The Southern journal., 1846-03-28
BENEDICT ARNOLD.
A Scene from the Lecture Of George LippHd, ESQ, on tht

Scene from the Lecture Of George LiPPppHI, Esq.,. on the
Life, Treason and Death, Of Benedict Arnold.
There was night, when an awful
agony was passing in the breast of Ars
mold; the struggle between Arnold's
revenge and Arnold's pride.
You have all seen that old house,
in Second, near Wall street, which
was once the home Of William Penn,
once the palace Of Benedict Arnold,
and is now used as mandatory Of
Venus de Medicis, and sugar candies.
That old house, picturesque in ruins,
with battlemented walls and deep ga.
bled roofs.
One night gorgeously furnished
chamber, in that house was lllumina.
ted by the glare ola bright woodaire,
and there, with his back to this fire
there, looking out upon the western
sky cleaning in deep starlight, stood
Benedict Arnold. One hand was
laid upon his breast, which throbbed
in long deep gasps; the other held
two letters.
Read the superscriptlon Of those
letters, by the light of the stars; one
is directed 10 Gen. Washington, the
other to Sir Henry Clinton. One an
nonnces his acceptance of the com.
mand of West Point, the other offers
10 sell West Point to the British.
And now look at that massive face,
quivering with revenge, pride and
patriotism; look at that dark eye,
cleaning with the horror ola lost
soul; look at that barred throat, with
with the veins swelling like cords.
That is the struggle between Ar
mold the Patriot and Arnold the Trai.
tor.
And there far back in the room,
half hidden as among silken curtains,
silent and thoughtful, sits "A lovely
woman, her hands clasped her un-
bound hair showering down over her
shoulders; her large blue eyes glar.
ing wildly upon the fire! Well may
that bosom heave, that eye glare! for
now the wife Of Arnold is waiting for
the determination of her husbands
fate-now the darkest shadow is pas
sing over the Dialplate of his destiny.
While Arnold stands brooding there
while his wife sits trembling by the
fire-without, in the ante.chamber,
three persons wait !or him.
One is base browed man, clad in
the blue uniform of the Continentals.
Turn that uniform. and it is scar"
let. That is British Spy. He is
waiting to bear the letter to Sir Hen.
ry Clinton.
The handsome cavalier, dressed in
the extreme of fashion, with embroid"
cred coat, red heeled shoes anc pow
dered hair, is a nobleman Of France,
the Ambassador of the French King,
the Chevalier de I.uzerne. He has
come here. to listen 10 the offer Of Ar
mold, who wishes to enter the service
Of the French King.
The third--look! A silent and
moody red man of the forest; an In-
dian chief; wrapped in his blanket,
standing there proud as a king on his
throne. n ab "
He has come from the wilds ofthe
forest in the far northwest. to hear
ken to the answer of Arnold (the
Death Eagle, as the Indians called
him. to their proposition, by which
they agree to make him chief Of their
tribes.
Now look: the door opens; the three
enter; Arnold turns and beholds them.
Then occurs hurried and terrible
scene.
While the wife of Arnold sits trem-
bling there by the fire, he advances,
and greets the Chevalier de Luzerne.
Lookye,' he mutters in quick tones,
'ysur King can have my sword; but
mark! l am IN debt, the mob boots me