Download mail from all time in Leopard Mail client?

[macmee]

After being threatened to get hacked, I've decided to clear out all the emails on the mailserver (gmail's online mail client). But before I do, is there a way to download all the emails from my mail server from all time? I only set Leopard's Mail client up on March 8th, so I only have emails from March 8th and after on Leopard. I want to have email from since I registered my Gmail account years ago.

Any help is appreciated
- Dave

 

[spinnerlys]

What are your settings?

I set Mail up in December 2008 and I have got all the mail I've ever got to my address from years ago.

I have set my Gmail account to IMAP, so I could have it as a backup.