Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-04-20
SECRET SERVICE OF The REVOLUTION.

OF all the mysteries that occurred in
the American Revolution, the employ !
ment of Rivington. editor Of the Royal
Gazette, in the secret service of the
American commander, is the most aston
ishing.
Rivinston proved faithful to his bar
gain, and often would intelligence of
great importance, CLEANED in convivial
moments at Sir Williams or Sir
Henry's table, be in the American camp
before the convivialists had slept Of the
effects of their wine.
The business of secret service was so
well managed, that even suspicion
never arose as to the medium through |
which intelligence of vast Importance was
continually being received in the Ameri- |
can camp from the very head quarters of
the British army, and if suspicion arose,
the kings printer would probably have
been the last man suspected, for during
the whole of his connection with the
secret service his Royal Gazette literally
piled abuse of every sort upon the
American general and the cause Of
/ America.
In 1888 this remarkable mystery was
solved. When Washington entered New
York as conquerer on the evacuation by
the British forces, he said one morning to
.wo of his officers, "Suppose. gentlemen,
we walk down to Rivington's bookstore :;
he is said to be a very pleasant kind of
a fellow" Amazed as the officers were,
at the idea Of visiting such a man, they Of
course prepared to accompany the chief.
When arrived at the bookstore, Riving-
ton received his visitors with great polite
ness, for he was indeed one of the most
elegant gentlemen and best bred men Of
the age.
Escorting the party into a parlor, he
begged the officers to be seated, and ther
said to the chief "will your cxcellency
do me the honor to step into the adjoin
ing room for moment that may show
you a list of the agricultural works an
about to order out from London for YOU
special use? ?" They retired. The lock-
on the doors of the houses in New Yorl
more than three score years ago wer
: not so good as now. The door of Riv
ington's private room closed very imper
fectly, and soon became ajar, when tn
officers distinctly heard the chinking c
two heavy purses of gold as they wer
successfully placed on the table.
The party soon returned from the in
: ner room, when Rivington pressed upo
i his guests glass of Madeira, which
assured them was prime article, havin
imported it himself, and it having recei,
J, ed the appreciation of Sir Henry and th
most distinguished bon viviants of tb
- British army.
le The visitors now rose to depart
ID Rivington, on taking leave of the chic
I'd whom he escorted to the door, sal
as Your excellency may rely upon N
err special attention being given to the agr
ar cultural works, which, on their arrivs
I'd will be Immediately forwarded to Mou
he Vernon, where trust they will cont
to ute to your qualification, amid the shad
o. of domestic retirement"
ut, Rivington remained for several yea
ST, in New York after the peace of 1888
- 1t was the general opinion at that tim
en- that if Rivington had been closely pre-
he sed on the delicate subject of the seer
to- service, characters of greater calibre thi
ng the kings printer might have appear
al. on the tspis.-Custis' Life of WasAin
CHI ton,