sisted that the officer sent out to confer with him, should be no other than Major André, through whose hands the whole previous correspondence had passed. To this Sir Henry agreed, without any idea of danger to his gallant young friend. For he strictly enjoined him, before his departure, not to enter the American lines; not to assume any disguise of dress; and not to be the bearer of any written communications by which the nature of his business could be traced.

Major John André was, at this time, not yet thirty years of age. His parents, though residing in England, were natives of Geneva, to which town, also, they sent their son for education. Being designed for a merchant, he was next transferred to a counting-house, in London. There, after some years, becoming acquainted with a beautiful young lady, Miss Honora Sneyd, he indulged a romantic and not unrequited passion, which, however, her family successfully opposed. The young lady sighed a while; but her tuneful friend, Miss Seward, saw, as she describes it, these sighs "disperse like "April storms." She became the second wife of Mr. Edgeworth, the father, by his first wife, of Maria Edgeworth, the justly celebrated writer of so many admirable tales. André, on the other hand, to seek relief from his sorrows, joined the British army in Canada, with a Lieutenant's commission, at the outbreak of the war. He shared in the capitulation of St. John's to the insurgent General Montgomery, during the autumn of 1775. Soon afterwards he wrote as follows, to a friend: — "I "have been taken prisoner by the Americans, and stripped of "every thing, except the picture of Honora, which I con"cealed in my mouth. Preserving that, I yet think myself "fortunate." The miniature which he mentions, had been painted by himself. His person was handsome, his manners were engaging; and with his skill as a draughtsman, which was considerable, he combined a taste for poetry, and a knowledge of several branches of literature. Nor had he neglected the studies of his own profession; on the contrary, he gave promise in it of considerable future eminence. Being exchanged with other prisoners, after some months' captivity,

1780.

MAJOR ANDRÉ ARRESTED.

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he was selected, without any other recommendation than his merit, as Aide-de-Camp, first by General Grey, and next by Sir Henry Clinton. So high was the esteem entertained for his abilities, that in the winter of 1779, Sir Henry used most strenuous and, at last, successful exertions, to obtain for him, from the Ministry in England, the rank of Major together with the post of Adjutant-General.

This accomplished young officer, so well worthy a happier fate, was on board the Vulture sloop of war, which Sir Henry had sent up the Hudson; and went on shore by night in a boat despatched for him by Arnold. He met the American General on the western bank, and on neutral ground; but their conference not being entirely concluded as the dawn was approaching, André was prevailed upon to accompany Arnold to a house within the enemy's lines. There they agreed on the precise means by which the works at West Point were to be made over to an English expedition ascending the Hudson for that purpose. Having terminated this arrangement, the next great object for André was to return on board the Vulture sloop. But the boatmen demurred, and refused to convey him, so that it became necessary to adopt some other plan. He was prevailed upon to lay aside his uniform; to accept a pass from Arnold, under the name of John Anderson; and first crossing the river at the King's Ferry, thence to make his way on horseback, with a guide. He was also induced to take charge of divers papers in the handwriting, though without the signature, of Arnold, explaining the state of the works at West Point, and indicating the scheme for its surrender; an imprudence the more signal since, as Sir Henry Clinton declares in his Memoirs, Arnold and André must have known that these papers were not wanted for his information.

both

Without any mischance, André succeeded in passing the American lines, and was again on neutral ground, when on approaching the village of Tarrytown, three Militiamen, who were playing at cards near the road side, sprung upon and seized his horse. In the first moments of surprise, André

avowed himself to be a British officer; upon which, disregarding his pass, and proceeding to search his person, they found the secret papers concealed within his boots. They rejected the offer of his watch and money, and of a larger present from New York if they would let him go, and they took him with his papers before Lieutenant-Colonel Jameson, who commanded their nearest military post. The Colonel, as Washington said afterwards, appears to have shown "egregious folly."* He formed no suspicion of Arnold, although he read the papers, and although, as is alleged, he knew the handwriting. He decided upon detaining André as a prisoner, and forwarding the papers to Washington; but at the same time wrote to Arnold a full account of the whole transaction. Thus Arnold would become apprised that his treachery was on the eve of detection; since the papers were on their way to Washington, and since Washington, at all events, was well acquainted with the hand.

