Year: 1863

only when Lazy OLear commenced his ex-
crcises did il venture to cross, as this was
the signal thatit would be safe This could
not have occurred had there been another
sentinel on that side---the south side--of
the town, between Lewistown and the Falls
but II was thought that one was sufficient
there, as, abouthalf way between Queens
town and the Falls, tho whirlpool is situa-
ted, and the Niagara is here pent up within
a narrow channel not over u hundred yards
in width, so that few boats would venture
to cross near it, and, Of course, there was
! little danger of an enemy from that side.
Upon the disappearance of the boat, Lazy
! O'Lear possessed himself of the package OF
letters and when he was relieved by an.
other sentinel repaired Immediately to Gen
eral Van Rensselaer,, aud, giving him the
packet, stated that he had accidentally dis
covered it in the cavity of the tree. The
General recommended secrecy to the traitor
which was needless, and he left for Detroit.
That there existed traitors in the fort the
American General felt certain hut as Lee,
i'll his letter, had spoken of OI.ear as our
trusty friend, our messenger" &c, as had
been insisted on by that worthy as one of
tho conditions on which he would serve
his employers, he was not suspected. Sir
Edgar also spoke of the surrender of llull's
army as certain though he did not state
explicitly that General Hull held any trea-
sonable correspondence with General Brock
but as if he thought him coward, He
dwelt chiefly on what was uppermost in his
thoughts, that the Colonel should other per-
suade or, IL necessary, compel Florence to
accompany them to England, and tho means
to effect this But in tho packet was let
ter from Sir Isaac Brock himself. thanking
Colonel Soiton for the valuable information
he had given him of tho best means of sue
cecding in taking Lewistown, of the num-
Der of men in garrison, &c, &c. This was
decided proof of his treason.


Van Rensselaer, would have had him ar
rested ut once had net Sir Edgar Lee stated
in his letter that it would be most prudent
now to discontinue their correspondence
until General Brock advanced to Lcwistown;
and, as ho was very desirous of discovering
who were leagued with the Colonel, he
thought ii best to leave him at large, having
him closely watched, and all that he asso-
ciated with. lie had Immediately, on dis
covering the treason, written to General
Dearborn an account of the whole affair,
one which greatly agitated him, as he both
loved and esteemed Henry Sefton highly,
and had, but a few days previous to the dis
y,
with dispatches !; and, when Howell arrived
was hourly expecting his return. He knew
of Captain Merediths attachment to Flo
renee, and resolved not to inform him, but
to permit him to return to Detroit without
waiting for Henry's return, sending Gen
eral Hull word that, when news from head
quarters arrived, he would transmit it to
him by Lieutenant Seton; thus securing
the absence of both young men during what
he knew must take place, the trial and OK
ecution of Colonel Seton. Poor Henry
this would be dreadful blow to him, and
the kind General felt much sympathy for
the young soldier, of whose loyalty it was
impossible to doubt; indeed, no one who
looked upon his frank, open countcnance,
the high, broad brow, the deep blue eye,
sparkling with intelligence and depth of
feeling, with his noble, though slender lig-
are, could harbor the doubt that truth and
sincerity had there dwelling place. Henry
was more free and communicative in his
disposition, being younger, and having seen
less of the world than Howell Truthful
and noble-ninded himself, he had not learned
what a knowledge of tho world SO soon
teaches, to distrust; and this blow would,
the General feared have a stunning effect.


The messenger sent with an account of
Colonel Setton's treason to General Dearborn
now arrived with his answer, and still
Henry did not make his appearance. But,
the very day of his fathers trial, just after
Florence's painful interview with Van
Rensselaer,, countryman came, bringing
the dispatches he had expected by Henry,
who stated that the Lieutenant had been
thrown from his horse about half way be-
tween Lewstown and Sacketts Ilarbor,
was badly bruised, and had an arm broken !;
he was now lying at his house unable to
move, and had engaged him to bring the
letters on to the fort. The General almost
altered Il prayer of thanlSfulness at the ac-
cdent, which had saved him from the ago
nizing knowledge of what was to take place.


General Dearborn, in answer to Van
Rensselaer, ordered Colonel Seton to be
Immediately arrested and tried by court
martial, and, if found guilty, shot; adding
that he felt deeply for Lieutenant Seton,
who had only the morning that he had re-
ceived the news of his fathers treason, left
for Lewistown, and that it was solely in
consideration of his worth and patriotism
that he was to be shot, Instead of being
hanged, as he richly deserved, as the letters
proved him to be q spy as well as traitor.


He was, accordingly, as we have seen,
brought down to the fort. The court was
already formed. 1t consisted of General
Van Rensselaer, and the principal officers of
the regiment. His papers which had been
seized, fully proved his guilt. In copy of
letter addressed to General Brock, he in
formed him, after the English had pesses-
sion of Michigan, and, as a matter of course,
after the surrender of Lewistown, his inten-
ton was to visit England, taking both Flo
renee and Mary with him. as he felt sure
such measure would have the effect of
causing Henry to follow, and " Florence,
he hoped, to forget her Yankee lover" as
he chose to call Captain Meredith.


After the letters had been read before
the court, the Colonel, who had scarcely
spoken word, requested if he might be in
formed who had discovered the package.
When told il was Lazy 0Lear, double
dyed traitor !" he exclaimed, with vehe-
mence; and he then informed the court that
0Lear was the agent employed; but it was
too late; he had already escaped. The re-
suit of the trial is already known. He was
sentenced to be shot, between the hours of
eleven and twelve o'clock, the day follow
ing,


Colonel Seton felt assured that revenge
was the motive that prompted Lazy O'Lear
to betray him. Some moHths previous,
when the Colonel first opened reasonable
correspondence with the English through
his means, he had the presumption TO ask
for an introduction to Miss Aylmor, and
permission from him, as her guardian, to
pay his addresses to that lady. lndgna-
ton too strong for words, at the proposal,
at first filled the breast OF her proud uncle.
Mary tha niece of his deDarted and still