Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

of the people at large, notwithstanding the efforts of tories and governmental connexions intermixt in all parts, whose Sysiphean labors only pull ruin upon themselves.

"The storm still blows heavy. But our ship will ride it through. With joy we look forward, and with undoubting assurance anticipate the sweets and the final triumph of American liberty."

Philadelphia, dated 12th Oct. 1780.

"THE late providential discovery of Arnold's plot, which appears to have been for a considerable time in agitation, has induced a belief that Rodney had something further in view than merely counteracting the design of the comte de Guichen.

"In a controversy and revolution such as this, where former friendships and intimacies subsisted between the contending parties, and where men of upright intentions took different sides, and men of all characters were engaged in the contest, it would not have been strange or uncommon if conspiracies had been formed; but to the honor of the American army, ARNOLD is the first, and it is believed the only American officer, who has, during this war, entered into a conspiracy to betray his country. You know the character of the man; he was brave but avaricious, fond of parade, and not very scrupulous about the means of acquiring money to defray the expenses of it. He had married a young woman who had been distinguished by general Howe's Meschianzi knights, and her father was not remarkable for his attachment to the American cause. The expensive manner in which Arnold lived in Philadelphia, reduced his finances, and the accounts he exhibited against the public underwent a scrutiny at the board of treasury, not much to the advantage of his honor and honesty; which, joined to his disappointment in the case of the Active, and the result of the court martial instituted on the complaint of the council of Pennsylvania, soured his temper, and rendered him a fit object for Clinton's views. By letters found among his private papers, it appears that captain André, one of sir H. Clinton's aids, had commenced a correspondence with Mrs. Arnold in 1779, under pretence of supplying her with millinery; whether it was continued till it was ripened into the plot of betraying West Point into the hands of the enemy, I will not undertake to say; but that the scheme had been some time in agitation appears evidently from this, that while the enemy were making preparations for executing their purpose, and giving out that their design was against Virginia, the same reports were circulated in lord Cornwallis's camp in South Carolina, and measures were taken to make us believe he meant to second the expedition, by marching through North Carolina, and forming a junction with sir Henry on his arrival in Virginia. At this time Rodney arrived at New York, and it is conjectured the design was, as soon as they had gained possession of West Point, and cut off the communication between the western and southern states, to turn their whole force against the French fleet at Rhode Island. This it is true is but conjecture, but it must be confessed

the object was great, and had Rodney succeeded, he would have finished the year with as much éclat as he began it. The providential discovery of the plot blasted the schemes of our enemies.

"The annexed, a specimen of American poetry, well describes the popular feeling on the occasion."

[ocr errors]

ON GENERAL ARNOLD.

AT Freedom's call, see Arnold take the field,
With honor blazon'd on his patriot shield;
His gallant feats a dazzling lustre spread:
And circling glories beam'd around his head.
His well-earn'd praises were consign'd to fame;
And fate decreed him an immortal name.

But when, estra g'd from freedom's glorious cause,
Neglecting honor, and its sacred laws,
Impell'd by motives of the basest kind,
Which mark the vicious, mean, degen'rate mind-
To virtue lost, and callous to disgrace-
The traitor hiding with the hero's face-
His canker'd heart, to sordid views a slave,
To Mammon yielding all that freedom gave,
Enleagu'd with friends of that detested tribe--
Whose god is gold, whose saviour is a bribe--
Could basely join, his country to betray,
And thus restore a ruthless tyrant's sway—
On freedom's sons impose the galling yoke,
And crush each foe to vice beneath the stroke;
Not all his laurels, in the field obtain❜d,

Not that which Philip's son by conquest gain'd,
Not all that once adorn'd great Cæsar's brow,
Nor all that Washington may challenge now--
Could save a wretch, whom crimes like these debase
So far beneath the rank of human race:

But stung with keen remorse, his guilty soul
In vain shall seek repose from pole to pole;
Perpetual anguish shall torment his breast,
And hellish demons haunt his troubled rest;
Not even death shall shield his hated name,
For still the caitiff shall survive to fame,
By fate's decree--who thus pronounc'd his lot :
"Too bad to die, too base to be forgot-
"Thy crimes succeeding ages shall proclaim,
"And Judas be forgot in Arnold's name."

October, 1780.

The following letter from Dr. Franklin to the marquis de la Fayette, then serving in the American army, also makes mention of Arnold's treason, and hints at the price or reward he received from the British government for his treachery: this letter will also be found interesting in other respects. To the Marquis de la Fayette.

