The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-06-21


man in the city. Arnold, a vain, weak
man, ever fond of display and luxury,
appropriated one of the handsomest
houses in the town, where he set up
costly establishment, kept great many
servants. gave splendid dinners, and
maintained handsome equipage drawn
! by four horses, "a scale of expense utter
ly incompatible either with his fortune
or his pay. No one, however, knew at
the time that, 10 maintain this costly
pomp, he was concerned in speculations
unworthy of an officer and gentleman,
and sometimes used the public money
that passed through his hands.
In inviting his guests, as the patriotic
portion Of the people remarked with
surprise, he was rs likely to select To
ries IA Wings. He seemed to court the
adherents of the King, and he ire
quently had at his table the wives and
daughters of public enemies, who had
been publicly prescribed, and had found
refuge with the enemy IN New York
Among the families who attracted his
regard was that of Edward Shipper,
and he was soon observed to pay par.
ticular court TO his daughter, Margaret.
Arnold was then a widower, thirty eight
wears of age, Just twenty years older
than the young lady. Ere long he for
maly asked her hand from her father,
and her father conserving, he addressed
the daughter, and they were engaged.
In the meantime Arnold had become
so odious by his extravaganza, and his
insolent, overbearing conduct to the
people, that Congress was obliged TO
take cognizance of the fact. On the
eve of his marriage he was ordered to be
tried by court martial. Miss Shipper,
however, was true to her engagement,
and married Hmm five days after. The
court martial, as every one knows, SEN
fenced him to be reprimanded by Gen.
Washington, and he was reprimanded
accordingly.
"Our profession, said General Wash.
ington TO him, "is the chastest of all
even the shadow of fault furnishes the
luster of our finer achievements. The
least lnadventure may rob us of the IA
vor, so hard to be acquired. | repre-
bend you far having forgotten that, in
proportion as you had rendered your
self formidable to your enemies, you
should have been guarded and temper
ate in your department toward your
fellow-ctzens. Exhibit anew those no.
BILE qualities which have placed you on
the list of our most valued commanders. |
| will, myself furnish you, rs far as il |
may be in my power, with opportuni.
ties Of regaining the esteem of your
country
This was more like an eulogium than
a reprimand; but it did not touch the |
heart of Arnold, who went from the
presence Of his commander, not to re-
gain the esteem of his country, but to
betray his country.
A year passed away. He was in COM
mand at West Point, in correspondence
with the enemy. Whether she shared
her husbands secret during those
months of pr paration, will perhaps
never be known with certainty. Just
before the explosion of the treason at
West Point, Arnold sent for his wife and
child TO Join him, and | have seen the
letter which he wrote to her on this oc.
casion, telling her of the best way of
reaching him, and what houses she
could sleep at on the road.
Arnold and his wife were seated at
the breakfast table, with Hamilton, La
fayette and an aid. In the midst of the
meal horseman alighted at the door,
and, moment after, letter was placed
in Arnold's hands, which informed him
of his ruin. He controlled his counter
ance, rose quietly from the table, and
beckoned his wife to follow him. They
went up stairs to their room, where lay
their infant child and there he told her
that he was a ruined man and must fly, |
that instant, for his life. She fell sense
less 10 the floor. Leaving her there, he |
rushed from the room, hurried down /
stairs, sent some one TO her assistance, |
and then returned to the breakfast |
room. He told his guests that Gen. |
Washington was coming, and he must |
make haste 10 prepare for his reception. |
He mounted the horse OF the messenger
who had brought the letter, and gallop-
ped away.
Col. Hamilton has left Us an inter
csting account of Mrs. Arnold's de.
meanor after her husbands departure. |
He says she remained frantic all day, |
and accused every one who approached !
her of an intention TO murder her child. |
She continued, he says, to rave until |
she was utterly exhausted. But Col. |
Burr, in his old age, was accustomed to
give very different account of the mat
ter. He had known Mrs. Arnold from |
her infancy, and he declared that she
knew all about her husbands treason
from the beginning, and he used to re.
late scene which he said he witnessed |
at the house of Mrs. Provost, whom he
afterwards married, which somewhat
confirms his opinion. Mrs. Arnold, it
will be remembered, was sent home to
her father. escorted 10y party of horse,
and remained for a night at the house
of Mrs. Provost, where Col. Burr
was. Mrs. Arnold, he said, burst into
a room dressed in riding habit, and
was about to speak to the lady of the
house, when, seeing him in the dim light
of the apartment, and not recognizing
him, she asked anxiously:
Am safe? Is this gentleman
friend ~
Upon discovering who he was, she
told them how she had deceived Gen.
Washington, Col. Hamilton, and the
other American officers by her frantic
outcries and she declared that she not
only knew of the treason, but that it was