Pringle to H. Bernard, April 8, 1865

[Untitled]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant, enclosing a copy of a statement alleging the existence of arrangements for a raid from Dickenson’s landing and other places, and requesting me to ascertain whether there was any truth in the report.

Immediately on receipt of your letter I called on the collector of custom, R. K. Bullock, esq., who went the same day to Dickenson’s landing, and made inquiries there as to the truth of the report; he informs me that he is satisfied from his inquiries that there is nothing of the kind in progress there.

I am of opinion, from my own knowledge of the position of Dickenson’s landing, that it is not a place from which a raid could be attempted, as the crossing of the river there is difficult, and can only be effected in canoes or small boats. There is no town or village on the the American side of the river within some miles of it. There is no railway on that side nearer than Pottsdam, which is some miles in the interior, and no steamboats are at present going up or down the river.

I have instructed one or two persons at Dickenson’s landing to be on the lookout, and to inform me of any suspicious circumstances that may occur there.

In reference to ——, the informant of the government, I may state that I saw on the first page of the Montreal Gazette, of the —— instant, a paragraph to the effect that ——, principal of the —— Grammar School, had been tarred and feathered at Amprior. An investigation into this outrage may throw some light upon the subject.

I have, &c.