The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-12-03

/. ming on shore The few shattered vessels which
were Jeff aud setting them on FIRE, Arnold it
was observed did not abandoo his deck until
y, was literally driven from 1t by the flames,
after which he drew op on the shore the few
survivors Of those saoguinary battles and de-
Tended his pendant which was still scen wav-
ing on the wreck until his li.tis navy entirely
disappeared. -.
In the csmpaiA which resoI,ed in the
eaptsre of the nothern British army under
BurgoyDe, he was again distinguished. Here
had ne paused in his career, or had he en-
tinued frm TO the principles which no bad
hhheste so honorably supported, he might
have laid the fsirest claims 10 q Iasiing lame.
Indeed, the motives which could inducs him
TO betrsy cause which he had SO early drawn
his sword TO defend, and desert the soldiers
who would neyef have deserted him, arc not
easily discovered. Ambition appeared to be
his ruling passion. Born for the tumult Of.
revolution, he delighted in the storm Of war,
btV had no taste for the charms Of domestic
life placed on the mouDtain-top he could
survey the cioads gathering beneath, or the
thunder bursiing above, but disdaincd the
tranquility of The valley. His mind like the
wilderness which he traverscd was capa cions,
but unimproyed exhibited the more striking
featUscs Of nature in The boidncss of her o.
riginai form, but none Of the finer usits and
softer scenes which are tho decorations ol
art. HIS conspicuous eievarion was probably
too sudden. He could clint tho rugged
steep of.cclebrity with step remarkably
steady and persevcring, but could moi sit With
composure on its giddy cmincnce. II seems
10 be fixed principle, thai tse mind Cannot
endure sudden elevations, Quem Dues vues
,irius df.a<ufak."
Ar6old's success had added 70 the natural
Of his temp t,;sod rendered him
deaf 10 consequences --His poyotiy which by
no means suited wilh Zoe rnagn,6cepce be
wished to display, and his desire of revenge
for the reptimand he hsdreo cived, uodoutted.
ly had each ;heir influence on his mnd.
But his resolution TO betrsy seems TO have
been formed 10 the moment Of irritation
which has Ptide would .oot allow him sfter.
wards to change Though il mas been re.
thst when WsshiDg,on offered him
the command Of The left wing Of his army,
ho hesitued for an aoswer: AID cer,sioly, il
canDot be matter OF surprise, that man
possessing human passion, should psose at
Fenst once, ppon so dangerous a precipice.
II the returning feelings of nature could have
no influence on his conscience. the p oud dis
hnc,ioD OF SO honorable command IN the
Republican army, could not have passed On.
nouced by his ambition. The outlines OF his
character, and many Of the incidents Of his
life, bear a strong resemblance 70 those OF
Anthony. He was not as old Geperal---
he could not number as many battles, or
count as many scars az Anthony. He prob
ably was not sieepcd IN as many crimes, but
his career, Tor it's dur :tion, would not suffer
in the comparison. His march over the
mountains of MIoioe, did not exhibi, less per.
severance than Aothony's retreat over the
Alps, aod his final treason against his com.
pan,ons, disclosed design which In the e.
vent would have been 800 less bloody than the
pr oscription Of the Roman. trium vira,e. fn
many respects howeveg, be was inferior.
tAoug> like Arnold, was formed
for tumult and corfmotiop, had still, borrow.
ed from the cities of Greece and the smilder
regions Of tho east which he had visited,
some taste for science and the fne sr,s, which
in the intervals Of war he did no, thsdaia 10
cultivate. But Arnold, who seems 10 have
formed his character from those western
wilds were he had acquired his glory, was a
stranger TO refinement. The talents Of ei-
Iher, tor war, wero far above mediocri,y.
Cc.ae entrusted the lef, wing Of his army
10 Anthony, and Washington offered tho same
honor to Arnold But a wanS OF moral prin-
ciples, finally ruined the fame Of both. Al
'ho6y suffered the lasfels which he had pur-
chased by. toll and danger 10 wi,her on his
brow by the influence Of his inordinate love
of pleasure; and Arnold blasted his, by the
basest crime Of which soldier can be guilty
--uont Of YIpELIrY.