The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-10-17 00:00:00, page 1

#m@ ^w^^rtZ~"iWO^W^W
OR THE
G E N E R A L ^t^ ADVERTISER.
Conclusion of the Letter from a
Gentleman at Camp.
(Begun in our last.)
A MOMENT before his setting out he went info
f Mrs. Arnold's apartment, and informed her, that
Certain tranfadions had just come to light, which mufc
for ever banish him from his country. She fell into a
Swoon at this declaration, and he left her in it to con
sult his own fafety, till the servants, alarmed by her
Cries, came to herirelief She remained frantic allday,
accull g every one who approached her, with an in
tention of murdering her child (an infant in her arms)
and exhibiting every other mark of the most genuine
and agonifing affliction. Exhaufied by the fatigue and
tumult of tier spirits, her frenzy subsided towards
evening, and She funk into all the sadness of distress.
It was impo&ble not to have been touched with her Si
tuation ; every thii g affecting in female tears, or in
the misfortunes of beauty, every thing pathetic in the
wounded ten-ernefs of a wife, or in the apprehensive
fondnefs of a mother; and every appearance of fuf
ferihg innocence, conspired to make her an object of
sympathy to all who were present. She experienced
the most delicate attentions, and every friendly office,
till her departure for Philadelphia.
Andre, without lots of time, was conduced to the
Head-quarters of the army, where he was immediate
ly brought before a board of General officers, to pre
vent all possibility of misrepresentation cr cavil on the
part of the enemy. The Board reported, that he
ought to be considered as a spy, and, according to the
laws and usages of nations, to fuffer death ; which was
executed two days after.
Never, perhaps, did a man buffer death with more
juflice, or deserve it less. The firft flep he took after
his capture, was to write a letter to General Washing
ton, conceived in terms of dignity without insolence,
and apology without meanness. The scope of it was
to vindicate himfelf from the imputation of having af
firmed a mean character for treacherous or interefled
purposes ; averting that he had been involuntarily an
tepoftor : that, contrary to his intention, which was
to meet a person, for intelligence, on neutral ground,
be had been betrayed within cur posts, and forced into
the vile condition of an enemy in disguise; (eliciting
only, that to whatever rigor policy might devote him,
a decency of treatment might be observed, due to a
person, who, though unfortunate, had been guilty of
nothing dishonourable. His request was granted in its
full extent ; for, in the whole progress of the affair, he
was treated with the most scrupulous delicacy. When
brought before the Board of officers, he met with every
mark of indulgence, and was required to answer no
interrogatory which could even embarrass his feelings.
On his part, while he carefully concealed every thing
that might involve others, he frankly confeffed all the
fafts relating to himfelf: and upon his confeffion,
without the trouble of examining a witness, the Board
made their report. The members of it were not more
impressed with the candor and modefl firmnefs, mixed
with a becoming sensibility which he displayed, than
he was penetrated with their liberality and politeness.
He acknowledged the generosity of the behaviour to
wards him in every refpeH, but particularly in this,
in the strongest terms of manly gratitude. In a con
versation with a gentleman, who visited him after his
trial, he faid,-—he flattered himfelf he had never been
illiberal, but if there were any remains of prejudice in
lift mind, his prefentexperience muff obliterate them.
In one of the vjfits I made to him, (and I saw him
several times during his confinement) he begged me to
be the bearer of a request to the General, for permiffioii
to fend an open letter to Sir Henry Ciinton. “ I fore
" fee my fate (said he) and though I pretend not to
'' play the hero, or to be indifferent about life ; yet I
" I am reconciled to whatever may happen, confeious
" that misfortune, not guilt, will have brought it up
" on me. There is only one thing that disturbs my
“ tranquility. Sir Henry Clinton has been too good
" to me; he has been lavish of his kindness. I am
" bound to him by too many obligations, and love
" him too well, to bear the thought that he should re
" proach himfelf, or that others fliould reproach him,
“ on a supposition that I had conceived myfelfobliged
" by his inftruHi^ns to run the rifle I did, I would not
" for the world leave a sting in ids mind that Should
" embitter his future d ys." He could Scarce finish
the (entente, burning into tears in spite of his efforts
to (upprefs them, and with difficulty collected himfelf
enough afterwards to add, " I wjfh to be permitted to
“ assure him I did not a& under this irnpredion, but
" submitted to a nicer iy imposed upon me, as <on
“ trary to my own inclination as to bis orders." His
request was readily complied with, and he wrote the
letter annexed, with which, I dare fay, you will be
as much pleaded as I am, both for the diHion and'fen=
tintent.
