshome, Gloucestershire.
"Most pleasant reading."—Academy.
THE ROCHEMONTS: a Story of Three Homes.
"A pleasant and wholesome story."—Scotsman.
HELEN'S DIARY; or, Thirty Years Ago.
MILLICENT LEGH: a Tale.
BROOK SILVERTONE, and THE LOST LILIES: Two Stories for Children.
"We can heartily recommend this attractive little volume. The stories are genuine, life-like, and entertaining. The lessons are skilfully interwoven with the narrative."—Record.
VIOLET DOUGLAS; or, The Problems of Life.
"A pleasant, healthy story of English life, full of sound religious teaching."—Standard.
THE OLD GATEWAY; or, The Story of Agatha.
"It is pleasant and gracefully written, and Roland Bruce is a character of no ordinary beauty."—Guardian.
EDWARD'S WIFE; or, Hard Judgments. A Tale.
"This is a very charming" story, fresh, natural, and touching."—Christian Advocate.
JOB SINGLETON'S HEIR, and other Stories.
LADY ALICE; or, Two Sides of a Picture.
JOANNA'S INHERITANCE: a Story of Young Lives.
LIFE'S AFTERMATH: a Story of a Quiet People.
"The story is admirably told, and the interest well sustained throughout. The descriptions of English scenery are in many instances beautiful."—Christian Observer.
A HISTORY OF FRANCE: Adapted from the French, for the use of English Children.
NOW-A-DAYS; or, King's Daughters. A Tale.
"We have seldom met with a more pleasing specimen of what a wholesome work of light literature should be."—Record.
A LILY AMONG THORNS.
"This volume is clever, and very naturally written. It is a book to read and to recommend."—Watchman.
MRS. MAINWARING'S JOURNAL.
"Rarely have we come across a more touching volume. It appeals to everyone who has the least feeling."—John Bull.
HEIGHTS AND VALLEYS: a Tale.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS; or, True of Heart.
"The hopes and fears of a large family in a cathedral city are drawn with much spirit. The dialogue is easy, and the tale above the average."—Guardian.
PEARL OF THE SEA.
'A charming conception.'—Saturday Review.
A CRIPPLED ROBIN.
'A pretty story, and there is fun as well as feeling in many of the chapters.'—Times.
A CITY VIOLET.
'Miss Winchester, whose power of delineating character is giving her an honourable place among the writers of serious fiction, has never done anything better than this.'—Spectator.
A NEST OF SPARROWS.
'Miss Winchester not only writes with skill, but writes from the heart, and with full knowledge of her subject. Her story is most genuine, pathetic, without being sad.'—Pall Mall Gazette.
UNDER THE SHIELD. A Tale.
'We wish all religious stories were written in the same simple and natural way. We can conceive no more healthy reading for children.'—Academy.
'We welcome with real pleasure another book by the author of "A Nest of Sparrows." "Under the Shield" is to be noted for its purity of tone and high aspirations.... There is true fun in the book, too.'—Athenæum.
THE CABIN ON THE BEACH. A Tale.
'This tender story cannot fail to charm and delight the young.'—Guardian.
THE WAYSIDE SNOWDROP. A Tale.
'A bright flower indeed. With all her tenderness and grace Miss Winchester narrates one of those pathetic stories of a poor London waif that at once arouse the loving sympathy of children.'—Guardian.
CHIRPS FOR THE CHICKS.
'The book is worthy to be a nursery favourite.'—Guardian.
'The merriest, most amusing, and infinitely the most rhythmical book of poetry for young people produced this season.... Others besides children may read the "Chirps" with pleasure and amusement. The illustrations are very happy.'—Standard.
FOREST OUTLAWS; or, St. Hugh and the King. By the Rev. E. Gilliat.
"Distinctly one of the very best books of the season."—Standard.
BELT AND SPUR: Stories of the Knights of Old.
"A very high-class gift-book of the spirit-stirring kind."—Spectator.
"A sort of boy Froissart with admirable illustrations."—Pall Mall Gazette.
THE CITY IN THE SEA: Stories of the Old Venetians.
"Very stirring are the tales of the long struggle between Genoa and Venice ... boys will read with keen interest the desperate battles between the rival fleets of galleys."—Standard.
STORIES OF THE ITALIAN ARTISTS: from Vasari.
"The book is full of delightful reading, carefully chosen from a rich treasury of curiosities."—Spectator.
"Another very charming volume."—Saturday Review.
BORDER LANCES: a Romance of the Northern Marches. By the Author of "Belt and Spur."
"The book is a good one ... the illustrations are excellent."—Spectator.
FATHER ALDUR: the Story of a River. By A. Giberne.
"The nature of tides, the formation of clouds, the sources of water, and other kindred subjects are discussed with much freshness and charm."—Saturday Review.
SUN, MOON, AND STARS: a Book on Astronomy for Beginners. By A. Giberne.
"Ought to have a place in village libraries and mechanics' institutions; would also be welcome as a prize-book."—Pall Mall Gazette.
AMONG THE STARS; or, Wonderful Things in the Sky. By A. Giberne.
"We may safely predict that if it does not find the reader with a taste for astronomy, it will leave him with one."—Knowledge.
THE WORLD'S FOUNDATIONS: Geology for Beginners. By A. Giberne.
"The exposition is clear, the style simple and attractive."—Spectator.
SUE; or, Wounded in Sport. By E. Vincent Briton, Author of 'Amyot Brough.'
'We do not know when we have been so charmed as we are by this modest volume.... Over and over again one is reminded of some of George Eliot's best scenes in English country life; and though it may seem exaggeration to say so, there are some points in which Mr. Briton has surpassed George Eliot.'—Guardian.
AMYOT BROUGH. By E. Vincent Briton.
'With national pride we dwell on a beautiful English historical novel ... this sweet unpretending story, with its pretty engravings.'—Academy.
A CANTERBURY PILGRIMAGE. Ridden, Written, and Illustrated by Joseph and Elizabeth Pennell.
'The most wonderful shillingsworth that modern literature has to offer.'—Daily News.
AN ITALIAN PILGRIMAGE. By Mrs. Pennell.
'This charming book.'—Academy.
EARLY FLEMISH ARTISTS, and their Predecessors on the Lower Rhine. By W. M. Conway.
'An altogether admirable book.'—Graphic.
THE ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF REYNOLDS AND GAINSBOROUGH. By W. M. Conway.
'A contribution to the subject which no student can afford to miss.' Saturday Review.