THE MAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 365, 11 March 1871, Page 2

THE MAIL.

A TIMELY PARDON

A correspondent with the French Army of the West relates an incident winch is cortainly not without a parallel in military hiatoi-y-*^-"'llie ordomiancc who escoi'ted. trne was a highly-interesting fellow. He,toldme he regretted sincerely having to leave his village -home, hut he could not stay thero whilst the invader stood upon the soil of France. He also told me that a man in the same* company as himself had, guilder the 'influence of drink, used mutinous and threatening expressions towards his superior, and had T)een condemned to be shot. All 'had been done to save hia life. The paymaster, supported by a deputation of non-commis-sioned ollicers and comrades of the condemned man, had in vain attempted to obtain a mitigation of the sentence —the general was determined to "enforce discipline. I am bound to say that I could not sleep for thinking of that wretched man ; and when I sallied out at early dawn to see the poor follow sent to tyis last account, it was certainly not out of morbid curiosity. I entered into the camp as the grey dawn was breaking, and went direct to head-quarters. Some of the officers were conversing when the drums beat la generate, and I mechanically followed them to a field just outside the camp. The men were drawn up, forming three sides of a square, and standing behind them I could see where the earth had been disturbed by the making of a newly-dug grave. The drums again rolled, and I saw the prisoner approach, escorted by his own comrades. He saluted the officers when he passed them, and seemed calm, and undaunted at his approaching end An oppressive silence reigned whilst with measured steps the condemned man marched to what in a few moments would form his last resting place. The firing party stepped to the front, the victim divested himself of his coat and vest, his eyes were bandaged, the aiiinonier left his side, and just when .we expected to see the poor fellow ushered into eternity, an officerapproached and announced thatthegoneral had graciously condecended to pardon the coiidomned man, in the hope that the.narrow escape he had had, would prove a .warning to himself and to his* brethren in arms. A loud cheer was raised for the general, and the reprieved man sank fainting to the ground. All his calmness and fortitude forsook him, and for some time he lay unconscious upon the brink of his freshly-dug grave."

The PohticAL Peisoneks.—Tho Wexford Town Council have anticipated the action of tho Dublin Corporation by passing a resolution to petition the Queen and Government for the liberation of the political prisoners, who, thoy say, havo been sufficiently punished, "for their thoughtless t and reprehensible folly ;" and thoy obsorve that "the present moment is an auspicious one in consequence of an approaching happy circumstanco in'the domestic circle of our good and gracious Sovereign." If other municipalities adopt this Joyal and judicious tqse, tho prisoners will probably have no reason'to regret their interference.