Sir James Wedderburn  


The Times
Monday April 23, 1821
Correspondence And Meeting
Between Lord Petersham and Mr. Webster Wedderburne
    We give the following correspondence between the parties interested: --

No. I
    Sir, - Upon my return home, at 6 o'clock this evening, I first saw your publication in this day's morning paper, and, in consequence, lost no time in dispatching an express to Lord Petersham, at Brighton, who will instantly, upon receiving my letter, return to town, and that moment you shall hear from me. I write this, Sir, to account for what may appear a delay on the part of Lord Petersham, in not writing to you the moment your publication appeared.
From yours, Sir, &c                 FOLEY.
    Hamilton-place, 7 o'clock, Thursday evening, April 19.
  P.S. Lord Petersham cannot return before 7 or 8 o'clock tomorrow.
No. II
    My Lord, - I have this instant received your Lordship's letter, and beg to state that I shall be at home at all hours tomorrow, and ready to answer all communications.
I am, &c.     T, Webster Wedderburne.
    April 19, 8 o'clock p.m.
No. III
    Sir, - Owing to a mistake, Lord Petersham did not receive my letter till late this evening, consequently is only just arrived. He now desires me to say that it is absolutely necessary you should either send a friend to me, or fix a time and place of meeting tomorrow morning. I shall be at home till 11 this evening, to receive your reply.
From your humble servant,         FOLEY.
Hamilton-place, Friday evening, 7 o'clock, April 20.
No. IV
My Lord, - It was with much surprise, after having been detained at home the whole day, in consequence of your Lordship's note of last night, that I have received one from you this evening, desiring me either to send a friend to you, or fix a time and place for meeting Lord Petersham tomorrow morning.
    Let Lord Petersham distinctly state the grounds on which he calls upon me, and my friend will then be ready to receive your Lordship, or any communication on the part of Lord Petersham. I am your Lordship's, &c
(Signed)         T. Webster Wedderburne.
Friday evening, April 20, 1821.
No. V
Hamilton-place, Friday evening, half past 10.
    Sir, - It is with astonishment that I read your letter demanding an explanation of the ground upon which Lord Petersham now calls upon you for satisfaction.     You have not contradicted, but encouraged, a most scandalous and prejudicial report against his personal honour; he calls upon you positively to contradict it, or give him that satisfaction which is due to a gentleman falsely accused.     The cause of you having been kept waiting during the day has clearly been explained; I must therefore, now repeat the necessity of your immediately fixing upon the time and place of meeting tomorrow, or giving under your hand, for publication, a contradiction of that scandalous and false report before alluded to.     Too much time has already been lost to attend to explanations, that may, under some pretence, be withdrawn.
From yours, &c.         FOLEY
P.S. An immediate answer is expected to the above, directed to Brook's Club-house, St. James-street.
No. VI
TO LORD FOLEY.
    I am perfectly of Lord Foley's opinion that too much time has been lost in this affair; but I beg to ask to whom is that delay to be ascribed?
    Since every circumstance has been made public, and since so much has passed between the parties, I consider it necessary on that account alone to demand "the distinct grounds on which Lord Petersham calls upon me."
    Lord Foley presents me with an alternative which is wholly out of the question.
    I am aware of no "false report" in currency against Lord Petersham, and if Lord Foley means that I could be capable of withdrawing any explanation I had once given, I must repel such an insinuation with indignation; and I will not permit any person to dictate that line of conduct to me which is alone consistent with my own honour to point out.
    I now, therefore, name three o'clock p.m., at Coombe Wood, near Kingston, where I shall expect to meet Lord Petersham.
(Signed)         T. Webster Wedderburne.
No. VII
    Sir, - I have received your letter, appointing 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, to meet Lord Petersham at Coombe Wood, which shall be punctually complied with.
From yours,     FOLEY.
Brooks, Friday night.
    A meeting, in consequence of the above correspondence, took place between the parties Saturday afternoon, at three p.m., attended by Lord Foley and Mr. Kerr, the former as the friend of Lord Petersham, the latter that of Mr. Webster Wedderburne, when, after exchanging two shots each without effect, the seconds interfered, and the affair terminated. --- Observer.