The pardon accorded to Mr. Smith O'Brien is a step
as well- grounded as it is well-timed. His comrades in treason, and in chastisement, had escaped from custody in Van Diemen's Land by a breach of parole ; and thus, added to the reasons which made the fate of Mr. O'Brien more regretted than that of his companions, there was the consideration that his more honourable feelings had made him forego the liberty which they had taken in a discreditable manner. The recent conduct of the Irish people has proved how little necessity there is now to keep up a moral lesson in the ex- ample of punishment for disloyalty. Everybody is inclined to let bygones be bygones, and to forget past quarrels. But to give the pardon its crowning grace, Mr. O'Brien should not be allowed simply to join the fugitives from parole in America ; it should be a full pardon, with leave to come home, where the forgiven man will be at least as harmless as he will be welcome.
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