Tint CLARE CITA3IPIONS.—The Irish papers supply ns with the particulars

of a duel, we were about to say, but we doubt if that can be so denominated where there was no fighting, but certainly of one of the most singular attempts at a duel that the annals of Irish honour have hitherto recorded. We mentioned last week, on the faith of the Dublin journals, that Mr. William Mahon, a brother of the great O'Gorman, had struck Mr. Maurice O'Connell in the streets of Ennis. The story Of the blow is not confirmed ; but it is stated that young Mahon made use of extremely rude and unprovoked language on the occasion. This was on Saturday sennight. On Thursday, the contest for the county was closed by the return of Major Macnamara and Mr. Maurice O'Con- nell; the latter of whom received 597, while Mahon only received 493 votes. On the previous day, there had been a rencontre between O'Gorman and Major Macnamara, when the lie was given with equal vehemence by both gentlemen. Major Macnamara seems to have thought that the ex-member was not worthy of any more serious notice. When the numbers on the poll had been declared, and the members an- nounced by the Sheriff, Captain Macnamara, after returning thanks for his brother, went on to comment on the meeting of the previous day. "' If,' said Captain Macnamara [we quote from the Irish pa- pers], I had been present t---Here the entire assembly cut short the speech with loud cries of Go on ! ' At the same moment, O'Gorman Mahon and W. R. Mahon, Esq. mounted the highest station on the hustiugs, and Major Macnamara, with his brother, the gallant Captain, took their station on the same level." We naturally expected, when we found the two 1Vlahons drawn up on one side "of the highest station of the hustings," and the two Macnamaras on the other side "on the same level," that the partie quarree could have taken up so convenient a po- sition for but one purpose, and that at length—the Magistrate being fortunately present, and all the people waiting on—we should see some- thing done ; but presto ! pass ! begone ! "The uproar and confusion," continues the account, "became tremendous, and the Sheriff broke up

the court." • Mr. Maurice O'Connell bore with the insult of Mr. William Mahon only until the election was over : that finished, he immediately de- spatched a friend—Mr. M'Carthy, an officer of the 96th, who came from Tralee for the purpose—to Mr. W. Mahon, in order to arrange matters for their mutual convenience. Unluckily, Mr. Al. O'Connell was as.

rested, by the vigilance of his father, before Mr. *earthy got back to report progress. Mr. W. Mahon escaped, though narrowly pursued, from the hands of the police. Young O'Connell was not to be baulked by all the Magistrates in the island ; he was bound in a penalty of 1,000t., but that sum he magnanimously determined to forfeit rather than forfeit the chance of being shot. Mr. W. Mahon. a'ecordingly se-

lected a friend named Butler, to make, with Mr. Ill-earthy, the neces- sary arrangements. But our readers would lose a great deal of amuse- ment if we continued the narrative in our own dry aliridgment—we therefore treat them to the rich and unadulterated Irish of Mr. M'Carthy himself.

" On my return to where I had left Mr. M. O'Connell, I found that he had been arrested. I instantly retraced My steps to the house where

Mr. W. Mahon was ; and I communicated the fact of the arrest of Mr.

31. O'Ceenell, and gave that warning in order that Mr. W. Malicia might be cautioned to avoid a similar arrest. I wits told that Mr. AV.

Mahon ?ead already made his escape, at which I expressed satisfaction.

In the mean time Mr. M. O'Connell had been obliged ro give securities to keep the peace, himself in 590/. and two sureties, of great solvency, in

250/. each, being a:together 1,0001. Mr. Butler shortly after waited on

me at Carmody's Hotel, when I told him that Mr. .111. O'Connell had at once determined rather to forfeit the recognizance than to delay the

meeting ; and although Mr. Butler politely suggested going to an adjoin-

ing county or to France, I felt it, under circumstances, my duty to de- mand that he would immediately appoint a time and place for the meet-

ing ; I added, that although I fully recognized his absolute right to name the time and place, yet I could not help suggesting the vicinage of Six mile-bridge, where there wits a large military force stationed, and com- manded by a distinguished officer, who would certainly give protection

against nay popular ebullition on any event of the duel. Mr. Butler took some time te reflect on this suggestion ; but rejected it, alleging that he

and his friends would not wish to go into that Barony. He then claimed

and exercised his right of appointing the place and time. The place he appointed was the village of Kildysart ; and the hour five the ensuing

morning. Knowing me to be a stranger to the localities, he, in reply to a question of mine, stated that the village of Kildysart was seven miles distant from Ennis. I stated the difficulties we were under to elude the police (who were put in great activity by the member for Kerry, father to

