BRIEF DISPLAY 2313 OF THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF ORDEALS; TRIALS BY BATTLE; COURTS OF CHIVALRY OR HONOUR; AND THE DECISION OF PRIVATE QUARRELS BY SINGLE COMBAT: ALSO, A CHRONOLOGICAL REGISTER OF THE PRINCIPAL DUELS FOUGHT FROM THE ACCESSION OF HIS LATE MAJESTY TO THE BY JAMES P. GILCHRIST. LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY W. BULMER AND W. NICOL, CLEVELAND-ROW, ST. JAMES'S; 1821. ΤΟ FIELD MARSHAL, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE FREDERICK, DUKE OF YORK, K. G. AND G. C. B., &c. &c. &c. SIR, THE honour which your Royal Highness has done me in condescending to peruse this work, previously to its publication, I shall ever feel as the most flattering mark of approbation which it can possibly receive. And the sentiments which your Royal Highness has expressed to me concerning it, have altogether deprived me of those feelings which another person in my situation would experience, and robbed me of that utterance which should grace my Dedication. Yet with submission and delicacy, I shall endeavour to express how much I am honoured by the condescension of your Royal Highness, in devoting the few hours of relaxation which your numerous duties yielded you, to read my Treatise, in all its parts; and in deeming it of importance enough to appear before the British Nation, bearing this unequivocal mark of your Royal Highness's illustrious patronage. Your Royal Highness, who is acquainted with the circumstances which gave rise to the compilation of this work, could enter with feelings becoming a Prince and a judge, into all the various portions of historical and biographical narrative, of which it is composed, and decide upon their utility and truth, without prejudice in favour of an usage that distinguished itself chiefly in the profession, over which your Royal Highness presides; and without any misconception as to the motives which have induced me to appear before the Army, and the people of Great Britain, as an Author, honoured |