DEAR SIR,

Passy, May 14, 1781. YOU are a very good correspondent, which I do not deserve, as I am a bad one. The truth is, I have too much business upon my hands, a great deal of it foreign to my function as a minister, which interferes with my writing regularly to my friends. But I am nevertheless extremely sensible of your kindness in sending me such frequent and full intelligence of the state of affairs on your side the water, and in letting me see by your letters, that your health continues, as well as your zeal for our cause and country.

I hope that by this time the ship which has the honor of bearing your name, is safely arrived. She carries clothing for near twenty thousand men, with arms, ammunition, &c. which will supply some of your wants, and colonel Laurens will bring a considerable addition, if Providence favors his passage. You will receive from him the particulars, which makes my writing more fully by him unnecessary.

Your friends have heard of your being gone against the traitor Arnold, and are anxious to hear of your success, and that you have brought him to punishment. Inclosed is a copy of a letter from his agent in England, captured by one

• Copy of a letter from Mr. Meyrick, army agent in London, to
General Arnold.

"SIR,

Parliament street, 30th Jan. 1781. "I AM honored with your several letters, inclosing bills on Harley and Drummond to the amount of five thousand pounds, the receipt of which I have regularly by packet acknowleged. On the day they were paid I invested the amount in the fund you mentioned, and it was a very favorable time. I flatter myself it will meet your approbation, also the mode in which it was done.

"As it is possible some directions might come from you for disposing of the money in some other mode, I thought it might not be so advan

of our cruisers, and by which the price or reward he received for his treachery may be guessed at. Judas sold only one

tageous to lock it up totally, as it might be a long while before I could receive a power of attorney from you to transfer, had I put it in your name; and meantime the dividend could not be received for your use. The mode I have adopted has been used in like cases, and can be instantly altered to any you direct, on your favoring me with a letter.

The account is as follows, viz.

Bought by Samuel and William Scholey, stock-brokers, for major-general Arnold, 70001. stock, in new 4 per cents. a. 714, as follows:

In name of major-general Benedict Arnold,

1001. stock a. 711 new 4 per cent consols.

Paid.

6,9001. stock a. 711 in name of J. Meyrick, esq. 4,987! 10s Od

[blocks in formation]

There then remains of the 5000, three pounds, thirteen shillings and sixpence.

Thus, by this method, if I receive any instructions from you for em. ploying your money in a different manner, I can sell out the 6900%. and dispose of your money agreeable to your directions before this letter reaches you; and if it is your wish that it should remain in the funds, it can be placed under your name, by my transferring the 6900% and joining it to your 1001. The reason of my purchasing the latter sum in your name was, that you might have an account open. Also, the power of attorney now inclosed will enable me to receive the dividends on the whole 7000. stock, after I have made the transfer, should you choose I should do so. I hope I have made myself properly understood, and can assure you I have, to the best of my abilities, acted for you as myself. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient, and most humble servant, Major-General Arnold. JAMES MEYRICK.

NB. In addition to this supposed purchase money of the general him. self, the following pensions were afterwards granted to his family. By warrant dated July 20, 1783.

[blocks in formation]

man, Arnold three millions. Judas got for his one man, thirty pieces of silver, Arnold not a halfpenny a head. A miserable bargain! especially when one considers the quantity of infamy he has acquired to himself, and entailed on his family.

The English are in a fair way of gaining still more enemies: they play a desperate game. Fortune may favor them as it sometimes does a drunken dicer; but by their tyranny in the East, they have at length roused the powers there against them; and I do not know that they have in the West a single friend. If they lose their India commerce, (which is one of their present great supports,) and one battle at sea, their credit is gone, and their power follows. Thus empires by pride, folly, and extravagance, ruin themselves like individuals. M. La Mothe Piquet has snatched from between their teeth, a good deal of their West India prey, having taken twenty-two sail of their homeward-bound prizes. One of our American privateers has taken two more, and brought them into Brest, and two were burnt; there were thirty-four in company, with two men of war of the line and two frigates, who saved themselves by flight, but we do not hear of their being yet got in.

I think it was a wise measure to send colonel Laurens here, who could speak knowingly of the state of the army. It has been attended with all the success that perhaps could reasonably be expected; though not with all that was wished. He bas fully justified your character of him, and returns thoroughly possessed of my esteem; but that cannot and ought not to please him so much as a little more money would have done for his beloved army. This court continues firm and steady in its friendship, and does every thing it can for us. Can we not do a little more for ourselves? My successor (for I have desired the congress to send me one) will find it in the best disposition towards us, and I hope he will take care to cultivate that disposition. You, who know the leading people of both countries, can perhaps judge better than any member of congress of a person suitable for this station. I wish you may be in the way to give your advice, when the matter is VOIA I.

3G

« AnteriorContinuar »