I have previously written about Arthur Annesley Powell, but was recently contacted by Louise Legrand, the resident historian and archivist at Quex Park Estate who wished to find out more about the life of Arthur Powell.
In the previous article I mentioned that Powell was involved in the shooting of Charles John Cary, 9th Lord Falkland (1768-1809), but I didn’t elaborate further at that time, so today I thought I would fill in the gaps in this story.
As you can imagine when the press got hold of the story there were slight variations in the account of exactly what happened, but this one claims to be the most accurate, so according to the Saint James’s Chronicle, 7 March 1809 we have their report:
Various erroneous statements have appeared, respecting the unfortunate duel betwixt Lord Falkland and Mr Powell; but the following particulars we are told, may be relied on: Lord Falkland dined at Mr Powell’s house with a large party on the Saturday preceding the duel. The party broke up early, and Lord F and Mr P went to the opera together, having drunk a good deal of wine.
They returned from the opera to Stephen’s Hotel, Bond Street, and parted as they had met, intimate friends, but in a state of inebriety. It was after this that Lord Falkland visited the Mount coffee house. On Sunday evening, Lord F looked in at Stephens’s again and espying his friend, Mr Powell, he accosted him, in words, similar to these
‘What! Drunk again tonight, Pogey?’
and it is understood neither was at this time perfectly sober.
Mr Powell did not relish the mode in which he had been accosted, and after a retort, Lord F snatched a cane from a gentleman’s hand, and used it about his friend. The waiter and some gentlemen present, extricated Mr Powell, who retired; but the waiter met his Lordship’s displeasure. On the following morning Lord Falkland went to Mr Powell’s house, and apologised, by asking that gentleman’s pardon, an attributing his rash conduct to inebriety. Mr Powell observed that he could not accept of his Lordship’s apology, unless made at Stephen’s before the persons who were present at the outrage, or to make a public one in another way.
Lord Falkland could not accede to this proposition; but in the afternoon of the same day (Monday), Captain Cotton waited on him from Mr Powell, to state that if he (Lord F) would allow Captain C to make the public apology for him at Mr Powell’s house, and shortly after Mr Powell sent him challenge.
Lord F appeared much hurt after he had receive the challenge, and he did not take his wine as usual, at dinner, on Monday, on which day Mr P. and others, who dined on the Saturday at his house, were to have dined with Lord Falkland His Lordship did not go to bed on Monday night, but threw himself on his sofa, and gave strict orders to his servant to call him, to be at the Admiralty at eight o’clock in the morning.
The parties met at Golder’s Green, at eleven o’clock, attended by their seconds, and two surgeons. By etiquette Mr P. fired first and inflicted the mortal wound. Lord F stood for above a minute in his position; and then threw his pistol away without discharging its contents. It is well understood that his Lordship never intended to fire at his antagonist, for he was aware he had done wrong, but he conceived his honour called him to the field, rather than make the apology required. On the arrival of his Lordship on the stones in a post chaise, he requested of Mr B. his second, to stop the chaise, as he could not bear the sensation it occasioned, but requested to be conveyed home in a hammock on the men’s shoulders.
During the stoppage of the chaise, Mr Powell and Captain C, his second, overtook them, and the latter gentleman, on ascertaining the cause of the stoppage, observed, that Powell’s house was near at hand, and Lord F instantly expressed a desire to go there in preference to any other house, for the world would then be convinced he owed no animosity to his antagonist.
On Mr Heaviside examining the wound, his Lordship observed that he wish to know the state of it candidly. He had seen many wounds cured on board ship, and he begged of the surgeon to treat him in the way a ship’s surgeon would a wounded sailor. He vomited freely, and wished to know if there was no probability of throwing up the ball. Once Mr Heaviside having done what he could he requested as a favour, that he would go to Dorant’s, and make his lady acquainted with his real state; this was done, and Lady F soon arrived at Devonshire place.
His Lordship suffered greatly the first twelve hours, but his pain was eased, and he died gradually, while his Lady, who was attentively watching him at his bedside, thought he was sleeping.
The deceased was appointed to a 74 gunship, which is to take Lord Amherst to Sicily. His Lady whom he married in the West Indies in the year 1803, was the daughter of a merchant of the first respectability. She has three sons and a daughter, the eldest boy begin only five years old, and who succeeds to the title of Lord Falkland. Mr Powell is a man of considerable fortune. He was separated from his Lady some time since, and she now lives on an annuity of £500 a year at Ramsgate.
Whilst much of this account may well be accurate, recollections may vary. One thing which is inaccurate is that Falkland married his wife, Christiana Anton in the West Indies in 1803, they were married by licence on 25 August 1802 at St Clement Danes church, London.
The couple had four children, the eldest being five, the youngest just six months old when their father died:
Lucius (1803-1884)
Emma Christiana (1805-18227)
Plantagenet (1806-1886)
Bryon Charles (1808-1874).
Falkland was also known to have been friend of the poet, Lord Bryon, who wrote:
8, St. James’s-street, March 6th, 1809.“DEAR MOTHER,
My last letter was written under great depression of spirits from poor Falkland’s death, who has left without a shilling four children and his wife. I have been endeavouring to assist them, which, God knows. I cannot do as I could wish, from my own embarrassments and the many claims upon me from other quarters.
The earlier account says that they met at Golder’s Green, however, The News, 5 March 1809, says they met at Chalk Farm, so we can probably assume the actual meeting was somewhere close to Hampstead Heath.
In the previous account was know that Powell was attended by Captain Cotton, but we didn’t know it was his brother in law, and that Falkland was simply attended by a Mr B – we now have a name for this gentleman – Mr Bloodworth.
We also know from another account that the shot hit Lord Falkland in the groin and lodged in the kidneys from there it was impossible to be removed.
The Coroner’s Inquest held before G Hodgson Esq, at the house of Mr Powell, Devonshire Place. The jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder again some person or persons unknown.
Lord Falkland was buried at Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair.
We also learn that Mr Powell ‘came lately into the possession of a considerable landed property around Fulham, and also a large sum in the funds, by the death of a near relative on which accession of fortune he immediately presented £10,000 to each of his three sisters, who before that, were but scantily provided for.’
All Things Georgian 