The Sun. — 1846-03-23 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF CAPTAIN M'LEOD. The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. Santos, agent for the Peninsular and Oriental Company at Corunna, dated March 12 : " I returned from the wreck of the Great Liverpool on the 10th inst., and have relieved Mr. Baker, from the temporary duty as agent to your company at this place. " The melancholy death of Captain M'Leod, which took place on the morning of the Bth instant, has, as you may well suppose, added greatly to my labours, and, indeed, must plead for my present hasty report, relying upon your indulgence to permit me to furnish more details when the departure of the Queen shall afford me more quiet and leisure. " Poor Captain M'Leod his been, ever since the unfortunate loss of the Liverpool, in an extremely depressed state, and caused me very serious apprehensions. At five o'clock in the morning I went to the habitation where he, with one of his officers and the doctor, had been sleeping. I told them to get ready, as everything had been arrrnged by me for an early start for Corunna. I asked Captain M'Leod how he had rested, when he replied that he had not closed his eyes, went to the window, and agreed with me on our having tine weather for our journey; immediately after he took off his coat and went into his sleepingroom, I thought to wash ; we soon heard a noise, and the landlord coming in to report the same, made us all rush into his room, where we found him weltering in his blood, and his throat cut from ear to ear. All our efforts could not prevent his expiring within ten minutes, so effectually had the rash act been done. You may well conceive the consternation we were thrown into, but, overcoming my feelings I immediately proceeded to go through everything that was necessary to be done. I sent for the judge, and arranged matters for holding an inquest. I interred the body of the unfortunate Captain M'Leod the same evening, and esrly the next morning set out upon my journey with all the remaining officers and crew." The following additional particulars are contained in a letter from Southampton : " I have very little to communicate in connexion with the melancholy death of poor Captain M'Leod, of the Great Liverpool steam-ship. It appears that everything was in readiness to depart from the inhospitable shore on which the remainder of the passengers and crew had been located since the unfortunate wreck, and Captain M'Leod had retired to his room to make preparations for his departure. His protracted stay was remarked; and on one of the party knocking at the door of his room, to announce that every person was in readiness, no answer was returned, and after repeated knockings with the same result, the door was opened, when the horrid spectacle of the unfortunate gentleman with his throat cut from ear to ear, presented itself to view. So determined was the suicidal act that life was quite extinct. He was buried in the village of Cee, where the distressing catastrophe was perpetrated, every one of his fel!ow sufferers following his remains to the grave with heavy and mournful hearts. " Captain M'Leod was a gentleman of extremely high spirit and honour, and it is not improbable that the severe sufferings, anxiety, and trials, the loss of the vessel entailed upon him, superinduced the committal of the dreadful deed. "Mrs. M'Leod, with her yonthful family (and a prospect of further increase shortly), is resident in Southampton. The distressing intelligence was communicated to her as delicately as possible immediately on the Queen's arrival, but it is impossible to describe the agonising state of mind of this truly unfortunate lady. " Captain M'Leod was a lieutenant in the navy; his commission bears date the 19th of July, 1823. " The conduct of the natives is described by the passengers as villanous in the extreme; they openly filched everything they could lay their hands upon, accompanied in many instances with acts of violence. Even the guards sent by the British Consul at Corunna are, it appears, not exempt from the charge of robbery. Au investigation, it is said, is about to take place on a charge brought forward against one of these worthies, and, if proved, no doubt the rascal will be shot. " The unfortunate ship had entirely disappeared ; not a vestige of her was to be seen. Occasionally, however, things floated ashore, but they were quickly pounced upon by those ravenous wolves in human shape, and divided amongst them."