New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-24
REVOLUTIONARY NITRIC YES.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S ACCOUNT OF
APNOI,D'S PLOT,


SIR HENRY CLINTON'S ACCOUNT OF
ARNOLDS PLOT.
FROM MEMORANDA IN ONE OF Ills BOOKS NOW IN
THE JOHN CARTER BROWN LIBRARY.
To the Editor Of the Tribune.
SIR: II has been the good fortune of the
writer TO have free access to one OF the most
valuable private libraries in this country, the
I" John Carter Brown Library" i'll Providence,
II. l. The collection is especially rich III DOCKS
pertaining TO American history. the owner of it
having spared neither pains nor expense in securing
every work. small OF great. bearing on the subject
worthy place in his costly library. In looking over
these works. | Glanced not long ago to discover
handsomely bound copy of Stedmans History of
the origin, progress and termination of the American
War;" The author having served under Sir W.
Howe. Sir H. Clinton and the Marquis Corvallis
had rare opportunities for gathering up the facts
which he has given us, and letting us see the Revo-
linton from the point of view of an officer III tie
English army. But what renders the copy OF this
history especially interesting is the circumstance
that it once belonged to Sir Henry Clinton himself,
and the margin of the two volumes abounds III notes
written by his own hand In the margin OF p. 2lo,
VOL H.. on which page we have the account OF the
base attempt of Benedict Arnold to deliver West
Point into the hands of the enemy, Sir Henry makes
this brief comment upon the story as related by
Stedman: IGNORANCE of the whole transaction-
too tender subject to explain upon now" Suisse
Oucntly he wrote account which may gratify
curiosity as showing how an English officer of high
rank regarded an affair which we have been wont to
place among the most atrOcious that occurred dur
ing the whole The account referred to is found
on two or three blank leaves at the end of the Sec
ond volume Of Stedman's history and was evidently
written there by its author. 1t seems to have been
drawn up some time in the Spring of 1852. give
il verbatim, preserving the exact spelling and the
free use of capital letters:
About Eighteen Months before The present period
Mr.. Arnold Ia Major General i'll the American service
had found means to intimate to me, that having
found cause 20 be dissatisfied with many late Pro
ceedings of the American Congress- particularly their
alliance with France, he was desrOus OF quitting
them and Joining the cause of Great Britain cond
he he certain Of personal security, and lndeniiica-
ton iOr whatever loss Of property he might thereby
sustain. An overture of Chat sort coming from an
officer of Mr. Arnods ability and Fame, could not
but attract my attention. and as thought It posi-
bic that like another General Monk, he might have
Tepented of the part he had taken, ana wlsheh 10
make att0nement for the Injuries he bad done his
country by rendering her signal and adequate pen
eft was of course, liberal, il making HIM such Of
fers and promises as judged most likely 10 cnc0Ur-
age him in lis present temper. A correspondence
was after this opened under fogncd names i'll the
course of which, me from time to ume tranSniited
10 me most material Intelligence and with view
(as supposed of rendering MS still more essential
service he obtained in July 1850 The command of
all the Fncmys forts in ,hc Highlands, then garri-
soncd by about 1000 men. The local importance of
the posts has already been very fully described lt
is therefore scarcely necessary to observe now mat
the obtaining possession Of them at the present crit
zeal period would have been Il most desirable err
cnlnsiance: and that the advantages 10 be drawn
from Mr. Arnolds having the command 81 them,
struck me with full force the instant heard OF MS
appointment. But the arrival of the French arma-
mcnt, the consequent Expedition to Rhode Island,
and he weakness OF ln{ own lorcG lfgeher M,o
Inc 70 wait for some more favorable opportunity be-
fore attempted to put that gentlemans sincerity to
the proof, - '-" -
In the mean time W Wishing to reduce TO an absolute
certainty whether the person, had so long CORE
spondcd with actually Major General Arnold
commanding at West Point, acceded to proposal
he made me to permit some officer III my confidence
10 have personal conference with him, where every
thing might be more explicitly settled than il was
Adjntant General Major Andre who had chiefly con-
ductcd ihe correspondence with him under the sigma
pose on Nelti1 ground, was induced TO consent to
his doing so from my great confidence i'll that officers
prudence and address. Some attempts towards
meeting had been accordingly made before SIR
George ROdneys arrival. But though the plans
had been well laid they were constantly frustrated
by some untoTard accident or other; one OF which
had very nearly cost Mr. Arnold his life. These dis
appointments made him of course cautions; and
as ! row became anxious to forward the EXecu-
tion Of my project while | could have that naval
chiefs assistance ana under so good mask az the
Expedition for the Chesapeake, which enabled me
To make every requisite Preparation without being
suspected | consented 10 another proposal from
General Arnold for Major Andre to 90 TO him by
wafer from DObb's ferry III boat which hc would
himself send for him under Iiag of Truce. For !
could have rca -on TO spcct that any bad COise
qucuce could possibly result 10 Major Andre from
sIch q mode as had given II III charge To him. not
CLdage his Dress name on any account or possess
himself Of writings by which the nature of his
Embassy might be traced, and / understood that
after his Business finished he to be sent
Back in the same way. But unhappily none Of these
precautions were observed; on the contrary, Gen.
Arnold, Tor reasons which he judged important or
perhaps (which Is the most probabcl losing at the
moment his presence of mind, thought proper TO drop
the design of sending Major Andre back by water, and
prevailed upon him Tor rather compelled HIN, as
would appear by that unfortunate officers Letter TO
me-, 10 part with his uniform, ana under borrowed
Disguise to take a circuitOus Route to NeW-l DIRK
through the Posts of the enemy under the sanction
OF his passport. The consequence was las might be
eApected) that he stopped at TalTytown and
sediched anu certain papers being found abOnt Inn
concealed lie was Notwithstanding his passport
. carried prisoner before MIR. Washington to whom he
candidly acknowledged his name and Quality.
this seize General Arnold but that officer being
fortunate enough 10 receive timely notice of Major
Andres fate, effected his escape to a Kings sloOp
lying off ,Iallers point and came the next day ~
New York.
was exceedingly shocked by this very expected
accident which not only ruined a most important
project, which had all the appearance Of being in
happy train Of success, but involved in danger and
distress confidential friend for whom had VERY
deservedly the waTmest esteem. Not Immediately
knowing however the full extent Of the misfortune