Page:Letters of Junius, volume 2 (Woodfall, 1772).djvu/24

14 lays much stress upon the calamity of the case, and, instead of disproving facts, appeals at once to the compassion of the public. This idea, as well as the insinuation, that depriving the parties of their commissions would be an injury to their creditors, can only refer to General Gansel. The other officers are in no distress; therefore, have no claim to compassion, nor does it appear, that their creditors, if they have any, are more likely to be satisfied by their continuing in the guards. But this sort of plea will not hold in any shape. Compassion to an offender, who has grossly violated the laws, is, in effect, a cruelty to the peaceable subject who has observed them; and, even admitting the force of any alleviating circumstances, it is nevertheless true, that, in this instance, the royal compassion has interposed too soon, The legal and proper mercy of a King of England may remit the punishment, but ought not to stop the trial.

these particular objections, there has been a cry raised against Junius for his malice and injustice in attacking the Ministry upon an event which they could neither