committed it to Montgomery and colonel Arnold, as the most capable. He exhorted them, with extreme earnestness, to treat the Canadians as friends, as fellow-citizens, and to punish severely the least irregularities of the soldiery. Arnold began his march in the month of September. He conducted his small force through deserts which man had never before penetrated. The river of Kennebeck had overflown its banks. He crossed it in swimming, or on rafts. Unknown streams presented a new obstacle; he diverted their course. The snow fell in abundance; -a few hours of sun during the day were insufficient to thaw the ice formed in the long and severe nights of the northern autumn; nothing could arrest his progress. He was always in the van with the pioneers who cut open the road in this wild country: and at the end of each march, had arrived before the enemy knew of his approach. He thus put in practice a maxim which he was fond of repeating: "In war, Expedition is equivalent with Strength."

The last division, conducted by a man less resolute and persevering than himself, returned; while he, at the head of the two first, sustained the courage of the soldiers, who were exhausted by fatigue, hunger, and every species of suffering. After two months of toil, all impediments were overcome, and he encamped before the fortress; but with a band so much enfeebled, that he was obliged to await the arrival of Montgomery who approached by another route. Montgomery died gloriously in an assault made on the 31st December; Arnold was severely wounded in the leg, and forced to convert the siege into a blockade: he was not, however, to be daunted by any reverse. From the bed to which his wound confined him, he infused into the little army, the command of which had now devolved upon him, his own spirit of determination and confidence. The enterprize failed; the courage and intelligence which he exhibited throughout, placed him nevertheless in the first class of American officers.

He served with better fortune and still greater distinction, in the subsequent campaigns; and bore a considerable part in the successes of that in which Burgoyne and his army were made prisoners. He fought with his usual intrepidity in the engagement which immediately preceded the capitulation. The first to throw himself into the entrenchments of the enemy, he was animating his troops by his example, when a ball shattered the leg already wounded at the siege of Quebec. As he was borne from the ranks to his tent, he still issued orders for the continuance of the assault. His rivals (for he had them at an early period) accused him of entangling himself rashly in perilous situations; but they were constrained to admit, that his rapid discernment supplied him, in the midst of danger, with the surest expedients, and that success always justified his boldness.

The admiration of his fellow-citizens kept pace with his services, and the heart the most passionately enamoured of glory might have been satisfied with that which so early attached to

his name.

It might be thought that a sentiment so pure and exalted could not lodge in the same breast with an insatiable avidity for riches, which would seek gratification by any means however vile. These two impulses, however, alternately governed Ar nold. The prospect of a rich booty, the hope of a gain even the most sordid, stimulated him so powerfully, that, to obtain them, he would brave perils greater than those he might be willing to encounter for the increase of his fame. A bad manager of illgotten wealth, he squandered it at once in frivolous expenses, or mere ostentation. Montreal, the second city of Canada, was, under his command, a scene of injustice and rapacity. His soldiers, as happens uniformly, imitated the example of their chief. Instead of ingratiating the cause of liberty with the Canadians, by blandishment and protection, he imposed the most galling yoke upon them; and his victims, treated like a conquered people, had long since abandoned the design of espousing the confederation. Thus he lost for his country by his avarice, what he had won for her by his valour.

His wounds were not healed, and until he recovered, he could be invested only with some stationary command. Washington, though he detested his vices, did not wish to leave idle, talents so distinguished. The English having evacuated Philadelphia, he eagerly seized this occasion to employ them; and directed Arnold to take possession of that city with some troops of the Pennsylvania-line;-a delicate charge for a man so prone to extend his powers, and define them according to his interests! It was not long before he displayed in this city a magnificence as foreign to the habits of the country, as it was unseasonable in the midst of the calamities of war. He occupied the house of Penn, the descendant of him whose virtues have endeared his name to the Pennsylvanians; and furnished it with a sumptuousness very opposite to the principles of that legislator: he even lodged in it the French envoy and all his suite on their arrival. From this time, too, he began to profess an extraordinary attachment to the French, and an unrivalled zeal for the alliance.

The magnitude of his expenses by no means suited his private fortune, and embarrassment soon followed. To retrench this idle luxury, to curtail his establishment, would have implied a degree of imprudence in the conduct of his private affairs; and he was too vain to make this admission. He preferred practising, in one of the states of the union, the same vexations which had rendered his authority odious to the Canadians. Under pretence of the wants of the army, he forbade the shopkeepers to sell or buy; he then put their goods at the

disposal of his agents, and caused them afterwards to be resold with a profit. At one moment, he prostituted his authority to enrich his accomplices; at the next, squabbled with them about the division of the prey. His country had overlooked his rapine and injustice, as long as they had for object a foreign people. But they were no longer to be borne when exercised at home. The patience of his new victims was soon exhausted, and they had recourse to the courts of justice. But, with his military authority as his shield, he set at defiance both justice and the laws.

He found, however, another antagonist in the president of the executive council of Pennsylvania, a man of a firm and upright character. This magistrate, after having endeavoured in vain to repress the overweening and predatory spirit of Arnold, laid before Congress a list of the grievances of the State against him, and this assembly appointed a committee to enquire into the subject. Arnold replied, and the arrogance which he indulged both in his writings and discourse, only served to irritate his adversaries the more, while it alienated his judges. Some members of congress were of opinion that he should be suspended from his military functions, until the investigation of his public conduct were brought to issue. But the accusation preferred against him was become an affair of party, and he had influence enough to cause this proposition to be set aside. He even pretended that the president, his accuser, persecuted him through hatred and envy, and he found some few not unwilling to believe him. In truth, to the eyes of persons of lax morals, justice and firmness too often wear the character of harshness and passion.

