The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-26 00:00:00

MR. lII.LEOII.

We have, within these few days, had an opportunity of
conve:sing with a gentleman recently arrived from Canada,
who was an eye-witness of the burning of the piratical
steam boat Caroline, on the 29th December, 1837, and
who is also intimately acquainted with Mr. M'Leod.
Both cur informant and Mr. Alexander M'Leod were on
duty that day near Chippewa, the former having the com-
mand of a body of thirty men, with whom ho was ordered
to cruise on the neighbouring waters; but neither of them
was aware of the intended cutting out of the Caroline, or
there is little doubt that both would' have been engaged in
the affair. Indeed, our informant was told by Mr.lll•Le rd
on the following morning, that he (M'Leod) was not one
of the. party, butut that if he had been called upon, ha
should have cheerfully obeyed, as the vagabonds on the
Isla, id had, the day before, fired several shots at him, while
rowing round in an open, unprotected boat. Mr. M-Lend
is a Scctchman by birth, aail has served in the British
army with great distinction, having raised himself, by his
own good conduct alone, to the rank of sergeant-major;
and our informant describes him as a most gallant and re-
solute man. In his capacity of Deputy-Sheriff for the
district of Niagara, he had frequent opportunity of exer-
el:hag these qualities, called as he was by his duty to deal
with the loose and vagabond population that inhabit the
American side of the boundary. This had rendered him per-
sonally obnoxious to many who have now pursued him with
such relentless and outrageous fury; and those who know
the character of the frontier population will net .
wonder to learn the apprehension which prevails, le.t
men should be found to swear on the trial that M•Lead
was present with the party which cut out the Caroliae.
An instance—which would be laughable but for i;s revolt-
ing profligacy—of the little regard set by these people
upon oaths—fell once within our informant's own observa-
tion. An American trader presented at the Canadian
Custom. 'mac a forged invoice (unhappily, a common
practice) fcr the purpose of fixing the ad valorem duty to
which his goods were liable,—and lie swore to its truth
By an unlucky chance, however, he dropped from his poc-
ket-book immediately afterwards the genuine invoice, and
eil rot di ,cover his mistake till he rejoined his companions
cut of doors, when he coolly avowed what he had done,
and lamented his ill fortune. With satnes.es of this kind
at hand, t ere is much to fear for the safety of M'Leod..

Our informant has relited to us various instances of Mr.
hl•Leod's gallantry and darirg, one cr two of which will,
we are sure, interest our readers. A few months only be-
fore the burning of the Caroline, Mr. M'Lcod Lai to serve
a writ on the captain of a small steamer plying as a ferry-
boat between the two shores, when, at the !quest
of the captain, he good-naturedly consentel, i t crier
to spare the feelings of the li►ter, to take lunch on
board, so that his prisoner miglq confide the care of
the vessel to the mate, and then slip off quietly,
witi-
out excising observation. Mr. M'Leod accordingly
went below, when presently he discovered the trees
flitting rapilly by ; for the fact was that the rascally
Yankee was coolly conveying his good-natured captor
to the American shore. la one instant Mr. M'Leod was
upon the deck, and in another had knocked the steersman
down and seized the tiller himself, which he then ern-
ployed to guide the boat to the Canadian shore, his well-
known bravery deterring his prisoners fern further inter-
ference. Oa this occasion he narrowly escaped being
carried by the current over the Falls, and when remon-
strated with by his friends for the risk that he had run,
he quietly told them that " he would have had as good a
chance at swimming as the rest." Oa another occasion,
when some disturbance'occur:ed among the free negrce,,
who we numerous in the Niagara district, Mr. M'Leod,
aided by our informant alone, actually took and lodged in
prison no less that► scse ateen cf the rioters I
On the day before the Caroline was burnt, our inform-
ant aa; dining with a friend in the Canadixn ge of
Chippewa. Shortly after they left the table, it was struck
by a cannon-bail fired from Nary Island. Sh2ll we
then be to:d that thoie subjected to outrages like this were
to look quietly on, while they saw with their own eyes a
piratical v.sscl e3nrey arms and ammunition to the rebels,
which arms and ammunition were to be subsequently em-
ployed against themselves ?—.BI iglaon Gazette.