54 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



During the day a proclamation addressed to the local magis- 

 trates by Murray and Everard was widely distributed among the 

 inhabitants residing near the lake shore, informing them that if they 

 remained peaceably at home, their property would be protected from 

 injury. 1 When Murray's force appeared in sight of Plattsburg next 

 morning, Mooers had with much difficulty assembled about three 

 hundred men with a single field piece for its defence but abandoned 

 the place without firing a shot on the approach of the landing party. 

 Possession was immediately taken of the town which was occupied 

 for ten or twelve hours. The arsenal, a large blockhouse, the com- 

 missary's store, and the commodious barracks lately built on the banks 

 of the Saranac for the accommodation of four thousand men were set 

 on fire and entirely destroyed. A considerable quantity of arms, 

 military clothing, ammunition, and equipment for boats was brought 

 off. While this was being accomplished, Colonel Murray landed, and 

 entering into conversation with some of the inhabitants, he removed 

 his cap and a paper which he had evidently placed in it for conven- 

 ience or safe keeping fell to the ground unperceived by him. Observing 

 this a ready witted bystander dropped his handkerchief over it and 

 picked up both together. After Murray had gone away, it was found 

 to be a precise and accurate statement of the force and situation of 

 the American regular troops in the vicinity of the lake and, although 

 unsigned, was recognized as being in the handwriting of Joel Ackley 

 who was already suspected of transmitting information. He was 

 soon afterwards arrested and made some admission, implicating a 

 man named Paling who lived near the boundary. Paling learned his 

 arrest in time to escape and report what had happened to the comman- 

 dant at St. Jean. Measures were then taken through Leon Lalanne 

 to employ counsel for Ackley's defence and secure his acquittal. 

 Lalanne's efforts were eventually successful and after being confined in 

 prison at Albany for nearly a year, Ackley was released without a 

 trial. 2 



1 Proclamation, dated July 30. 



2 Mr. Lalanne's mission resulted in some singular negotiations with an unnamed 

 leading lawyer in Vermont. 



"Yesterda'y morning we sent for a respectable law character of Vermont, whom 

 we have consulted this morning and has taken upon himself to rescue the prisoner 

 (now at Albany), if the thing is any wise possible. He feels confident that his trial 

 will not come on before October next and purposes setting out for Albany on the 

 10th prox. We feel happily disappointed. We looked upon the man as the ablest 

 in that State to carry our plan into execution. Till about half an hour before he 

 left us, we had no hopes of obtaining from him anything more than his advice, but 

 he finally concluded to undertake it himself lest the person we should choose among 

 those he had pointed out to us, should fail in the enterprise, and he exacted no further 

 compensation than for his time and expenses which at the highest computation 



