ness relating to his property, and proposed an interview. In this letter was enclosed another addressed to General Arnold, wherein Robinson solicited a conference with him, in case Putnam should be absent. The packet being directed to Arnold, would be opened only by him; but if, perchance, it fell into other hands, the whole could be read without exciting suspicion of a plot. This letter was dispatched to the shore by a flag of truce as soon as the sloop had cast anchor. It happened to be on the very day fixed by Washington for his departure. He had never meant to set out earlier, and had neither sanctioned nor contradicted the various rumours current on the subject.

He left his quarters in the morning, and on reaching the bank, found Arnold there with his barge, ready to transport him to the other side. In crossing, Washington remarked the sloop with the English flag, and took a spy-glass to observe her motions more narrowly. Some moments after, he gave to an officer near him, in a low voice according to his usual manner, an order probably of no consequence, which Arnold was unable to overhear. Arnold was guilty, and whatever he could not immediately penetrate, alarmed his fears. He supposed that the General could not remain ignorant of the circumstance of the flag of truce; and, doubtful even whether he might not be already acquainted with it, he thought it well to show him the two letters which he had received, asking him at the same time, what course he ought to pursue. Washington, in the presence of several persons, dissuaded him from seeing Robinson, and directed him to give for answer to this officer, that his private business appertained exclusively to the jurisdiction of the civil authority. They touched the shore just as this conversation ceased. The commander in chief, whose pre

sence kept Arnold in the greatest perplexity, landed, and pursued his journey to Hartford, with his ordinary celerity. Thus was the main obstacle removed, and the plot could proceed.

An extraordinary concurrence of circumstances placed in the hands of Arnold the most important post of the United States, and removed, for several days, both the American and French commanders from their armies. The minister of France himself had repaired to Hartford, as well as other personages, whose absence interrupted those counsels and measures which the treason, had it succeeded, would have rendered more necessary than ever. On the very day before, Admiral Rodney, as if guided by the benign stars of England, had arrived from the West Indies at New York, with ten sail of the line-a reinforcement which gave the English a great superiority over the French squadron in the American waters.

The opinion uttered by Washington in such positive terms, concerning the conference with Robinson, the order heard by several persons present,

became, however, a law for Arnold, with respect to his ostensible conduct. It was, in this way, the first obstacle that thwarted the measures concerted between him and André. They could not meet publicly, under the auspices of a flag of truce, and though André had used this means to reach the lines, they were obliged to arrange a secret interview.

I should not omit to notice in this place, the just censures that have been passed on this abuse of a signal, under shelter of which mankind have stipu lated to approach each other with pacific intentions, even amid the fiercest animosities of war. Hostilities are at once suspended at the sight of a flag; enemies hold discourse, and agree upon matters of reciprocal utility. The most savage nations make known to

each other by established signals, that they wish to parley-even upon the field of battle and they respect those signals. It is true, that the laws of war have not prohibited the seducements by which a general of an enemy is led astray from his duty. But to employ a flag of truce, in order to advance a scheme of treason, is to hide the sword under the olive-branch,-to sever the last tie that can unite the species, when those of benevolence and humanity are dissolved. One regrets to see so high-minded a soldier as André, so little scrupulous on this point. It is not, however, to be concealed, that those who tamper or combine in schemes of treason, can hardly be fastidious about the choice of means. The English, who so religiously fulfil private engagements, did not always, in the course of this war, hold themselves bound by the law of nations; and, if we are to credit the American publications of the day, this was not the only instance in which the universally acknowledged rules of human intercourse were violated. Although the Americans were independent in fact, their enemy thought himself entitled to treat them, until the conclusion of peace, as rebellious sub jects; but even in this case, good faith was equally to be observed.

On the morning after the departure of Washington, Arnold sought out a man called Joshua Smith, well known to be devoted to the English, although he resided within the American posts. He made him the bearer of two passports to be carried on board the Vulture, one for André under the fictitious name of Anderson; the other for Charles Beverley Robinson, who had not the same interest in practising this disguise. He charged him with a let ter also, in which he urged them to repair to him on shore. Smith waited until night fall, and then proceeded to

the English aloop in a boat which Arnold had provided for him.

André and Robinson expected that Arnold would himself visit them, and were surprised when his emissary Smith appeared before them alone. Robinson declared that he would not go on shore, and used every effort to deter his companion: But the young man, full of impatience and ardour, saw only the chances of success; would listen to no remonstrance; and could not brook the idea, either of returning to New York without having executed his mission, or of exposing the main enterprize to miscarriage, by a caution which his rivals would infallibly stigmatize as cowardice. He put on a grey surtout, to hide his uniform, and accompanied Smith on shore. Arnold was waiting to receive him at the water's edge. They discoursed there for some time, but as they were liable to be surprised, Arnold led him towards the house of Smith. The night was dark. André, engrossed by the conversation, did not at first per ceive that he was no longer on neutral ground; but he was soon reminded of his situation by the challenge of the American sentinels, and by the order which Arnold gave to Smith, on entering his house, to watch the movements of the detachments that were in the neighbourhood. The Englishman was then sufficiently aware of his danger; but complaint would be fruitless, and, perhaps, detrimental to his projects. He, therefore, dissembled hisdiscontent.

