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 revolutionary side of the movement. Devoy's confidences were exhaustive, and Le Caron imparted them fully to Mr. Anderson. In the spring of 1881 he was entrusted by Devoy with sealed packets to be delivered in Paris to John O'Leary (the intermediary of the Irish and American branches), and Patrick Egan, treasurer of the Land League. On his arrival in England in April Le Caron showed these to Anderson, and, proceeding to Paris, obtained important information from well-known Fenians.

Egan came back with Le Caron from Paris to London, and introduced him to Irish members of parliament. He had an important interview with Charles Stewart Parnell in the corridor outside the library of the House of Commons, and Parnell commissioned him to 'bring about a thorough understanding and complete harmony of working' between the constitutionalists and the partisans of the secret movement. Le Caron had another interview with the Irish leader at the tea room of the house, when Parnell gave him his signed photograph. After pursuing his inquiries in Dublin, maintaining throughout the fullest touch with the London authorities, he returned to New York in June 1881, attended the convention of the Clan-na-Gael at Chicago, and laid Parnell's views before the foreign relations committee. He also saw much of Dr. Gallagher and Lomasney, who were preparing the 'active' or dynamite policy.

Le Caron was also present at the so-called Land League Convention at Chicago in November 1881, which was packed in the interests of the Clan-na-Gael; he followed the movements of the clan with the closest attention, and all details of the 'secret warfare' (dynamite campaign) were at his command. When a schism arose in the clan Le Caron found it politic to join the majority, headed by Alexander Sullivan and his colleagues, who were termed the 'Triangle.' In August 1884 he attended, both as league delegate and revolutionary officer, the Boston Convention of the Irish National League of America. In 1886 he stood for the House of Representatives, but lost the election on account of the cry of 'Fenian general' raised against him. As a delegate to the National League Convention of August 1886 Le Caron attended the secret caucuses presided over by Egan. In April 1887 he paid another visit to Europe, and was sent by the English police to Paris to watch General Millen, who was then negotiating a reconciliation between the English and American branches of the clan. Le Caron went back to the United States in October, but in December 1888 he finally left America.

Subpoenaed as a witness for the 'Times' in the special commission appointed to inquire into the charges made by that paper against the Irish members and others, Le Caron began his evidence on 5 Feb. 1889, and was under examination and cross-examination for six days. The efforts of Sir [q. v. Suppl.], the counsel for the Irish members, failed to impair the damaging effect of the bulk of his testimony. At the close of the commission (14 Nov. 1889) Sir Henry (now Lord) James, counsel for the Times' newspaper, defended Le Caron from attacks made upon his character. After the trial he lived quietly in England. He died in London of a painful disease on 1 April 1894, and was buried in Norwood cemetery. His wife returned to America some time after his death.

Le Caron himself, in his 'Twenty-five Years in the Secret Service,' maintained that he acted from purely patriotic motives. Between 1868 and 1870 he received about 2,000l. from the English and Canadian governments, but since that time (he told the commission) his salary had not covered his expenses. His identity was known to no one but Mr. Anderson, who always corresponded with him under his real name, Beach. He was a dapper, neatly made little man, with cadaverous cheeks and piercing eyes. He was a teetotaller but a great smoker. His coolness and presence of mind were unequalled. An excellent sketch of him as he appeared before the Parnell Commission appears in a portfolio of sketches drawn by Louis Gache and published as a 'Report of the Parnell Commission by a Stuff Gownsman' (1890).



BEAL, SAMUEL (1825–1889), Chinese scholar, born at Devonport on 27 Nov. 1825, was son of William Beal (d. 1872), a Wesleyan minister. He was educated at the Devonport classical school, and matriculated as a sizar at Trinity College, Cambridge, on 13 Nov. 1843. He graduated B.A. in 1847, and was ordained deacon in 1851 and priest in the following year. After serving as 