"Marion released him, saying to me, 'let him go, he is too worthless to deserve the consideration of a court martial.'" Such a decision in such a case, would have shocked a military martinet, and yet, in all probability, the fellow thus discharged, never repeated the offence, and fought famously afterwards in the cause of his merciful commander.

We have something yet to learn on these subjects.

The result of a system in which scorn is so equally blended with mercy, was singularly good.

In the case of the person offending (as is frequently the case among militia) through sheer ignorance of martial law, it teaches while it punishes, and reforms, in some degree, the being which it saves.

Where the fault flows from native worthlessness of character the effect is not less beneficial.