Mr. M. O'Connell, who was using every means in his power to prevent a duel). I also stated that we could not be quite certain of being on the ground before six o'clock : and six o'clock hieing acceded to by Mr. Butler, we separated—the time and place of meeting being fully, and, as I supposed, finally arranged. It proved unfortunate that I named the later hour ; because although we left Ennis so early as about two o'clock, yet, being obliged to leave the town in an opposite direction to Kildysart, in order to baffle the police, and had, therefore, to make a circuit, fa order to reach our destination, and move on Kildysart ; proving to be full twelve and not seven miles from Ennis, as stated by Mr. Butler. Yet we contrived to reach the appointed spot a full quarter of an hour before six. Mr. W. Mahon and his friend had, I learn, slept in the neighbourhood ; but, on their arrival at Kildysart, which I found to be a populous village, Mr. Butler alleged that there were too many persons assembled there ; and requested that I would allow him then to change the place of meeting to Cahircon, about a mile farther on, in the de- mesne or park of Mr. Scott. I ant not quite sure whether I was right in acceding to any change of the place of meeting originally and delibe- rately fixed on—and Iliad reason afterwards to regret that I did so, as it opened the.door to a series of delusions—besides, it seems to me to have been impossible for Mr. W. Mahon's friends to have fixed on a po- pulous village fir a place of meeting without naturallyexpecting to have all its inhabitants present at the duel. I did, however, contrary to eti- quette, consent to allow Mr. Butler to alter the place, in order to take away from him v pretext for declining the meeting ; and on we all went to Mr. Scott'sdetnesne. When we arrived at this second appoint- ment, judge of my surprise when I found precisely the same objection re- peated by Mr. Butler, that the crowd was too great !—and he then asked to be again allowed to change the place ; and proposed, that as there was an uninhabited island in the Shannon, lying before us, called Innis- Murray, we should repair there, and terminate the affair. To this I also acceded. The island was fixed upon. I thought it impossible any further delay or evasion could take place. Some, however, of Mr. W. Mahon's friends preceded us to the point of embarkation, and returned, saying that no boats could be procured ; but Mr. M. O'ConnelPs friends had provided for this also, and two or three boats were at once got ready. It was then arranged that only ten persons at each side should go on the island to witness the fairness of the transaction; and that I should accompany Mr. AV. Mahon and his party to the island. Accordingly I directed Mr. M. O'Connell; his cousin, Mr. D. O'Sullivan, Mr. Steele, and two or three of his other friends, to repair instantly to the island. They did so ; and a few country people having got on the island, they were all sent ashore, and all the boats taken possession of, so that no per- son could possibly get on the island but those agreed on upon both sides. Under these circumstances, my friend Mr. M. O'Connell haying been sent by me to be on his ground, I could not help feeling some astonish- ment when Mr. O'Gorman Mahon interfered, and palled on the gentle- men to return from the island ; and, addressing himself to me, objected to a meeting on the island; alleging that there was too great a crowd on the shore ! I declined any species of intercourse on the subject with Mr. O'Gorman Mahon, or with any other person, save Mr. Butler, who thereupon adopted, or at least used the same objection which was started by Mr. if Mahon. My reply was, that if he and his friends would come to the island, we would take all the boats with us, so that not one other individual could reach us. He refused. I then urged him to come to the island, offering to discuss with him there any possi- ble objection that could arise from the crowd on the shore. I deemed it right, under the circumstances, to add this offer—that if he (Mr. Butler) or any of his friends could, on calm discussion, point out any inconve- nience that could in any event result from the crowd on shore, I would then at once agme to get into the boats, and go quite across the Shannon, into the county of Limerick, where no other person could follow us, and terminate the matter there. These proposals Mr. Butler declined. He would not meet on the shore, where there was, of course, a crowd collected—nor on the island, which was quite solitary, and no crowd could reach ; neither would he agree to cross over to the county Of Limerick, where we should have been farther removed from the causes of his pretended apprehensions. I should then at once, or indeed sooner, have taken my friend off the ground, and instructed him, that he could not be insulted, as a gentleman, by a person thus conducted; but I did not—I gave him one chance snore. Mr. Butler stated to me that HE WAD A MAGISTRATE, and, as there was a strong military party in Ifildysart, he could command them out for protection; and that if I would bring my friend off the island, a meeting should be given close to, or at least near the barrack. I replied that I had repeatedly changed the ground at his suggestion, and that I would not accede to his present proposal unless he would agree that this appointment should be final and conclusive, otherwise I would not consent. This he agreed to ; and before I recalled Mr. Bl. O'Connell, who had been all this time on the island, the arrangement was made finally and without any possi- bility of revocation for a meeting near the barrack. I waited on the shore for the return of Mr. M. O'Connell from the island. Mr. Butler preceded us to the barrack ; the military were called out before they ar- rived, and were beginning to fall in; I thereupon called on Mr. Butler to point out the ground and to put his friend upon it, as I was ready in- stantly to place mine. Mr. Butler refused, and said, what are we to do with the crowd ? I replied, "We are here at least under the protection of the military. I told you, on going up Innis-Murray, that the meeting here was to be final and conclusive—produce, therefore, your friend, and I will produce mine"—and I called on him urgently to do so—but he de- clined ! ! ! Then again Mr. O'Gorman Mahon interfered, and addressed rne, and asked me, 'Will you fight here—will you fight on the spot where the military are drawn up ? ' I instantly replied, 'We certainly will. Place Mr. W Mahon anywhere you please, and in five minutes my friend shall be opposite to him, and the matter terminated." But Mr. Butler refused to comply with the proposal of Mr. O'Gorman Mahon, who did not produce his brother according to that proposal ; and on my pressing on Mr. Butler his breach of our fluid agreement, he was unable to give any reply save by offering me a personal insult, the particulars of which I do not enter into here, but reserve for another place. Although I considered the affair terminated, and that Mr. 111. O'Connell should think no more of the business, yet I deemed it right, as Mr. Butler had rnisconducted himself to me, to withdraw myself from any further ma- nagement, and Mr. M: O'Connell appointed in my place Mr. Charles O'Connell ; so that if Mr. Butler or Mr. W. Mahon thought fit, they might give a meeting at the place finally and conclusively agreed on by me. I, however, deem it right to add, that I entirely concur with Mr. Charles O'Connell on his management of the residue of this affair ; and I further emphatically agree that Mr. M. O'Connell would be degraded if he were now, or at any time hereafter, to take any notice of Mr. W. Mahon." *

