The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-07-26

at the time that, to maintain this cost
| " pomp, he was concerned in spcc,i-
lati0ns unworthy Of an officer and
gentleman, and sometimes used the
public money that passed through his
hands.
In inviting his guests, as the patri-
otic portion Of the people remarked
with surprise, he was as likely to Sc
lect Tories as Wings. lie seemed ia
court the adherents of the King, and
he frequently had at his table the
wives and daughters of public enc,
mics, who had been publicly proscrib
cd, and had found refuge with the ELI
emy IN New York. Among the fam
lilies who attracted his regard was thai
of Edward Shippen, and he was sool
observed 10 pay particular court to hi,
daughter, Margaret. Arnold wal
then q wlaower, tllirty-cight years oI
age, just twenty years older than tin
young lady. Ere long he formally
asked her hand from her father, and
her father collsenting, lie addressed
the daughter, and they were engaged.
In the meantime Arnold had become
so odious by his extravaganza, and his
insolent, oveibearing conduct to the
people, that Congress was obliged to
take tognizance of the fact. On the
eve Of his marriage lie was ordered to
be tried by Il court martial. MissSlIip-
pen, however, was true to her engage
ment, and married him five days after.
The court martial, us every one knows,
sentenced him TO be replimante,l by
Gen. Washington, and he was wpri-
mande1 accordingly.
| "Our profession" said General
Washington to him, ''is the clMstest
ofall; even the shadow of Il fault tarn-
islles the lustre of our finer achieve
ments. The least inadyentuWe may
rob lis Of the favor, so hard to be ac-
quired. Tprelend you for having
forgotten that, in proportion as you
had rendered yourself formidable to
your enemies, you should have been
guarded and temperate in your de-
pertinent toward your fellow-citizens.
Exhibit anew those noble qualities
which have placed you on the list OF
our most valued commanders. will,
myself, furnish you, as far as 1t may
be in my power, with opportunities OF
rcgaining the esteem of your country"
This was more like an eulogium
than q reprimand; but it did not
touch the heart of Arnold, who went
from the presence Of his commander,
not to regain the esteem of his coun-
try, but to betray his country.
A year passed away. He was in
command at West Point, In cores
pondence with the enemy. Whether
she shared her husbands secret during
those months Of preparation, will per-
haps never be known with certainty.
Just before the explosion OF the trea-
son 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 occasion, telling her of the
best way of reaching him, and what
llonses she could sleep at on the road.
Arnold and his wife were seated at
the breakfast table, with Hamilton,
Lafayette and an aid. In the midst
Of the meal horseman alighted at the
door; and, a moment after, Il letter
was placed in Arnol1's hands, which
informed him of his ruin. lie con-
trolled his countenance, rose quietly
from the table, and becone0 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 senseless
TO the floor. Leaving her there, he
rushed from tile room, hurried down
stairs, sent some one to her assistance,
and then returned to the breakfast
room. lie told his guests that Gen.
Washington was coming, and he must
make haste to prepare for his recep-
ton. lie mounted the horse OF the
messenger who had brought the letter,
and gallOped away.
Col. Hamilton has left lis an inter
esting account of Mrs. Arnold's de-
meanor after her husbands departure.
He says she remained frantic all day,
and accused every one who approach
cd 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 accus-
toned to give very different account
of the matter. lie had known Mrs.
Arnold from her infancy. and he de-
clared that she knew all about her |
husbands treason from the beginning,
and he used to relate scene which lie
said he witnessed at the house Of Mrs.
Provost, whom lie afterwards married,
which somewhat confirms his opinion. |
Mrs. Arnold, it will be remembered,
was sent home to her father, escorted
by party of horse, and remained for
a night at the house of Mrs. Provost,
where Col. Burr was. Mrs. Arnold,
he said, burst into room dressed In q
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 a 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 she who had induced her hus-
band to commit it.
This was Col. Burr's story, to which
The reader may attach the credit which
Ile thinks 1t deserves. Arnold himself |
loes not say that she was ignorant Of
his intention to surrender the fortress.
III the well known letter which lie
,ent back 70 Gen. Washington from
tlle Vulture. he Says, i
tSEr0t1l the knaIvn hutno,,tkv MI