The Sun. — 1842-10-18 (London, England)

XVIII. been then restored, without insisting on the impunity of all political offenders ; or, at the very least, on the right of leaving the country for all such as might have so offended ? In Egypt the French stipulated that no natives should be molested for their conduct or opinions during the war. We took military possession of the country on these terms, and then delivered it over to the political authority of the Ottoman Porte. When, however, the Capitan Pacha, acting under that authority, began murdering the Beys, and proceeding against the adherents of the French, we not only remonstrated and threatened, but actually protected the persecuted men within our own lines. Yet, by reference to the history of those times, we find that many blamed Lord Hutchinson for not having recourse to yet more violent methods, to enforce on the legitimate political authority the observance of engagements entered into by our military power on taking military possession of the country. " What would Wellington himself have said, if the British troops had surrendered any town in Spain to the French with a similar stipulation, and if, on the flimsy and hypocritical subterfuge of a distinction between Joseph's Government and the French military authorities, all the Spaniards who had assisted us during the siege had been prosecuted for treason against Joseph ? Yet, where is the distinction ? " The want of principle and consistency, and the disgusting changes of the Marshals, have, I know, steeled men's minds to their sufferings. This is natural enough. But when the violence of the times is gone by, and, above all, when the tomb has closed on their offences, the transaction will be judged with reference to the nature of the promise' not to the conduct or misconduct of the sufferers. Si ego digna inp " Nor is this ati•ant faceres, tamen indignus qui feceris, Pamphile. If we judge by former instances, even the crime itself will be regarded with more indulgence by posterity than any irregular mode of punishing it. Allowance for individuals is made in all great changes. It is difficult in sudden emergencies and great convulsions of state, especially for professional men whose lives have been passed in camps, to weigh maturely all the considerations by which their conduct should, in the strict line of duty, be regulated. Unforeseen cases occur, and men of good principles and understanding are hurried into acts of inconsistency and political immorality. "In this latter view of the subject, 1 know I am somewhat singular, Few at present make such allowances for the political tergiversations of the Marshals ; and many, more indulgent than I am in their judgment of political apostacy in England, are quite outrageous. with Frenchmen for not acting with in flexible principle in the most trying and difficUlt circumstances. Some, however, among the most indignant at their crimes, yet doubt the justice, policy, and safety of punishing them ; and, more especially among the moderate of all parties, think the claim of the capitulation conclusive ; or, if not quite so, of a nature questionable enough to induce Wellington, for the preservation of his own and the national character, to give it the construction most favourable to the weaker party. "My opinion is of no importance ; but it is so strong that I could not resist expressing it to you, who have access to those whose character is most interested in forming a sound one on this important subject. I have not spoken of La Vallette. All my arguments apply in his favour as strongly as in Ney's; and surely he is not, as others may be, any object of a bystander's indignation. He 'seems an honourable man throughout. Your's ever truly, "