Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

166 HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS
j a mls. His Grace was, a few days afterwards, appointed ambassador extraordi-
VOURTH DUKE _ . . . _ , - __ , , , ..
of Hamilton, nary to J. 1 ranee upon the conclusion or the treaty of Utrecht; but, while
splendid preparations were making for that embassy, the Duke of Hamil-
ton fell in a duel with Charles, Lord Mohun, Baron of Oakhampton in
Devonshire, (who was also killed on the spot,) in Hyde Park, on Saturday,
15th November 1712, in the 55th year of his age, and was buried with his
ancestors at Hamilton.
His Grace and Lord Mohun had married two nieces of Charles, Earl of
Macclesfield, and for several years had been engaged in a Chancery suit
for part of his estate, which created much animosity, inflamed by their
espousing different sides in Parliament. At a meeting in the chambers of
Mr Orlebar, master in Chancery, 13th November 1712, high words passed
betwixt them, particularly during the examination of Lady Gerard's stew-
ard Mr Whitworth, when the Duke, saying he had neither truth nor jus-
tice in him, Lord Mohun answered, " I know Mr Whitworth is an honest
man, and has as much truth as your Grace." At parting, the Duke,
going out first, made a low bow to Lord Mohun, who, in like manner,
returned his Grace's civility, so that the rest of the company did not
apprehend any bad consequence. Lord Mohun, thinking himself ill used,
sent General Macartney to the Duke with a message to that effect, on
Friday 14th November, when the General called repeatedly at his house,
and at last, towards four o'clock, was admitted, and received with great
civility. After delivering his message, the Duke said, " My Lord Mohun
was very far in the wrong to me last night, and I went abroad early this
morning on purpose to tell him so, but, missing of the friend I looked for,
and hearing that you had been twice at my door, I guessed, from your in-
timacy with Lord Mohun, that you might probably come from him, else he
should have heard from me before now." His Grace then desired the Gene-
ral to inform Lord Mohun that he would meet him when and where he
pleased, and to fix the time and place ; but the General saying he had no
authority to that effect, and that he thought the difference might be very
easily accommodated, the Duke appointed a meeting at the Rose tavern in
Covent-Garden, to discourse on the subject. General Macartney returned,
at half past four, to the Globe tavern, (where he had dined with Lord Mo-
hun, Sir Robert Rich, and Colonel Churchill,) took Lord Mohun to the
Rose tavern, and, to prevent the two peers meeting by surprise, directed
the waiter to show the Duke of Hamilton, when he called, into another