The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1780-11-07 00:00:00, page 2

derfon's capture,) to get tc ?ii;n in hear before g^
neral Washington arrived at hit quarter ; time
enough to elude the file that aweied h % m. He
went down & river in hit barge to the Vulture,
with fach precipitate confuden, that he did not take
With him a Angle paper ufeful to the enemy. On
the firm notice of the affairs he war parfued, but
much to late to overtake Kira.
A moment before his fating out he went into Mm
Arnold's apartment; and informed her, that certain
tranfaftioni had jud come to light, which must for
ever banish him from his country. She fell into a
Swoon at thia declaration, and he left her in it to
consult hfi oWn fafety, till the ferfanW, alarmed by
her cries, came to her relief. She remained frantic
ill day, accusing every oni who approached her,
With an Intention of murdering her child fan# infant
in her arms) and exhibiting every other mark of the
zroft genuine and agonifing affliaion. Bxhufted
by the fatigue and tumult of her Spirits; her frenzy
subsided towards evening, end ih^ funk into all the
fadnef# of diArefa. It was imp?ffible not to have
been touched with her fixation ; every thing affeA
ing in female tears, or in the nasfortnee# of beauty,
every thing pathetic in the wounded tenderness of a
wife, or in the a,preventive fondnefs of a mother :
and every appearance of Suffering innocence, con
spired to make her an obj'A of Sympathy to all who
were present. She experienced the mefl delicate at
tentions and every friendly office, till her depasture
for Philadelphia.
Andre, without left of time, was cond^Aed to the
Head quarter# of the army, where he wks immedi
ately brought before a board of General Cffiteri,to
prevent all peffibility of misrepresentation or cavil
On the part of the enemy. The B^d reported,
that he ought to be confiderad as 2 spy, and, Record
ing to the laws and usages of nations, to faff# death ;
which was executed two days after.
Never, perhaps, did a man Suffer death with more
jdftice, or deserve it left. The firfl Cep he tock af
ter his capture, was to write a letter to General
Wethington, conceived in terms of dignity without
insolence, and apology without meanness. The
hope of it war to vindicate himfelf from the impu
tation of having affirmed a mean charaAer for trea
therous or interefled purposes ; averting that he had
been involuntarily an impofter ; that, contrary tphie
intention, which Was to meet a person, for intelli
gence on neutral ground, he had been betrayed
within our po^s, and forced into the vile condition
of an enemy in disguise ; Soliciting 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 no
thing dishonorable. His reque^i was granted in its
fall extent ; for, in the whoieprogrefs of the affair,
he was treated with the mod (crapulous 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 embarraf#
hi# feelings. Oa his part, while he carefully con
ceded eve r y thing that might involve others, he
frankly confeffed all the fids relating to himfelf':
and upon his cxifeffijn, without the trouble of exa
mining a witntfi, the Board made their report. The
members of it were not more impreffad with the can
dor and modest Ermnefs, mixed with a becoming
fenfibilby which he displayed, than he was penetrat
ed with their liberality and politeneh. Hr acknow
ledged the generosity of the behaviour towards him
in every refpeA, but particularly in this, in the
strongest terms of manly gratitude. In a convoca
tion with a gentleman, who visaed him after his
trial, he Said,—he flattered himfelf he had never
been illiberal, but if there were any remains of pre
judice in his mind, his prefect experience mull ob
literate them.
la one of the visits I made him, (and I few him
Several times during hi# confinement) he begged me
to be the bearer of a reque9 to the General, for per
mission to fend an open letter to % Henry Clinton.
4 I forfat my fate (Said he) and though I pretend got
' to play the hero, or to bafnd.fferent about life ;
• yet I am reconciled to dhawver may happen, con
• felons that misfortune, not guilt will have brought
* it upon me. There is oniy one thing that d ibiibs
* ray tranquility. Sir Henry Clinton has been too
• good to me ; be has beci lavish of his kinda^fe.
* I am bound to him by too many obligations, and.
• love him too well, to bear the thought that he
6 Should reproach himfelf, or that others fhonld re
• preach him, on a (uppofition that I had conceived
' myfelf obliged by hi# inArußions to run the rifle
6 I did. I would not for the world leave a ^ng in
• hi# mind that, Should embitter hit future days."
He could Scarce finish the Sentence, barfling into
tears in Spite of his efforts to Suppress them, and with
difficulty colbaed himfelf enough aiternard# to
add, "1 wish to be permitted to assure him I d-d
' not ,a under this impraffion, but Submitted to a
•ncceflity imposed upon me, as contrary to my
' own inclinations as to hi# orders." Hi requett
was readily complied with, and he wioia the letter
annexed, with which, I d&e fay, you will be as
much plealfed as I am, both for the diAion and Sen
timent.