Out of the appendix to the original quarrel, we had some faint fears of a more sanguinary result ; but they have been happily vain. Mr. Blake selected as his friend Mr. O'Gorman Mahon. Now Mr. O'Gor- man Mahon,—for certain offences which the journals do not satisfacto- rily explain, but arising, it seems, out of his rencontre with Major Mac- namara,—is at present under the ban of all gentlemen who undertake the arrangement of honourable meetings : this little difficulty was ex- plained to Mr. Butler; but he positively refused to give up his friend O'Gorman ; and both parties being equally resolved, the afterpiece had the same lame and impotent conclusion as the comedy that had pre- ceded it.

As men of peace, we rejoice at the bloodless issue of that strife of tongues which has distinguished the Clare election. As the Messrs. Mahon really seem to be very peaceably disposed young gentlemen, if they he but let alone, we hope they will turn their attention in future to bringing their riotous compatriots to a similar enviable state of mind, and leave elections and duels to those who take a pleasure in them.

O'Gorman, says a postscript to a Dublin letter, has, since this affair of Scattery, been roughly handled while on a visit to Limerick ; but whether for quarrelling, or refusing to quarrel, is not specified.

* It is only fair to add, that Mr. Blake Butler, in his counter-statement, throws the blame of the no-fighting entirely on Mr. O'Connell and his friends ; and retorts on Mr. M‘Carthy the terms that he has used in respect of Mr. W. Mahon. The truth lies somewhere, no doubt; but it is somewhat akin to aratiano's reasons—we might search all day before we found It, and when we found, it would not pay the search.