What really brings this seemingly common story into stark reality is a harrowing five-page letter written by a man before he was killed in a duel, which is now on display in the A. H. Reed exhibition at the Dunedin City Library.
Despite gentlemen of the early 1800s being chivalrous, polite, self-controlled and moral, if they were insulted by another gentleman, they would challenge the other to a gun duel to remove the stain on their reputation.
Such duels were a formal, but highly illegal, method for "gentlemen" to settle matters of honour — usually with smoothbore, single-shot, .54 flintlock pistols, from 20 paces.
Among the many curious artefacts in the A. H. Reed exhibition, is a heart-wrenching letter from George Payne, of Sulby Hall, Northamptonshire, to his wife Mary on September 5, 1810 — written just eight hours before he was killed in a gun duel.
Mr Payne was accused of showing a Miss Clark "some attention" and was challenged to a duel by Miss Clark’s brother "Mr Clark, of Newcastle".
Her brother decided that this "attention" was inappropriate, and he challenged Mr Payne to a duel.
History does not record if either of the ladies felt their honour had been compromised, or if they wished it to be defended in this manner.
But the duel went ahead, and because they were illegal, theirs was fought on Wimbledon Common, in Southwest London, about 5.30am on September 6, 1810.
Mr Payne was severely wounded and died several hours later.
The five-page letter said, "My dearest, dearest Mary. In contemplation of a fatal result from my intended meeting with Mr Clark which will in all human probability take place tomorrow, I seize the present opportunity of writing a few lines to you as they will be my last I ever shall write to bid you an eternal farewell and to express a hope that your forgiveness to me is as complete as you were good enough to say it certain [sic] was".
He made plans for his children, entrusting them to Mary's care and expressed regret that he was unable to leave his fortune to Mary.
He left her with a small annual income and four young children to raise. The bulk of the £300,000 inheritance (about $NZ70.3 million today) and an annual income of £17,000 from Northampton estates (about $NZ3.93m today) was left in trust until the eldest son George jun came of age.
History shows George jun grew up to have a gambling problem and he lost most of it within two years.
The duelling letter remains one of the "crown jewels" and most talked about letters in the Reed collection
It is just one of many fascinating items in "A Living Memorial: A. H. Reed’s legacy to Dunedin" exhibition, running at the Dunedin City Library over summer.
In the 1920s, the publisher and Christian educationalist, expressed his intention to build a collection of books and autographs "appropriate for a city founded on the principles of religion and education".
In 1948, he made his first substantial gift to the city.
The exhibition also aims to capture the flavour of the collecting passions of Reed himself, as well as emphasise the continued development of the Reed Collection to the present day.
Among the collection are printed bibles, medieval manuscripts, a large number of autographed letters, inscribed or autographed books with a relationship to a famous person or event, works relating to Charles Dickens and Samuel Johnson, as well as books about calligraphy and the art of illuminating.
The exhibition runs until February 22, 2026.