When his Sentence was announced to him. he re
marked, that fierce it was his lot to die; arthere was
a choice in the mode, which would make a material
difference to his feelings, he would be happy if it
were pcffible, to be indulged with a profeffional
death. He made a Second application by letter, in
concise but petluafve terms. I was thought this
irdu^ence, being incompatible with the cufiem cf
war, co aid not be granted, and it was therefore de
term ned in both cases tb evade an answer, to Spare
him the fenfatiom which a certain kn wled^e of
the intended mode would infl ft.
When he was kd out to the place of execution,
" he Went along he bowed himfelf fam.Harty to ail
thole with whom he had beta #cq,atn ted'in his
confinement. A smile cf complace ty expiHT&J
the firene fortitude cf hii mind. Arrived at the
fatal Spot, he asked, with feme emotion, " Muff I
• die in this mincer ?" He wai told it had been
unavoidable. " I am reconciled to my fate Said he,
' but not to the mode." Soon, however, rec'cll^
ing himfelf, he added, " It will be bat a incmen
' taT y P* n g" And Springing upon the cart per
formed the left offices to himfelf, with ac-rAp/ai^
that excited the admiration, and mailed the hearts
cf the beholders. Upon being told the final mo
merit was at hand, and aiked if he had ary thing to
fay, he answered. “ Nothing but to request yo?,
' will witness to the w>rld, that I die Ike a have
' mao." Among the ex raordinary circumAances
that attended him, io the midst of his enemies, he
del univarfally efteymed andluniversally regretted.
There was Something Angularly ingrafting in the
character and fortunes cf Aldrt. To an ex client
undemanding, well improved by education and tra
vel, he united a peculiar elegance of mind and man
ners, and the advantage cf a pleasing person. T#
Said he possessed a pretty title for the fine art, and
had himfelf attained Some proficiency in poetry, mu
sic and painting. Hi# knowledge appeared without
orientation, and ambilhfhed by a diffidence that rare
iy accompanies So many talents and accomplish ment<.
which left you to fupfofe more than appeared. His
Sentiments were elevated aid inspired eUeem; they
had a foftnefs ibat conciliated ass aion. Hi: /□
cution was handsome, lire address easy, polite and
insinuating. By his mtrit he had acquired the un
limited confidence of his General, and was making
a rapid progress in military rank and reputation.
But in the height of h s career, flaffied whh new
hopes from the execution of a prefia the most bene
ficial to his party that could be devised, he it at
once precipitated from the fammit of prosperity ;
fees all the expeditions of his ambition biased, and
himfelf ruined.
TheCharaAer Ihave fvrn of him is drawn p*ly
from whatl Saw of him myfelf and partly from iu
formatiba. lam aware that a man of real merit is
never fro in So favourable a light, as through tife
medium ofadveifiy. The clouds that Surround him
are So many Shade that set off his good qualities.
Misfortune cuts down little vanities that, in prosper
ous tlta#, feve as fa ra^ny Spots in hit virtues, and
gives a tone of humility that mikes his #orth nure
amiable. Hit fprasto s, who enj^y a happier lot.
are Isf# prone to detra& from it through envy raid
are more dtfpbfed by cornp^ffiori, to g : ve Hus the
credit he deserves, and perhaps even to magntfy it
I Speak not of Andre's conduA in this affair as a
philosopher, but as a man cf the world. The au
thorifed maxima and pr*& ces cf war ire the Satire
of human nature. They countenance a!mol every
Species of feduAion as well as violence ; and the
General that can make mol traitors in the army of
his adversary, is frequently mol applauded. On
this Scale weacq rit Andre ; while wecould not but
condemn him if we were to examine his cond^ by
the Sober rules of philosophy and mortal re& ludi
It is however a blemish in hi# fame, that he once
intended to profiitute a lag; about this a man of
nice honour ou ,ht to have had a f rapte; but the
temptation was great; let his misfortunes cada red
over his error.
