as not Charles Stuart enough to trouble him, with his
rebellious subjects at home, without having to supervise every petty
felony or treason that occurs in his distant colonies? This provision of
our charter, denying to the Governor the power of absolute pardon, but
granting him power to reprieve, was only made, that in doubtful cases,
the minister might rely upon the wisdom of majesty. It was never
intended to shift all the trouble and vexation of a colonial executive
upon the overloaded hands of the king. If you have any doubt of
Hansford's guilt, I would be the last to turn your heart from clemency,
by a word of my mouth. If he be guilty, I only ask whether Sir William
Berkeley is the man to shrink from responsibility, and to fasten upon
his royal master the odium, if odium there be, attending the execution
of the sentence against a rebel."

"Zounds, no, Bernard, you know I am not. But then there are a plenty of
rebels to sate the vengeance of the law, besides this poor young fellow.
Does justice demand that all should perish?"

"My kind patron," said Bernard, "to whom I owe all that I have and am,
do not further urge me to oppose feelings so honorable to your heart.
Exercise your clemency towards this unhappy young man, in whose fate I
feel as deep an interest as yourself. If harm should flow from your
mercy, who can censure you for acting from motives so generous and
humane. If by your mildness you should encourage rebellion again,
posterity will pardon the weakness of the Governor in the benevolence of
the man."

"Stay," said Berkeley, his pride wounded by this imputation, "you know,
Alfred, that if I thought that clemency towards this young rebel would
encourage rebellion in the future, I would rather lose my life than
spare his. But speak out, and tell me candidly why you think the
execution of this sentence necessary to satisfy justice."

"You force me to an ungrateful duty," replied the young hypocrite, "for
it is far more grateful to the heart of a benevolent man to be the
advocate of mercy, than the stern champion of justice. But since you ask
my reasons, it is my duty to obey you. First, then, this young man, from
his talent, his bravery, and his high-flown notions about liberty, is
far more dangerous than any of the insurgents who have survived
Nathaniel Bacon. Then, he has shown that so far from repenting of his
treason, he is ready to justify it, as witness his speech, wherein he
predicted the triump