Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-22
nIuU1gk . ExOoD0u.
AS NARRATED BY GENERAL WASHINGTON.

We copy the following interesting account
of Arnold's treason, from small work enti-
tied Washington in Domestic Llfe,' prepar-
ed by the Hon. Richard Rush. and just pub
Ished by Messrs. Lippincott & Co. The
narrative was originally given by General
Washington on the occasion of dinner party
given at his ow mansion, at Mount Vernon,
and afterwards written down by Col. Lear,
his Private Secretary while President, and
afterwards his confidential friend.
We print the paper with the PREDATORY re-
marks by Mr. Rush.
Since the foregoing letters were received
from Mrs. Lear, she has favored me with the
perusal of other manuscripts introducing us
to the domestic hours of General Washing
ton. Among them is a diary kept by Mr..
Lear, at Mount Vernon, in 1856, anterior,
therefore, to the time when Washington be-
came President. From this document I am
permitted to copy a passage entire. 1t is
dated the 23d of October '86 Mr.. Drayton
and Mr.. lizard, gentlemen of South Carolina
had been spending the day at Mount Vernon.
After dinner, the company still round the
table, Washington was led to speck of Ar
nold's treason, and Mr.. Lear wrote down his
account of it in his diary of that day. AL
though history has made US familiar with that
whole transaction in its essential facts, to
hear it under such circumstances from the
lips of Washington, seems to impart to it
new interest. We listen with revived curl
osity and attention when such a narrator
speaks. The copy from Mr.. Lear's Diary,
in which is recorded this interesting dinner
table narrative, is in the words following:
MOUNT VERNON
Monday, October 23d, 1886.
Mrs. Washington went to Arlington with
the two children. Sent letter directed tc
Mr. Samuel Storer, to the post Office BY
Charles, who went up town alexandria
with Master Thompson and Lawrence Wash
ington, who had spent their vacation here
Mr.. Drayton and Mr.. lizard here all day
After dinner General Washington was, il
the course of conversation, led to speak O
Arnold's treachery, when he gave the fol
lowing account of it, which / shall put il
his own words, thus: i confess had a gooC
opinion of Arnold before his treachery wa
brought to light had that not then been tn
case, / should have had reason to suspec
him sooner, for when he commanded in Phil
adelphia, the Marquis la Fayette brough
accounts from France of the armament Whicl
was to be sent to cooperate with US in tn
ensuing campaign. Soon after that wa
known Arnold pretended to have some pr
vate business to transact in Connecticut, an
on his way there he called at my quarters
and in the course of conversation expresse
desire of quitting Philadelphia and joinin
the army the ensuing campaign. I told hiI
that it was probable we should have a yer
active one, and that if his wound and stat
| of health would permit, should be extrem
ly glad of his services with the army. q
replied that he did not think his wound woul
permit him to take very active part b1
still he persisted in his desire of being wit
i the army. He went on to Connecticut, an
on his return called again upon me. He +
newed his request of being with me ne
campaign, and made him the same answ
had done before. He again repeated th
he did not think his wound would perm
him to do active duty, and intimated desi
to have the command at West Point. I to
! him | did not think that would suit him.
! l should leave none in the garrison but
valids, because it would be entirely cover
al by the main army.
: The subject was dropped at that time a
he returned to Philadelphia. 1t then :
q peared rather strange to me that man
!. Arnold's known activity and enterprise shol
~ be desirous of taking so inactive a part.
i however, thought no more of the matter
20 When the French troops arrived at Rh,