Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-21
WHOLE NO. 6O8

of s. and S. three thousand aud five
hundred dollars, value received of them in cash,
advanced for your account by my request, and
charge tue came ia conformity with your note of
instructions to me, dated London, June 4, 1852.
Your obedient servant,
signed) wM. GIBBS MCNEIL.
To Col JoHS CHARLEs Fremont,
Now in London
The gentleman who cashcd this draft supposed
that Col. Fremont was an honorable person, and
that he would not hesitate to pay it promptly at
maturity, particularly as Gen. Mcneil had acted
under explicit written instructions. To this day
the above draft has never been paid
Gen. Mcneil, not aole TO accomplish all the bu-
siness for which he had been despatched to New
York and Washington, ON account of not meeting
Mr.. Wright with about S25, 900 in the former city,
returned TO London. Hearing that Fremont was
in Paris, he proceeded there directly, not wishing
to communicate, in the first instance with Mr..
Lakeman, having been informed thai he was OF
no enviable reputation, although intimately asso-
ciated with Col Fremont in some OF his California
and London mining matters. On McNeil's return
to London, he was arrested and thrown into prison
by this very Lakeman, for the recovery Of tho
Gl00 which he had advanced (for Col. Fremont)
at the time Of his (McNeils) departure for New
York TO attend to their joint business.
Notwithstanding General Mcneil had crossed
the Atlantic, and visited Washington, in the SER
from under his own hand, yet, we find that he did
not move an inch in his (McNel's) behalf to save
him from prison. and never visited him while there,
or made the slightest attempt to get him out. And
had it not been for the kindness Of some English
gentlemen, who had known Mcneil only by repu-
tation, as gentleman OF high sense of honor, Of
noble and generous feeling, and of eminent scien-
| tifc abilities, he would have been compelled to
suffer all the horrors OF protracted confinement
in an English dungeon, while Fremont was pass
ing himself off in the saloons OF London and Paris
as California millionaire.
And who was General William Gibbs Mcneil?
He was one of the most eminent civil engineers
this country has ever produced. He was native
of North Carolina, though for the greater part of
his life he was professionally employed at the
North He planned and built the first railroad
ever constructed in New England, that leading
from Boston to Providence. He was the instruct
| or of large number of men in engineering, who
| have since shod ustre on their country and pro-
fession. Among his pupils was the lam, nted Ma
jor Whistler, who died in the service of Russia
The Emperor Nicholas had offered the post of en-
ginecr-in-chef OF the empire to General Mcneil,
who, owing to other engagements, was forced to
decline the honor he, however, recommended his
friend and pupil Major Whistler, who was duly
employed by the Czar.
Among his pupils was also this same John e..
Fremont who ID indebted TO McNiel for the small
amount of engineering knowledge he possesses.
Was it not natural, therefore, that Mcneil, no.
bic and generous as he was, finding native of the
South and a former pupil under arrest in London,
for Indian drafts, should generously undertake
journey the Atlantic aud visit Washington,
| and there labor with members Of Congress and
| personal friends to get an appropriation through
Congress for bis relief he then being out in Lon
| don on heavy bail. II was the mans natural and
| noble impulse.
Hew he was requited with the basest and dark
est ingraitude, is seen from the documents and
statements above submitted.
Poor Mcneil, we knew him long and well, and
we respected and loved him as brother.
We shall never forget his changed and melan-
choly look on his return to this country from a
prison cell of London. He was astounded and
overwhelmed at the faithless and baseless ingrati-
tude he had received. -
The report had spread that he had been the
tenant Of an English prison. 1t was too much for
the sensbilities of an honorable generous and
fding man his heart was broken life of gener-
| GUS aspirations and hopes was crushed Soon after
| his return he sank on sick bed, in his home in
the city of Brooklyn, amid the anxieties of dis
tresscd children and few friends whose devotion
! never forsook him, aud there breathed his last.
Fremont a Fighting Man.
| Commonwealth Of Massachusetts.
Suffolk, ss -s
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