Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-09-25

nan, must AT last yiela 10 natures stern
decree.
But my fellow citizens, can We content- !.
eddy resign this ancient pa.roS anG hero
TO The toinh III silence, without tcs,ifying
GU gratitude for iayers lac cont,ib>g-
Cd SO largely 10 procure Zoe us, ;,aa de-
clarinS on opinion ct Ais worth Is u pub,
lie characters!
The Imposing occasion compeis me 10
depart from iny usual silence respecting ,
the dead, and gratitude c1nsnAins as to
ea;ogize hi:n waol esteem so much ou.,
5enciActor.
As TOMS private character, presume /
would 81 needless ior .ac 10 say uuCA be-
fore an aad,encc who were geneiai,g much
5etteracquainte dwi n l.im than m, eli; and
@ith this we hayc bnl liitle to Go. IT, from
an almost total negleat OF educatioa In his
,yco;h, and MS Being in that critical sea-
son IN iiic exposed 10 much loose compa-
NY, he had contracted some HABITS aud
wees which we're net 20 be overcome bu,
with great difficulty, these should be touch
ed but lightly, especially us we hope he
was in his last days broughtto see The ina
! Propriety and folly OF these things, and
sincerely repent of the same. hotwith-
( Standing, 1t is but Justice TO declare, that
I nc was the ahe6tionatc husband, the ten
der and indulgent parent, the humane
master, the steady friend, and on.: whose
heart, could not withstand the face dis
tress or the tale OF woe, but constrained
him to grant assistance when needed.
Bat that for which nature chiSly form
ed him was the PATafoT and the SoLDfER.
! When we consider the o5scurity from
which he arose /; the honor and the pow
er to wh:ch re assembled the greH5 SER
wees which he has rendered his country we
may say he has few, pery feyo equals.
J The predof INFANT passion of his heart
! appears to have been me inc }his country.
/ ms, together with the yIFYDUs rTPEqUs
Of his nature, caused him soon to hy to
! the standard OF his country and how well
ne acquitted himself there let history say.
In the most dark and gloomy stages OF
our contest with Great-Brtain, his attach
[ ment was mistaken. Admitting that he
was not insensible TO the advantage OF
riches and atiuence, this viii serve only
to shew more cOnspicuousIy his attach
ment to the public good. Il is well known
! that he began low in the world, and in
this state, he was still, IN some measure,
| when taken prisoner at Quebec. At that
| time the American cause was at low ebb,
and but q gloomy prospect presented it.
self to us. 1t was in such state, while
in close confinement, he spurned with IN
/ diSnatlon the rank and emolu.ncnto Of CO.
loneHs commission fer life in the British
army, though he was then bus al Ameri-
can captain. You may see his unusual
iirmness and attachment 20 his country
highly commended by General Washing
ton in his letters to congress, after his ex-
change, and urged as motive why he
should be promoted 10 q coloneIs com
mission in the American army.
The brave and intripid, and am sor-
ny to add, Infamous Arnold, was not as
inaccessible when placed in circumstances
Infinitely more eligible than the prison of
Quebec. Whenever his country called,
our deceased friend was at hand against
her interest no Office Of honor or emola-
ment had charms; when she was threat
ened; no dangers could intinidate and e.
ven while he retained apy rccolIc3tion,
the welfare OF his country wa, his topic,
and appeared to absorb his whole soul
But as soldier he has rendered his
country the most essential services. To
retrace his different adventures, escapes
and achievements, would be to recount
almost all the memorable transactions
that took place from Quebec? After the
unfortunate Arnold had fallen, although
there were other officers superior in rank
to BIN, they all shrunk back, and constrai-
ned him 70 conduct the enterprise. BY
performing prodigies of valor, and feats
OF heroism, he forced his way into the
heart OF the town, where he expected TO
meet the brave Montgomery : but fortune
declared against che arduous attempt, and
he, With hts brave comrades, we're in turn,
made prisoners, after defending them
selves to the last extremity.
At Saratoga he acquired laurels for his
commando in chief fIe was the acting
officer in the first days action and in the
second, be acted as FIRST in concert with
Arnold; but when he again fell, the COM
mand dcvolved upon Colonel Morgan. It
is a little mysterious that there IL no cre-
die given him for these exploits in the A.
neiican history of the revolution, while,
iu some of the British accounts, his name
is mentioned with great honor and APP
pause. ] am still in hopes that this bust.
aess will be incurred into Nv sofne rtfore