And yet at this moment Lord Camelford had in his heart acquitted Mr. Best, and had confidently stated to his second, that he knew he was in the wrong; that Best was a man of honour; but that he could not bring himself to retract words which he had once used. In going to the ground, he reiterated this statement to his second, adding, that as he and Mr. Best were considered the two best shots in England, one of them must fall; but, whatever was the issue of the affair, he begged him to bear testimony that he acquitted Mr. Best of all blame. No remonstrance, however, could induce him to withdraw the offensive expression.
They were placed at fifteen paces from each other. They fired together, and Lord Camelford fell, to all appearance dead. In an instant, however, he recovered the shock, so far as to exclaim, “I am killed! but I acquit Best. I alone am to blame.” He begged them to consult their safety. When a labourer, who was working in an adjoining garden, repaired to the spot, he found Lord Camelford lying on his back, in the lower part of the field, which was overflowed, to the depth of several inches in water. Captain Best and his friend had rode off directly after the shot took effect, and the other gentleman followed their example, immediately on the countryman’s coming up, on the pretence of going for a surgeon.
His Lordship was unwilling to be removed, and it was with difficulty that those who came to his assistance got him placed in a chair, and conveyed to Mr. Ottey’s, at Little Holland House. His adversary’s ball had penetrated his right breast, and was supposed to have passed through the lungs and lodged in the back bone. When questioned as to the names of the other gentlemen who had accompanied him, he declined giving any satisfaction on the subject.
Lord Camelford, by his will, peremptorily forbad his relatives and friends from prosecuting his antagonist, declaring that the combat was of his own seeking. The day previous to his death he added a codicil to his will, in which, after stating that persons have in general a strong attachment to the country which gave them birth, and on their death-beds usually desire that their remains may be conveyed to their native land, however great the distance, to be interred, he continued:—“I wish my body to be removed, as soon as may be convenient, to a country far distant, to a spot not near the haunts of men, but where the surrounding scenery may smile upon my remains.” The place he chose was situated on the borders of the Lake of St. Lampierre, in the canton of Berne, and three trees stood on the particular spot. The centre tree he desired might be taken up, and his body being there deposited, immediately replaced. “Let no monument or stone be placed over my grave.” At the foot of this tree, his Lordship added, he formerly passed many solitary hours, contemplating the mutability of human affairs. As a compensation to the proprietors of the spot, he left them one thousand pounds. He also requested his relations not to go into mourning for him. At the period of the duel Lord Camelford and Mr. Best had a bet of two hundred pounds depending, as to which of them was the better shot.