.
'It was soon seen by all of those who had any connection with him, that my father was sincere in his disdain of vengeance--of this they had convincing proof in his refusing to listen to the tales of slander, which so many were ready to pour into his ear, against those who had appeared to be his enemies.
'They saw that he determined to have a public trial of the man who had instigated the Longford mob, but that, for the sake of justice, and to record what his own conduct had been, he did not seek this trial from any petty motives of personal resentment.
'During the course of the trial, it appeared that the sergeant was a mere ignorant enthusiast, who had been worked up to frenzy by some, more designing than himself.

Having accomplished his own object of publicly proving every fact that concerned his own honour and character, my father felt desirous that the poor culprit, who was now ashamed and penitent, should not be punished.

The evidence was not pressed against him, and he was acquitted.

As they were leaving the courthouse my father saw, and spoke in a playful tone to the penitent sergeant, who, among his other weaknesses, happened to be much afraid of ghosts.

"Sergeant, I congratulate you," said he, "upon my being alive here before you--I believe you would rather meet me than my ghost!" Then cheering up the man with the assurance of his perfect forgiveness, he passed on.
'The malevolent passions 'my father always considered as the greatest foes to human felicity--they would not stay in his mind--he was of too good and too happy a nature.