Independent Journal, Or, The General Advertiser

The whole continent is now attentive to the issue of a deadly contest between a Polish Count and the Prince of Nassau. The cause of this quarrel, which must have been determined by this time, though too late for us to be in possession of the particulars, is thus related in private letters from Poland.

In virtue of his Denization, the Prince demanded admission into one of the Dietines, the President of which, the Count alluded to, observed to the Voivode, that his right of Denizen not being twelve months standing, his pretension was ill founded, as he was entitled to a seat in the general Diet only. His Highness insisted, the President firmly stood his ground, and ordered the attending guards to fire on the Prince if he did not instantly retire, which he at last consented to do, but not without casting on the President some very severe reflections.

This contest being thus over, the Count, after having observed to the assembly, that it was in support of their rights that he had opposed the intruder; added, that he had been personally insulted, and that public duels in such case being permitted by the laws of Poland, he would claim the privilege. In consequence, a formal challenge was sent to the Prince, who readily accepted of it. This is the same nobleman who was before Gibraltar, and behaved with so much intrepidity when the floating batteries were destroyed. He is highly spoken of for his personal bravery, which he manifested at so early a period as his sixteenth year, when being with Monsieur De Bougainville in his expedition round the world, he slew a lion in Africa in the presence of all his companions. On the other hand, his antagonist is not less renowned by the multiplicity of the duels he has fought, and always with the greatest success. It is said that the two adversaries are each to be armed with a dagger and twelve pistols, for the death of either of the combatants can alone put an end to the dreadful encounter.