HOW TO PUNISH DUELLISTS.
In consequence of the fatal termination of a (Ittel that took place List year between M. Prestat, now a sub-lieutenant in one of the regiments in. Africt, and a NI. Hans, both at that time in the Polytechnic School, and in which the latter was killed, the mother of 31. I fans, a widow, brought an action egiinst his adversary for a compensation for her loss. The case was heard last week before the Tribunal de Premiere lostanee, and Lieutenant Prestat was adjudged by the Court to pay the widow an annuity of eight hundred francs for her life.— (Standard.
We verily believe that there would be no more effectual mode of discouraging duelling than this. It is observable, that a large pro- portion of duels arise from quarrels in gambling-houses. Duellists are generally greedy sensualists. Seducers are of the same class. Possessing a species of courage, they will risk their lives; but an attack upon their pockets—their means of animal gratification— is terrible to them. "The vulgar trick of those damned damages," as BYRON called it, has a wouderful influence in preventing one species of crime; and would prove equally stringent when apimlied to the check of duelling. "Take wives, take lives, take (.;..glit except men's purses."
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