able 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 nor 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 ex

pensive manner in which he (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 courts-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 aides, 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 evident from this: that while the enemy were making preparation for executing their purpose, and giving out that their design was against Virginia, the same reports were circulated in Lord Cornwallis' 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 scheme of our enemies.

The following specimen of American poetry well describes the popular feeling on the occasion:

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.

VOL. VIII.-27.

His well-earned praises were consigned to fame;
And fate decreed him an immortal name,

But when, estrang'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 savior 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."

DCCCCLXV

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

PASSY, 14 May, 1781.

SIR: I did myself the honor of writing to your Excellency pretty fully on the 12th of March, to which I beg leave to refer. Colonel Laurens arriving soon after, we renewed the application for more money.

His indefatigable endeavors have brought the good dispositions of this court to a more speedy determination of making an addition, than could well have been expected so soon after the former grant. As he will have an opportunity of acquainting you personally with all the particulars of importance, a circumstantial account of the transaction from me is unnecessary. I would only mention that, as it is the practice here to consider early in the year the probable expenses of the campaign, and appropriate the revenues to the several necessary services, all subsequent and unexpected demands are extremely inconvenient and disagreeable, as they cannot be answered without difficulty, occasion much embarrassment, and are sometimes impracticable. If, therefore, the Congress have not on this occasion obtained all they wished, they will impute it to the right cause, and not suppose a want of good-will in our friends, who indeed are such, most firmly and sincerely.

The whole supply for the current year now amounts to twenty millions; but out of this are to be paid your usual drafts for interest money, those in favor of M. de Beaumarchais, and those heretofore drawn on Mr.

Jay and Mr. Laurens, which I have already either paid or engaged for, with the support of your several ministers, etc., etc.; which I mention, that the Congress may avoid embarrassing my successor with drafts, which perhaps he may not have the means in his hands of honoring. Besides paying the second years' salaries of Messrs. Adams and Dana, Jay and Carmichael, I have furnished Mr. Dana with fifteen hundred pounds sterling credit on St. Petersburg, for which place I suppose he is now on his way.

You will receive from Holland advices of the late declaration of that court, with regard to the English refusal of its mediation, and of the assistance requested by the States-General. I hope Mr. Dana will find it well disposed towards us.

I have received no answer yet to my letters relating to the proposed mode of lodging funds here, by supplying the French fleet and army. Having as yet heard nothing of Colonel Palfrey, and it being now more than four months since he sailed, there is great reason to fear he may be lost. If that should unhappily be the case, the Congress cannot too soon appoint another consul, such an officer being really necessary here. Your Minister Plenipotentiary has hitherto had all that sort of business upon his hands; and, as I do not now speak for myself, I may speak more freely. I think he should be freed from the burden of such affairs, from all concerns in making contracts for furnishing supplies, and from all your bill of exchange business, etc., etc., that he may be more at liberty to attend to the duties of his political function.