3

Oak Lawn, Fr. 6th Feb. 1846

The Norfolk Herald containing the statement of the
fatal duel has by this time reached all over the
Eastern part of North Carolina producing wailing,
weeping, lamentation, but no comfort. The friends
of the respective parties are now aware of the mourn-
ful affair. The little town of Hertford where the first
response to the truth of the acting broke forth in surprise,
and anguish, now must be enveloped in gloom
The veil of sorrow however cannot lie smooth. Feeling
must be swelled, nigh to bursting. Emotions of sorrow
deep heart-felt-rage, shame, mortification in mourn-
ful com[?ingl??]ent, rock the the [sic] little cradle of
the variance in real life to and for. The news is in
Raleigh where reside the distinguished and fashionable
family of the disgraced lady and where also resides
the elder brother of the fallen young gentlemen. These
families at the head of society will enlist the real
sympathies of the city - all Raleigh is ere this
thrown into deep commotion, a sorrow amortiz-
-ing sorrow of no ordinary kind. Fashionable
people in every home of the state know something
of the standing of these family. The news journ
-als will carry dismay every where In every portion
of the West and South Western portion of the
union are friends and acquaintances of the respec-
tive families and of the gentlemen principals.
There the duel and its cause will be wafted caught
hold of and examined with fearful interest, and will
more grief, pity, and anquish. A thousand miles
North and South, East and West, the tidings will
be received and gossiped with moral and licentious
coloring - While some will reprove with virtous in-
degridation, many disinterested pleased rather to be
excited about something vouratie and tragic, will
wither dis approve or reprove. It is a theme for display
If those talents that delight to indulge in lectures can
honor and morality. Such an affair is a pie for all to finger.