TUESDAY,
I Published every Tuesday and Saturday.]
When his sentence was announced to him, he re
marked, that since it was his lot to die, as there was a
choice in the mode, which,would make a material diffe
rence to his feelings, he would be happy, if it were
possible, to be indulged with a pro'efEonal death. He
made a second application by letter, in concise but
persuasive terms. It was thought this indulgence, be
ing incompatible with the custom of war, could not be
granted; and it was therefore determined in both cases
to evade an answer, to (pare him the sensations which
a certain knowledge of the intended mode would inflift
When he was lead out to the place of execution, as
he went along he bowed familiarly to ail these with
whom he had been acquainted in his confinement. A
fmilf of complacency eXpreffed the serene fortitude of
his mind. Arrived at the fatal spot, he asked, with
feme emotion, ''Muft I then die in this manner. ?" He
was told it had been unavoidable. " lam reconciled
" to my fate (said he) but not to the mode." Soon,
however, recollecting himfelf, be added " It will be
but a momentary pang ; " and springing upon the cart
performed the last offices to himfelf, with a composure
that excited the admiration, and melted the hearts of
the beholders. Upon being told the final moment was
at hand, and asked if he had any thing to fay, he an
swered, " Nothing but to request you will witness to
" world that I die like a brave man." Among the
extraordinary circumstances that attended him, in the
mids tof his enemies, he died unizerfaHy esteemed and
universally regretted.
There was something Angularly interesting in the
character and fortunes of Andre. Toan excellent un
deeftahding, well improved by education and 'ravel, he
united a peculiar elegance of mind and manners, and
the advantage of a pleasing person. 'Tis said he pos
sessed a pretty taste for the fine arts, and had himfelf
attained some proficiency in poetry, mafic and paint
ing. His knowledge appeared without orientation, and
embellished by a diffidence that rarely accompanies so
many talents and accomplishments, which leit you to
suppose more than appeared. His sentiments were ele
vated and inspired efieem ; they had a foftnefs that con
ciliated afFeßion- His elocution was handsome, his
address easy, polite and insinuating. By his merit he
had acquired the unlimited confidence of his General,
and was making a rapid progress in military rank and
reputation. But in thh height of his career, slushed
with new hopes from the execution of a project the
most beneficial to his party that could be devised, he
is at once precipitated from the summit of prosperity ;
fees all the expectations of his ambition blasted, and
himfelf -uined.
The character I have given of him is drawn partly
from what I saw of him myfelf and partly from infor
mation. lam aware that a man of real merit is never
seen in so favourable a light, as through the medium
of adversity- The clouds that surround him are so
many (hades that set off his good qualities. Olisfor
tune cuts down little vanities that, in prosperous times,
serve as so many spots in his virtues, and gives a tone
of humility that makes his worth more amiable. His
fpeftators, who enjoy a happier lot, are less prone ter
detract from it through envy ; and are more disposed
by companion, to give him the credit he deserves, and
and perhaps even to magnify it.
I (peak not of Andre's conduct in this affair as a
philosopher, but as a man of the world. The autho
rifed maxims and pra&fces of war are the satire of hu
man nature. They countenance almost every species
of feduflion as well as violence ; and the General that
can make most traitors in the army cf his adversary, is
frequently most applauded. On this scale we acquit
Andre; while we could not but condemn hi^n if we
were to examine his conduct by the sober rules of phi
losophy and moral rectitude. It is however a blemith
in his fame, that he once intended to profiitute a flag;
about this a man of nice honour ought to have had a
scruple ; but the temptation was great: let his misfor
tunes cast a veil over his error.
Several letters from Sir Henry Clinton and others
were received, feebly attempting to prove, that Andre
came out under the protection of a flag, with a passport
from a general officer in actual service, and consequent
ly could not be justly detained. Clinton sent a'depu
tation composed of lieutenant general Robinson, Mr.
Elliot, and Mr. William Smith, to repr sent, as he said,
the true date of major Andre's case. General Greene
met Robinson, and had a conversation with him, in
which he reiterated the pretence of a flag, urged An
dre's release as a personal favour to Sir Henry Clinton,
and offered any friend of ours in their power in ex
change. Nothing could have been more frivolous than
the plea, which was used. The fa& was, That, besides
the time, manner and object of the interview, change
of dress, and other circumflances, there was not a An
gle formally customary with flags; and the passport
was not to major Andre, but to Mr. Anderson. But
had there, on the contrary, been all the formalities,
it would be an abuse of language to fay, the fariHion
of a flag for corrupting an officer to betray his trust
THE
ought to be obligatory. So unjuflifiable a purpofs
would not only dellroy its validity but make it an ag
gravation.
