  A box model is used to study first order Fermi acceleration driven by
magnetic reconnection. It is shown, at least in this simple model, that the
spectral index of the accelerated particles is related to the total compression
in the same way as in diffusive shock acceleration and is not, as has been
suggested, a universal $E^{-5/2}$ spectrum. The acceleration time-scale is
estimated and some comments made about the applicability of the process.
