The following is an excerpt of a letter written circa 1716 and published in The Sutherland Book, Vol. II (1892). It has not been edited with the exception of the addition of the word "six" to clarify the number of Mr. Gordon's wounds. The men involved in this duel were:
- The Honorable James Cathcart, Army Major, abt age 35 (1681-1716), son of Alan Cathcart, 7th Lord Cathcart and Elizabeth Dalrymple.
- Alexander Gordon of Ardoch, Muster Master of Scotland, abt. age 31 (1685-1722), son of Sir Adam Gordon and brother of Sir William Gordon of Invergordon, 1st Baronet.
Sir William refers to Sir William Gordon, brother of Alexander Gordon.
Apparent cause of the duel: James Cathcart accused Alexander's brother (Sir William) of cowardice after a dual between William and Sir Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat was interrupted by guards.
Alexander Eoss, Solicitor, Edinburgh, holograph but unsigned, to
[William, Lord Strathnaver],—giving an account of Lord Lovat's
proceedings and of a duel between Major James Cathcart and Mr. Gordon
of Ardoch. Circa 1716.
But I heartily wish the matter had ended here,
but unluckily it did not; for on Wednesday thereafter, being the 13, in
the evening, Major James Cathcart and Mr. Gordon, happening to be at Old
Mans Coffee-house, Mr. Cathcart took occasion in his discourse to throw
very injurious insinuations and reflections on Sir William and him,
asking a gentleman that
sate near Mr. Gordon if ever he knew four gentlemen to go out to fight
and come home with whole fleshy wounds, of whom two were such cullions
or cowards (or some word to that purpose) as to hyer a gaurd for their
preservation, and asking a surgeon, that also sate near, if he could
tell what the cureing of such wounds would cost, and a great deall to
this purpose, of which Mr. Gordon took no notice since he spoke of no
name. But soon after Mr. Cathcart went up and down the coffee-house
boasting to several people how he had insulted Mr. Gordon, who durst not
resent it, and they say insisted much on that strain,
upon which Mr. Gordon came up to him, asking what ground he had for such
language and who were his authors, but the other said he was not
obliedged to give him any authors, and bid him go immediatly out of his
sight, at the same time offering to strike him with his cane. Mr. Gordon
telling him he took the offer of a cane in the same way as the laying
on, and whispered him to follow him, and away both went in a coach to
Kensingtoun, from whence they went on foot by several feilds to a very
remote and private place, where they fought, and Mr. Cathcart had the
misfortune to be killed on the spott. Mr. Gordon receaved five wounds
ere the other was touched, and both of them therafter very eager in
their thrusts by a countertang run each other thorow the body . Mr.
Cathcarts sword entered Mr. Gordons right breast betwixt the niple and
the hollow, and
went out at his back seven inches, and with the weight of his body in
the lounge broke it, leaving 13 inches behind. Mr. Gordons entered Mr.
Cathcarts right breast and went out at his left side, and he
endeavouring therafter to recover his
sword, Mr. Cathcart, who then threw away what remained of his own, took
hold of Mr. Gordons in both his hands, which were cutt when Mr. Gordon
drew it back. Hereupon Mr. Cathcart fell back saying he had gote it, but
as it was his own fault so he deserved it, and forgave him very
heartily. Mr. Gordon said he
hoped it was not mortal], but, if it was, he doubted not but in few
hours to follow him. Mr. Gordon, in the case he was in, run above a
quarter of a mile to get help to Mr. Cathcart, crying out, and at length
found a man who was mowing hay, with whom he returned, and they both
helped up Mr. Cathcart, who by
that time was speechless, but had some life remaining. The man says that
Mr. Gordon was in the outmost concern for him, and kissed him
frequently, and chargeing the man to take care of him untill he brought
or sent a coach. He walked away above a mile befor he came hither to a
house, where being refused
access he walked further to another, where he gote access, and
immediatly directed people to go and look after Mr. Cathcart, therafter
sent for a surgeon to himself, and calling for pen, ink, and paper,
wrote a line to his brother, his sex [six] wounds blooding all this
while, and the broken part of the sword remaining in his body, which
continued so for above two hours after he had receaved it. He has two
wounds in the left arm (that being the hand he fought with), one of them
thorow, a third in the same arm near his shoulder, which enters a litle
from behind, a fourth on his left side which slanted on his rib, a
fifth in his left breast a litle under his shoulder, which goes also
pretty farr, and the other, the most dangerous of all, thorow his whole
body and his lungs. His wounds were dressed that night be twelve by Mr.
Bouchier, in presence of Doctor Welwood,
who both declared they feared the worst. He was also befor next morning
thrice bled, after which, and not till then, he had some ease. His
wounds were again dressed yesterday, and as they do not blood inwardly,
and that there is no extravased blood in his body, they begin to have
good hopes of him. He gote a glister yesternight, which had very good
effects, but today he seems a litle feaverish, which in all appearance,
from the good symptoms that attend him, is the only danger that now
threatens him. This is the account he himself gave of
the whole affair, some hours after his wounds were dressed, when there
was no hopes of his recovery, and which he declared as a dyeing man, at
the same time owning that 'twas with the greatest reluctancy he was
engadged in this unlucky quarrell till he was provocked with such
treatment as no man could bear ; in
which he is vindicated by all the company that was in the coffee-house,
which certainly must be some satisfaction to his freinds whatever
becomes of him.
References:
Bulloch, John M. (1906). The families of gordon of invergordon, newhall, also ardoch, ross-shire, and carroll, sutherland. National Library of Scotland. https://archive.org/stream/familiesofgordon00bull/familiesofgordon00bull_djvu.txt.
The History of Parliament Trust (2019). Alexander gordon research page. http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1715-1754/member/gordon-alexander-1753.
Kirkmichael Trust (n.d.). The story behind the stone – the families, estates and stories of kirkmichael, cullicudden, the black Isle and beyond. https://www.kirkmichael.info/LadyArdochLife.html.
Fraser, William (1892). The sutherland book: in three volumes quarto, with illustrations (Vol. II). National Library of Scotland.
