New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-05
THE LAWS OF HONOR,

Visiting lately a rural district of Scotland,
we were led to pay visit to small private
asylum for lunatics-a scene always peculiarly
attractive to those who take an interest in the
philosophy Of the mind Everything was found
to be in most comfortable and oreditable con-
dition-as unlike as possible to that of all such
places twenty or thirty years ago. One indi-
yidual, out of the small number of persons con-
fined there, arrested our special attention lie
was man past mid-age, upright in person, and
with that general bearing which at once indi-
Gates the military man. His manner was quick
and lively, or rather restless, and this was in
truth, the only feature in his department from
which one could have guessed anything to be
amiss with him. He spoke rapidly, and with
apparent good sense, and seemed to take a
pleasure in talking with visitors, as well as to
have an anxiety to entertain them. His power
to do so was in q great measure confined to the
exhibition of his room, and the few curiosities
contained in it. He had everything in excel
lent order, the habits of the soldier in this re-
spect being evidently strong within him All
his books were neatly arranged, and his nu-
mer0us papers were docketed and shelyed with
the greatest regularity. These papers con-
sisted chiefly of memorials to Government or
the War-ofhce, the drawing up of which formed
the great occupation, We were told, Of his days,
and the main theme Of his conversation. Alto
gether. he spoke so sensibly, and every thing
about him had such an appearance of order and
respectability, that it was impossible not to
feel an interest in the poor man, or to avoid en-
tertaining some curiosity as to his past history
Fortunately a friend was able to supply the de-
sired information on this point.
'' Poor Captain B said our informant,
g is victim to the niceties of military honor at
the present day, though, in some measure as
you shall hear, he assuredly deserved his fate.
He served with credit in the British army during
the early part of the continental war, and was
subsequently sent out with his regiment to one
of the West India Islands, for the possession of
which the French were then disputng with us.
The British took the island, and remained sta
toned in it for some time, but they were in turn
attacked and expelled by the French. A con-
siderable number of our soldiery were taken
prisoners, and among them was Captain B,
He was a man unpossesscd of that degree of
mental fortitude which can render endurable
any change occurring in the way of duty, and
fretted greatly under the misfortune that befel
him, Nevertheless, like others, he gave his
parole not to attempt an escape, and on the faith
thereof, was permitted to enjoy good deal OF
license in his movements. lie and his COM
panions were not permitted to roam wherever
they chose, indeed, on the island, but they were
allowed the freedom Of large open space for
the benefit of air and exercise.
Such had been the state of things for some
weeks, when, one day, British ship was seen
lowering off the island. Captain B saw it
among Others and instantly the possibility Of
an escape occurred to him. If he could quit his
place of confinement, and put off in u small boat
from the coast, under cover of the shade of the
evening, the probability was that he would
readily reach the ship. But, then, his parole
the word Of honor given by him not to attempt
flight? Captain B was not blind to the i'm
propriety of breaking pledge Of this kind; but
the desire of escape gained the ascendancy over
--all-nther feelings, and smoothed down all
objections. That niy mt; Fi bout communicating
his intention to any one, the captain con-
triyed to leave his room, clambered over the wall
encircling his place Of confinement, and made
his way safely to the beach The moonlight
enabled him to see the British ship at but short
distance, and he got hold of u very small boat
without being observed, In this vessel, after a
long and laborious pull at the oars, the captain
found himself at last by the side of his country
mems ship, and was taken in greatly exhausted
s'To the,officer in the command, Captain B
said nothing about his parole, but when con-
yeyed to Jamaica, where his regiment then lay
with the rest of the forces on the West India sta
ton, he found himself obliged to tell the truth
knowing that, sooner or later, it would be learn
ed from others, whether he himself told it OF
not. After the excitement attending the act o
escape had passed off, he had begun to reflect
with some uneasiness, on the light in which thu
matter might be viewed by his superiors in com
mand HIBut the reality was far more harassinl
than he had at all anticipated, His Colonel
when informed of the affair, threw him instant
ly into arrest, and summoned q court martha
to inquire into the matter. The captains state
ment was decisive against himself He admit
ted having given his parole, and having broker
it. The decision against him was unanimous
and to the effect, that his conduct was mos
unworthy a British officer and gentleman, an
u1nta N throw 1igrrona In, i,olo
vice" 1t was, moreover, resolved that he shou
be instantly sent back again to the French sta
ton, with the explanation, that 90 the Britis
army to man, reprobated the conduct of Cap
tain b in breaking his parole''
Accordingly, by the earliest opportunity
the unlucky officer was reconveyed to his lat
place of confinement among the French Hi
state of mind, under these circumstances, wa
pitiabe. To be so cast off and repudiated b,
his own friends, and to be sent back to NEE
still greater disgrace, and perhaps punishment
at the hands OF the enemy, was indeed calcu
lated to gall his feelings most deeply, The re
suits OF his re-transmission to the French sta
ton made the case much worse. When he wa
landed under a flag of truce, and conveyed t.
the quarters of the General in command, tina
parsonage Immediately called his principal off
GERS about him, and held consultation will
them. Captain B. was present, and ever,
eye was turned upon him with indignant con
tempt. The conference was short, and ended il
the commander sitting down to write note
which bore, that the French were highly graft
fed with the politeness of the British in sendin
back Captain B., and sincerely believed tina
every man in the British army must despise hi
conduct in violating his word of honor; bu
that they (the FrenchD begged leave to retur
him to his friends, as they declined keeping, o
having anything further to do with so mean
rascal This note was read aloud to Capital