Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-02


! garland the singularity of the letter itself
justified the suspicion which became general
after its seizure by the Council of Pennsylva-
nia---that its offer of service in the detail of
capwire, needles and gauze, covered mean
| ing deep and dangerous. This view was ta-
ken by many writers of the day; but, admit
ting that the letter was intented TO convey a
mysterious meaning, still it is not conclusive
evidence of Mrs. Arnold's participation in the
design or knowledge of the treason, the con-
summation of which was yet distant more
than year. The suggestion of Mr.. Reed
seems more than probable-that the guilty
correspondence between the two officers un-
der feigned names having been commenced
in March or April, the letter TO Mrs Arnold
may have been intended by Andre to inform
her husband of the name and rank of his
New York correspondent, and thus encourage
fuller measure Of confidence and regard
The judgment of Mr.. Reed, Mr.. Sparks, and
others who have closely investigated the SUBJ
| iect, is in favor of Mrs. Arnolds innocence in
the matter.
1t was after the plot was far advanced TO-
wards its denouement, and only two days
before Gen. Washington commenced his tour
to Hartford, in the course of which he made
a visit to West Point, that Mrs. Arnold came
thither with her infant TO join her husband,
travelling by short stages, in her own carriage.
She passed the last night at Smiths house,
where she was met by the General, and pro-
ceeded up the river in his barge TO head
quarters. When Washington and his officers
arrived at West Point, having sent from
Fishkill TO announce their coming, Lafayette
horse into road leading to the river that
Mis-. Arnold would be waiting breakfast to
which Washington sportively answered. .Ah
you men are all in love with Mrs. Arnold,
and wish TO get where she is as soon as pos
sible. Go, breakfast with her and do not
wait for me.'
Mrs. Arnold was at breakfast with her hus-
band and the aidsde-camp Washington
and the other officers having not yet come
when the letter arrived which bore TO the
traitor the first intelligence of Andres capture
He left the room Immediately, went TO his
wife's chamber, sent for her, and briefly in
formed her of the necessity of his instant
flight 10 the enemy, This was probably the
first intelligence she received OF what had
been going on. The news overwhelmed her,
and when Arnold quilted the apartment he
left her lying in swoon on the floor.
Her almost frantic condition-punged into
the depths of distress-is described with sym.
pathy by Col. Hamilton, in Il letter written
the next day: ''The General he says,
''went TO see her; she upbraided him with
being in plot to murder her child raved
and shed tears, and lamented the fate of the
infant. All the sweetne IS of beau
ty-all the loveliness of innocence-all the
tenderness of a wife, and all the fondness OF
of mother, showed themselves in her ap
pearance and conduct" He, to, eXpresse.
his conviction that she had no knowledge o
Arnold's plan till his announcement to he
that he must Danish himself from his countr,
forever, The opinions of other persons, quail
flied to Judge without prejudice, acquitted he
of the charge of having participated in The
treason. John Jay, writing from Madrid tC
Calharine Livingston, says, "All the work
are cursing Arnold, and plying his Wife
And Robert Morris writes-'Poor Mrs. Ar
mold was there ever such an internal vii
) lainn
} Mrs. Arnold went from West Point 10 he
fathers house but was not long permitted t'
, remain in Philadelphia. The traitors paper
having been seized by direction of the Exc
: cutive authorities, the correspondence will
5 Andre was brought TO light suspicion reste'
: on her, and by an order of the Council, datel
October eth, she was required TO leave th(
5 State, to return no more during the continu
t ance of the war. She accordingly departed
to ioin her husband III New York. The res
pect and forbearance shown towards her OF
: her journey through the country, notwi,h
I standing her banishment, testified the popu
! lar belief in her innocence. NJ. de Marboi
lates that when she stopped al village wher
: the people were about to burn Arnold in eiii
gy they put il off till the next night AM
: when she entered the carriage; on her wa
TO join her husband, all exhibition of popu
: lar indignation was suspended, as if respect
: ful pity for the grief and shame she suffered
: for the time oyercame every other feeling.
o Mrs. Arnold resided with her husband fo
Il a short time the city OF ST. John, New Brun:
e wick, and was long remembered by person
who knew her there, and who spoke muc
. of her beauty and fascination. She aiterward
lived in England. MIR. Sabine says that sh
d and Arnold were seen by an American 10y
Il alist in Westminster Abbey, standing beior
Il the ceno,aph, erected by the command OF I'll
king, in the memory of the unfortunate AndI
With what feeling the traitor viewed III
l. monument of the man his crime had sacr
l. feed is not known; but he who saw hi
J. standing there turned away with horror.
IN Mrs. Arnold survived her husband thrt