[New York]: [Colhoun, Alexander]:

$2,500 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

[MANUSCRIPT DEPOSITIONS, SIGNED, REGARDING A DUEL FOUGHT BETWEEN OLIVER DELANCEY AND DR. ALEXANDER COLHOUN IN COLONIAL NEW YORK, OVER DISPARAGING REMARKS DELANCEY MADE TO COLHOUN ABOUT THE NEW YORK ... An interesting entry in the long tradition of political duels among New York state political figures, one of whom later became a New York City alderman and staunch Loyalist. This document describes in detail the duel between controversial New York political figure Oliver DeLancey (1718-1785) and Dr. Alexander Colhoun. On a separate, previous occasion DeLancey had created drama by insulting the mayor of New York, Edward Holland; DeLancey rode by Holland in March 1749, remarking to him, "were it not for your post...I would lay my horse whip over your back and whip you as long as I could stand over you." Later in the summer, on June 23, DeLancey was speaking badly of Governor George Clinton - calling him "a Damned Rogue, a Damn'd shifting fellow & the worst Govr" - while drunk at dinner at the home of Andrew Ramsay. Upon hearing this, Dr. Colhoun demanded better manners, and a duel ensued at DeLancey's home in which Colhoun was stabbed but not killed. DeLancey apparently stabbed Colhoun while the latter was already lying on the ground, a breach of duel etiquette. During the course of the duel, DeLancey also injured another doctor, Richard Shuckburgh.Oliver DeLancey was the younger brother of James DeLancey, appointed Lieutenant Governor of New York by the King, but whose commissio

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.