Andre himfelf has answered the argument, by ridi
culing and exploding the idea in his examination before
the board of officers. It was a weakness to urge it.
There was in truth, no way of saving him: Arnold
or he must have been the victim, the former was out:
of our power.
It was by some fufpefled, Arnold had taken his mea
sures in such a manner, that, if the interview had been
d'feovered, in the aft, it might have been in his power to
facrifice Andre to his own security. This surmise of dou
ble treachery made them imagine Clinton might be in
duced to give up Arnold for Andre, and a gentleman
took decafion to suggest this expedient to the latter, as
a thing that might be proposed by him. He declined it:
the moment he had been capable of so much frailty, 1
should have ceased to efieem him.
The infamy of Arnold's conduct, previous to his de
feriion, is only equalled by his meanness since. Be
sides the folly of writing to S.r Henry Clinton, assur
ing him that Andre had afled under a passport froth
him, and according to his directions, while command
ing-officer at a post, and that, therefore, he did not
doubt, he would be immediately sent in ; he had the
effrontery to write to general Washington to the fame
purpose, with the addition of a menace of retaliation,
if tee sentence Should be carried into execution. He
has Since acted the farce of fending in his resignation.
This man is in every sense difpicaole. Added to the
feene of knavery and prostitution, during his comp aid
in Philadelphia, which the late seizure of his p fees
has unfolded; the hiftofy of his command at Well
Point is a history of little as well as great villainies.
He practiced every dirty art of peculation, and even
Pooped to connections with the futtlers of the garrison
to defraud the public.
To his c&nduft, that of the capforSof Andre forms a
Striking contrail: He tempted their integrity with the
offer of his watch, his horse, and any sum of money
they Should name. They rejected his offers with in
dignation ; and the gold that could (educe a man higli
in the esteem and confidence of his country, who had
the remembrance of past exploits, the motives of pre
sent reputation and future glory to prop his integrity,
had no charms for three fimpte peasants, leaning only
on their virtue and a sense of duty. While Arnold is
handed down with execration to future times, poftefity
will repeat with reverence the names of
Vanwert, Pualding & Williams.
(^^^9&^(^&^-&is&j®&^
On WEDNESDAY the Eighteenth October, inflant,
at Twelve o'clock, at the Ceffee house, Will be Sold,
BY PUBLIC AUCTION,
The Prize Ship Albion,
Now lying at Mr. Meredith's wharf. With all her
guns, Korts, rigging, tackle, apparel and furniture,
agreeable to an inventory to be seen at the place of
Sale. By order of the Court of Admiralty,
MATTHEW CLARKSON, Maithah
Wilmington, October 10th, £7BO.
TO BE SO L D,
On Wednesday the 18th inflant, at Public tale,
THE SCHOONER St. PATRICK, as She came
=from Sea, now lying at my wharf, (ahere She may
be seen at any time between this and the day of Sale)
with her masts, yards, sales, ftaAdingand tunning rig
ing, anchors, cables, and appurtenances, agreeable to
inventory cn the day of file. She is a strong well built
eastern vtffcl, burthen about Seventy five tons, re
markanir good lea-boat, five years eld, and fails much
tatter than the generality cf vessels built on her ron
ftru&aon , and with a very little expence may be fit
ted tor any voyage the purchas'd may chute to tend
her. The Ole to begin at 11 o'clock, on the wharf
where the v ffil now lies, when the terms of Sale will
be made know, by
JONATHAN RUMFORD, and Co.
Six Hundred Dollars Reward.
D A N-A WAY from the fubCriber, a NEGROE
MAN, named KITT, about so years of age, a^ouc
5 feet 5 inches high, well tetr, a little pock marled ;
had on a grey coloured cloth jacket arid trow lets, took
fun try other rlo#ti s with him, has endeavoured to pais
'or a fee mm and Signed the articles of the Ship Can
fyb racy. Whoever takes up said Ne^roe, and delivers
him up to the fiiblcnber, cr secures him in any-gaol id
the Unhid States, Shall have the above reward and .ea
f;nv)l, charges uai'd, by DARREL LIVINGSTON.
N B. All rafters of vcflfels and others are forbid to
harbour or carry him off at their peril.
OCTOBER 17th, 178 c.