Hugh Capel's Australian History Pages: Nothing after 1901
Interesting Items/Snippets from Australia's Colonial Past

THE HORSEWHIPPED LOVER

Sydney Mail, May 10, 1862 LAMBING FLAT Monday Mr James Torpy assaulted Ensign Duncan of the 12th Regiment on Saturday night in the Digger's Theatre; he was taken into custody, but immediately afterwards admitted to bail. (Ensign: rank of 2nd lieutenant prior to 1871) ____________________ Sydney Mail, June 4, 1862 MR.TORPY AND ENSIGN DUNCAN: - The Burrangong correspondent of the Empire gives the following particulars of the trial of the case of assault by Mr. Torpy on Ensign Duncan: - Mr. Torpy admitted the assault, but pleaded justification. He brought evidence to prove that Mr. Duncan had insulted a young lady of his acquaintance, by sending by his servant a copy of Byron's poems, marking a certain passage in Don Juan, erasing the name of "Julia," and substituting the lady's name. Hence the indignation of Mr. Torpy, who is an intimate friend of the family, and hence the horsewhipping of the unfortunate would-be lover. The examination lasted five hours. The Bench came to the decision that there were grounds which justified Mr. Torpy in taking the law into his own hands, and that, consequently, they should only inflict a fine of five pounds.

NOTE: Mr James Torpy was a prominent hotel owner on the Lambing Flat (Burrangong) gold field (now the town of Young) and one of the leaders of the Lambing Flat anti-Chinese riots. The 12th Regiment was stationed at Lambing Flat to keep order following the riots. There would have been little love lost between Torpy and the occupying troops. Only one of the leaders of the riots was ever brought to justice. The offending passage of Byron's Don Juan would have come from the first Canto of the poem, in which old Don Alfonso discovers his young wife, Julia, with 16-year old Juan. It is not known whether the lady to whom the poem was sent was in a similar situation, i.e. married to an older man, but if she had been this would have explained Torpy's indignation.. Don Juan can be read in full at Link:  www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/7086/donjuan.htm The following verses give some indication of the nature of the poetry: LV Amongst her numerous acquaintance, all Selected for discretion and devotion, There was the Donna Julia, whom to call Pretty were but to give a feeble notion Of many charms in her as natural As sweetness to the flower, or salt to ocean, Her zone (girdle) to Venus, or his bow to Cupid (But this last simile is trite and stupid). CXV And Julia sate with Juan, half embraced And half retiring from the glowing arm, Which trembled like the bosom where 't was placed; Yet still she must have thought there was no harm, Or else 't were easy to withdraw her waist; But then the situation had its charm, And then -- -- God knows what next -- I can't go on; I'm almost sorry that I e'er begun. CXVII And Julia's voice was lost, except in sighs, Until too late for useful conversation; The tears were gushing from her gentle eyes, I wish indeed they had not had occasion, But who, alas! can love, and then be wise? Not that remorse did not oppose temptation; A little still she strove, and much repented And whispering "I will ne'er consent" -- consented.

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