Groom" they dismounted, and entered the fields
behind Holland House. The seconds measured the
ground, and took their stations at the distance of
thirty paces. Lord Camelford fired first, but without
effect An interval ensued, and those who looked
on from a distance believed that Best was again
urging his lordship to come to amicable terms. But
Lord Camelford shook his head; then Best fired,
and his lordship fell at full length. The seconds,
together with the captain, at once ran to his assistance, when he seized his antagonist by the hand and
said, "Best, I am a dead man; you have killed me,
but I freely forgive you." The report of the pistols
had attracted the attention of some of Lord
Holland's gardeners and servants, who ran to the
spot and endeavoured to arrest Captain Best and
his second, who were making off. Lord Camelford
asked "why they endeavoured to detain the gentlemen; he himself was the aggressor, and he frankly
forgave the gentleman who had shot him, and he
hoped that God would forgive him as well."
A chair was procured, and Lord Camelford was carried into Little Holland House, where he expired after three days of suffering.
On the morning after his decease an inquest was held on the body, and a verdict of wilful murder was returned against "some person or persons unknown." A bill of indictment was, however, preferred against Captain Best and his second, but was ignored by the grand jury, who were sensible that Lord Camelford had brought his death on himself.
In the neighbourhood of Camelford are several very