Several letters from Sir Henry Clinton and othe,s
were received, feebly attempting to prove, that Au
die carat out under the preteaion of a fl^g. with a
passport frem a general officer in ^gil Service; and
consequently could not be jfilly detained. Clinton
Sent a deputation compefed of lieutenant ,ere,al
Robinson, Mr. Elliot, ar d Mr. William Smith, to
represent, ^ be Said, the true fate of Major Ants's
case. General Greene met Robjafcn, and.had a cp,:
varfaiion with hun. ra whica he reiterated the pre
tence ofa flag, urged A^drC^ rel&fe a# a perftmai fa
vour to Sir Henry Clinton, and offered any fifed
of ours in their power in exchange. Nothing could
have been mere frivolous than the plea, which was
used. The kA wai, That, befidu the time, man
ner and objea of the interview, change of dress. and
other circam^arro, there was not a liable formality
caftoma/y w.th flags; and the passport wa^ net to
Major Aud^e, but to Mr. Aadeifaa. But had there,
on the century; been ill the fnnn#hdri,_it would be
an abuse cf language to fay, the hnftion ofa flag for
cocrup ing an cfiiser to betray histauk ought to b:
oblige oty. So uoju-S&ble a purpose would not
only Qh^y its validity bit ^sit sn%gravstioj.
A^dre himfelf hasemfyerad the argument, by ridi
ceding and gplodi% the i^ inbie examination be
fo.e the board of takers. I; was a weakbefrto urge
it. Theft writ in truth, no way cf fiving Lim:
Arnold or he hiufi have been the victim, the former
Was out of cur power.
It was by feme fafptaed, Arnold had taken hie
mesSne; in Such a manner, that, if the interview had
been discovered, in the i&, it misfit have been in
his power to facr fice 'Andre to his own Security.
This surmise cf double treachery made them imai
gine Clinton mi^ht be induced to gitte up Arnold fcr
Andre, and a gentleman took oecafion to fugged
this expedient to the latter, as a thing that might be
prepared by him. He declined it: the moment he
had been capable of So much frailty, I Should have
ceased to etteem him.
tie infamy of Arnold's condole, previous to his
desertion, is only equalled by his meanness fipcej
Bafi ta the folly of writing to Sir Henry Clinton,
Dffirmg him that Andre had atlcd tinder a passport
from him, and according to his d.Aarons, while
commanding effii at a pest, and that, therefore he
did not doubt he would be immediately Sent in ;
he had theeff ontety to write to General Washing
ton to the.fame purport, with the addition cf a me
nace of retaliation, if the sentence Should be carried
into execution. He has since a&?d the farce of
fend ng in his resignation. This man is in every
sense defy cable. AJd.d to the Scene of knavery
ang profci ution, during his command in Philadel
phia, which the late S#zue cf hi# papers has un
folded ; the hidory of hi# command at WeA-Ppipt,
is a h&iy sf little as well a, great villanles. He
pradietd every dirty art of peculation, and even
hopped to coom&ioas with the futtlers of the get
r:foa to def.sad the public.
Io his conduit, that of the captors of Andre forms
a Ariking contra,: He tempted their integrity with
f.e effer of hr watch, hi# horse, and any sum of
money they Should q,me. They rejtlbd hi# effus
wi'hjndigcatioa ; and the gold that could ftdaca a
max high in the eite^m and confidence cf his qtun
try, wuq had the ^m-mbianceU part exploits, the
native of prefect tepuazou and future glory to
pre, Qis integrity, bad 30 charts fcr three funple
pe^fanis, leaning only on their virtue and a feafe of
Quty. While Arnold is handed dewa wiffi execra
tion to future time,, p faciy will septet w^h reve
rauce the na& of VAN^ERT, PAULDING
^WILLIAMS.
OST on the road beteeen Bolton Meetiag-
Hoafe and Capt. Clank's Tavern, at Lebanon-
Crank, o the evening cf the 2 9th inflan,, a brow.
Cambist CLOAK: lined with grain bxlz?.——^
Whoever ffiall find said Chat, and deliver it to the
Subscriber in Pfeftou, or lodge it wth Ca,t. Clark,
or Mr. David Bull in Hartford; fh,lf be handfomd,
rev'rded'fa their trouble.
J. HALSEY.
Oftober 30 I,^o.
WHEREAS the General Affembl, of this
State, in their fiffiod of May lafl, R^fdvj
that tie Seha-Men of the town or WeFmokhnd,
be dircaed to nuke an eflimate cf the Ibffts the in
habitant, of Said town bad StiSkined by the depre
dainns ard incurfiona of .he ebeffiy.
THESR ^ thettfere so give notice# so those
cf t^e We infabitanu who have not tettfreed to their
p ff font, That we man attend upon said bufiaefy
ar flue garrison of Wyoming, on the ff:& Tuefthy#
ilDecember, Janoar,, February. Mirth and April
next, from one to four o'clock in theaf ernebu on
rci of said dayr. No accounts will be accepted
'DE%fT property atieft^d, and the articles named;
JOHN HURLBUT. .
'NATHAN DENISONI
JOHN FRANKLIN; ,S&& Men.
JAMES NESBIT,I
JABEZ SILL, >
Hartford Gaerber 21, i,£o.