The house in which General Arnold had fixed his residence, Robinson's House by name, was not within the lines of West Point, but on the opposite or eastern bank of the Hudson, and two or three miles lower down the stream. There, on the morning of the 25th, Arnold was expecting a visit from the Commander-in-Chief on his return from Hartford. Washington was delayed by the examination of some redoubts; but he sent forward his two Aides-de-camp, with whom, and with his own Staff, Arnold sat down to breakfast. They were still at table when an express arrived bringing the letter from Jameson to Arnold. It was opened and read by Arnold in presence of his guests; and so great was his self-command, that he was enabled to conceal from them the vehement emotions which it caused. He requested the Aides-de-camp to inform General Washington, whenever he came, that he had been unexpectedly called over the river by some sudden business at West Point. He ordered a horse to be got ready; and then leaving the table hastily, went up to his wife's chamber. With the brevity required of one

* Writings, vol. vii. p. 256.

1780.

WASHINGTON ARRIVES AT WEST POINT.

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whose very minutes might be numbered, he told her that they must instantly part, perhaps to meet no more, and that his life depended on his reaching the British ranks without detection. Struck with horror, the unhappy lady swooned away. In that state he left her, as indeed he had no other choice; hurried down stairs; sprung upon the horse, which he found saddled at the door; and rode full speed to the river's bank. There he entered a boat, and bid the oarsmen push out to the middle of the stream. Next displaying a white handkerchief, he told them that he was going on board the Vulture with a flag of truce. To the Vulture they rowed accordingly; unmolested, since the white emblem was discerned, by any fire from the American lines. When they reached the English ship, Arnold made himself known to the Captain, and was conveyed by him in perfect safety to New York. Notwithstanding the utter disappointment of all the hopes which he had raised, he was appointed a Colonel in the British service with the local rank of Major General. He also received a payment of upwards of £6,000, in compensation for the losses which he alleged himself to have sustained. Shortly after his arrival, he published an Address to the Inhabitants of America, and next a Proclamation to the Continental troops, alleging public grounds for his desertion, and exhorting them to follow his example.*

Very shortly after the headlong flight of Arnold, General Washington arrived at his house. He had not yet received the papers, nor formed the slightest suspicion of the plot. On being told that Arnold had been called over to West Point, he decided not to wait, but to follow. He embarked accordingly, attended by all his officers, except Colonel Hamilton, who remained within doors. As the whole party

The details of André's capture, and of Arnold's escape (as also many of the following), are derived from Mr. Sparks's careful and judicious Life of Arnold (pp. 192-242). He had the advantage of perusing, while in England, Sir Henry Clinton's detailed despatches on the subject, at the State Paper Office. Another narrative by Sir Henry, extracted from his MS. Memoirs, will be found in my Appendix.

Mahon, History. VII.

5

were seated in the barge, moving smoothly, with the majestic scenery of the Highlands round them, Washington said, "Well, Gentlemen, I am glad, on the whole, that General "Arnold has gone before us; for we shall now have a salute, "and the roaring of the cannon will have a fine effect among "the mountains." Yet, as they drew nearer and nearer to the beach, they heard no sound, they saw no sign, of welcome. "What!" said Washington, "do they not intend to "salute us?" Just then an officer was observed wending his way down among the rocks. He met the barge as it touched the shore; and on perceiving the Commander-in-Chief, asked pardon for his seeming neglect, since, as he said, he was taken wholly by surprise. "How is this, Sir?" inquired Washington, no less astonished, "is not General Arnold "here?"- "No, Sir," replied the officer; "he has not been "here these two days, nor have I heard from him within that "time." "This is extraordinary," Washington rejoined. "Since, however, we are come, although unexpectedly, we "must look round a little, and see in what state things are "with you." So saying, he proceeded to examine the works.

During the absence of Washington at West Point, there arrived for him, at Arnold's house, the despatch of Colonel Jameson; it was opened by Colonel Hamilton. No sooner, then, did Washington, when his inspection was concluded, return across the river, than he was eagerly drawn aside by Hamilton, and the evidence of Arnold's plot laid before him. The calmness and equanimity of Washington were now, as usual with him in all emergencies, displayed. To no one in his train, except to La Fayette and Knox, did he that day impart the painful news. His only remark was to La Fayette: "Whom can we trust now?" And when dinner was shortly afterwards announced, he said to the other officers, without the smallest change in his demeanour, "Come, Gentlemen, "since Mrs. Arnold is unwell and the General is absent, let 'us sit down without ceremony."

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Arnold, when on board the Vulture, had sent back a flag