It has been said that the most violent among his enemies laboured to induce his soldiers to bear testimony against him; and even, that a promise of pardon, on this condition, was made to such as were his accomplices. But his vices had not impaired their attachment, and no one of them would consent to accuse him.

Meanwhile, after the committee of congress and "the joint committee of the general assembly and council of Pennsylvania" had held several conferences, they concurred in a series of resolutions to be moved to congress. The friends of Arnold in this body then declared themselves openly. It has been alleged, (although never proved,) that they had some relations of interest with him. We know positively that many of the delegates leaned towards indulgence; but of these several were influenced only by the consideration of the great services which the accused had rendered his country.

After much animated discussion, the resolutions proposed were adopted by a great majority. They were to this effect. Resolved, That unanimity and harmony between the repre

sentatives of the United States in Congress assembled, and each State individually, has been under God, the happy means of our past success, and the only sure foundation whereon to rest our future hopes of terminating the contest with Great Britain with honour and advantage.

That Congress is highly sensible of the importance and services of the State of Pennsylvania in the present contest, and regard with sincere concern and regret, every event which may tend to lessen the mutual confidence and affection which has hitherto subsisted.

That it is the full intention of Congress, on all occasions, to manifest the same just and equal attention to the said State and authority of Pennsylvania, as to any other State in the Union.

That any disrespectful and indecent behaviour of any officers of any rank, under the appointments of Congress, to the civil authority of any State in the Union, will be discountenanced and discouraged: and that a contrary behaviour will be considered as one of the surest means to recommend any officer to the favour and notice of Congress.

That the complaints against General Arnold be transmitted to his excellency the commander in chief in order for trial; and that the same be duly notified to the executive council: and that they be requested to furnish the commander in chief with the evidence thereupon in their possession.

As soon as Arnold could foresee that the resolutions of Congress would be of this tenor, he resigned the command which he held in Philadelphia.

"The court martial appointed to try him, assembled at Morristown in the state of New Jersey. The army was encamped at a small distance. Arnold repaired to the camp, and employed every artifice of intrigue and persuasion to draw over the members of the court to his interests. He avoided at first, presenting himself before them; but the tribunal was as resolute as it was equitable and enlightened. In spite of numberless subterfuges, he was compelled to appear, and answer on each head of accusation. Relying upon effrontery to bear him out, he steadily denied every fact which was incapable of direct proof, or vouched only by public notoriety. The following passages of his defence could not fail to be recollected at another period. "I am ac"cused of having abused my authority in Philadelphia for the purpose of enriching myself,-if this part of the charge is "true, I stand confessed, in the presence of this honourable court, the vilest of men; the blood I have spent in the defence "of my country will be insufficient to obliterate the stain. On "the honour of a gentleman and soldier, I declare to gentlemen "and soldiers, that the charge is false."

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As to the charges proved, he alleged in extenuation even the

disorder of his finances; he compared his case to that of the. best citizens, impoverished like him by the revolution.-But these had generously sacrificed their fortune for the preservation of liberty, and Arnold had ruined himself by inordinate luxury, and by the very speculations in which he had embarked with a view to become rich. He dreaded nothing so much as a decision subversive of that fame which, now that he was threatened with the loss of it, he prized above every other good. But, notwithstanding all his efforts, this decision was pronounced on the 20th of January, 1779. It condemned him to be reprimanded by the commander in chief. Congress ratified it, and Washington, having caused the culprit to appear before him, performed the task with the considerate delicacy which he thought due to so distinguished an officer. "Our profession," said he, "is the chastest of all. Even the shadow of a fault tar"nishes the lustre of our finest achievements. The least inadvertence may rob us of the public favour, so hard to be ac"quired. I reprimand you for having forgotten, that, in "proportion as you had rendered yourself formidable to our "enemies, you should have been guarded and temperate in 66 your deportment towards your fellow citizens: exhibit anew "those noble qualities which have placed you on the list of our "most valued commanders. I will, myself, furnish you as far "as it may be in my power, with opportunities of regaining the "esteem of your country.'

Arnold did not dare to interrupt this address; he retired, and so far from being touched by the marks of sensibility in his favour just given by his General, he evinced the keenest resentment at a sentence, which he pretended not to have in any manner deserved. He quitted the army, and, from this day forth, nourished an implacable hatred of the cause which he had so brilliantly defended. This sentiment once indulged, soon struck deep into his heart, and treason was the fruit naturally to be expected. Lost to virtue, the first time he hesitated between the fulfilment and the violation of his duties; he was lost to his country, the instant he could endure without horror, the idea of betraying her.

But his resolution was yet held in suspense, by an apprehension of the consequences of so heinous a crime. The epithets, every where odious, of traitor and rebel, already sounded in his ears. He was about to cast away all the glory which his past services had acquired for him at home, and these services even, would be crimes in the eyes of those to whom he proposed to sell himself and his country.

At times, in the bitterness of his despair, retirement and obscurity seemed preferable to any thing. But here his motives and feelings were quite different from those of Washington when, in withdrawing, twenty years afterwards, from public VOL. II.

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