Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-15
From the New York Observer.

The Family of Benedict Arnold.
Little has been known of the descendants
of Benedict Arnold, although he left three
children. No public record of their conduct
or position exist, and yet two of them were
officers OF merit in the British army. BY a
fortunate circumstance, the writer is able, in
degree, to supply this deficiency, and to re-
deem Arnold's descendants from the intamy
to which his name and character were con-
signed. In a recent visit to England, he was
gratited by an accidental meeting with a
grandson of Arnold, his only living male heir.
The Rev, Edward Arnold is the rector Of an
established church in Herfordshire, some
twenty miles from London. He is about thir-
ty i've years of age, of medium size, dark
complexion, with an expressive and benevo-
lent face. Young A., is man of great deci-
sion, and IN his profession exhibits much alb
lhty and energy of character. He voluntari-
Iy made known his relationship and while he
unhesitatingly condemned the conduct of his
grandfather, he thought that some acts of in
gratitude, if not injustice, on the part of the
government, should be allowed as extenuating
circumstances. He freely conceded the
great crime of treason, but he claimed there
was wrong on both sides. An invitation to
VISIT his very beautiful rectory, where hospi-
tality was most cordially extended, enabled
illS W SdtHSl SUM- interesting IdcIS. winch
must be peculiarly interesting to Americans.
Two of AnodS sons died in the army, and
one of his grandsOns, brother of the Rev. Ed
ward A., fell brayely fighting at the head of
his company, before Sebastopol. The eldest
son reached high rank in the East India SER
vice, where he was an officer during nearly
half a century. Before his death, some three
years since, he received many marks of dis
tinction from the British government. NJ
merous tokens of high professional regard are
preserved by his nephew. Among them are
many medals and a hundred guinea sword, Il
splendid testimonial for wisdom in council,
courage in the field, long service, and emil
nent devotion to his country A pair of pis-
tots used by Arnold in a duel in London, are
also in the possession of his grandson. He
felt insulted by the remark of a gentleman,
(Lord Surray,) and the traitor challenged
him. Arnold fired without effect, but his an
tagonst withheld his shot, turning his back on
Arnold with the contemptuous remark, II
leave you to the hangman. The British gov
eminent gave Benedict Arnold large tracts of
land IN Canada, as pecuniary reward for his
treason. Some of it was near Brockport, on
the ST. Lawrence river. But large portion
Of it 5000 acres) is near Toronto. between
that city and Lake Simeoe. This propertv
was owned for long series of wears by Ar
nolds eldest son; but being in the army in
the East Indies, he knew little about it. except
by an occasional briefletter which the Canadi-
an agent furnished. Upon his death some
years SINCE it reverted to the Rev Edward
Arnold, the only living male heir and he be-
gan series Of inquiries about the property.
No reliable or satisfactory intelligence could be
obtained, and he feared the land was entirely
valueless. He was assured by the agents
that much Of the soil was poor and swampy,
scarcely exceeding e. per acre in value. But
Mr.. A. was told by less interested parties that
If it was in the vicinity of Toronto, the prop
crty was vastly more valuable and he was
advised to wait further developments. Sub
sequent investigations at the request Of Mr..
Arnold, have discovered the land to be among
the most valuable in Canada. The 5000 acres
now owned by him, but formerly the property
of Benedict Arnold, has been found located
together in the finest agricultural region, and
in the immediate vicinity of the railway (Geor-
glan Bay in Lake Huron to Toronto. Com
petent judges pronounce it worth from $50 to
$50 per acre, Thus this young and meritori-
Gus clergyman has suddenly been placed in
possession Of an estate valued at nearly 5000
600, which a month before, from the renre-
sentation Of taithless agents, he would GLADLY
have sold for $4,000. The Rev. Edward
Arnold married the daughter of an Enolisb
earl, and ultimately will inherit a large for
tune. But his Canadian property, now in the
hands of more competent and faithful agents
will at once yield him large fortune. the
practical rewards of his grandtather's treach