The American general immediately laid before him plans of the forts, a memoir composed (for a better use) by the chief engineer Duportail, on the means of attacking and defending them, and minute instructions with respect to the measures to be taken by the British for the occupation of them, when he Arnold should do his part in

opening the way. They presumed that Washington had already reached Hartford, and they were right; for he was there, at the same hour, in consultation with the French commanders.

The conferences of Hartford determined the operations of the campaign of 1781. The peace which it induced is one of the most memorable events of the eighteenth century; one of the most glorious for the French nation. The memoirs which contain the details of the interview of the French and American generals, have been preserved, and will be most important documents for the history of France during the American war. The discussion of the various plans proposed, as it is recorded in these memoirs, will be found to exhibit, on the part of the French, a generous impatience, and an ardent desire of testifying, by brilliant exploits, their zeal for the cause of liberty;-on that of the Americans, invincible resolution and calm judgment. All opinions were united, by the imposing wisdom of Washington and Rochambeau, in a project which was crowned with perfect success. Thus did these generals make fast the foundations of the independence and liberty of one of the most considerable countries of the globe, on the day-at the very moment even when Arnold was contriving its subjugation, at the expense of his own fame and honour.

I must venture here upon a slight digression for the purpose of indica ting one of the chief causes of the success of the French expédition to America-to wit, the excellent deportment of the small army which was sent thither. The leaders were as prudent in the choice, as they were energetic and persevering in the execution, of their plans. The soldiers were as steadily obedient as if they had been in garrison in a city of France. The

veteran French regiments took their station, not only without repugnance but with alacrity, by the side of the newly-raised American troops, who could, indeed, already boast of numerous victories, and shining exploits.

Many of the French leaders bore names illustrated by virtues and renown through a long series of ages. They found the American army conducted by generals and captains drawn from all professions,-from such as have no affinity with that of arms, and even from those which would, in Europe, seem to be quite oppo ite. Nevertheless, an unconstrained, cordial equality sprung up at once; the new comers had entirely forgotten the privileges of birth: they put off that pride against which the most reasonable men find it difficult to guard, and upon which the English counted as a source of certain discord between the allies. The Americans, on their side, were grateful to the French for an easy familiarity of demeanor which they were not prepared to expect. These dispositions greatly facilitated the operations both of the council and the field. Subordination and discipline flourished by a sort of emulation. The French commander, particularly, manifested invariable respect for property, and the customs of the country; and entire submission to the laws from which he had so many means of obtaining an exemption. He was struck with surprise, that he, although a stranger among the Americans, possessed an authority over them almost equal to that of their magistrates, and on asking the reason, received for answer; "It is because you, the absolute head of a foreign army, respect our laws."

The naval force of France had an equally glorious career on the coast of the United States during this war. It efficaciously protected their trading and military navigation, and seconded the movements of the armies. An ad

miral of the French navy, distinguish ed by long and honourable services, was seen to do homage to the superior talents of a younger officer, by placing himself under his command, and practising an exemplary obedience.

There was not a smaller measure of ability, nor a less perfect unanimity, in the counsels of the allied cabinets. This solid wisdom, this rare moderation on all sides, had the happiest effects. As I was not wholly without a share in these great events, I shall be pardoned, perhaps, for allowing myself to dwell too long on the bright scenes of a period now so remote from my declining age.

Arnold and André, calculating anxiously the probable length of Washington's absence, supposed that he would be returned in three or four days, that is on the 25th or 26th of September, and one or other of these days was fixed for the execution of the plot. It was settled that André should go back in all haste to New York;-that the English troops which were already embarked, under pretence of a distant expedition, should be held ready to ascend the river, and sail at the first signal-that, to facilitate the reduction of West-Point, Arnold would march out of the forts all the troops destined for their defence, and entangle them in gorges and ravines, where he would pretend to await the English assailants, while these were to embark on another side, and enter by passes that would be left unguarded; and, at all events, the garrisons and troops were to be so distributed, that if they did not surrender at the first summons, they must be immediately cut in pieces. He informed André that the chain was no longer an impediment in the way: He had detached a link, ostensibly in order to have it mended; the smiths would not return it for some days; and the two ends of the chain were held together by a

fastening too weak to bear even a slight concussion: The English would know at what moment they were to advance, by the kindling of fires, in the night, under the directions of Arnold, on the adjacent eminences. A single cannon fired from their ships to be followed by a similar discharge. from the shore, would proclaim that they had perceived the signals. Other tokens agreed upon, were to furnish, successively, information of the seve ral distances of the British forces in their approach. When they had arrived within three miles of the fortress, two English officers in American uniform, were to ride full gallop to Arnold's quarters, to learn how matters stood, and hasten with the intelligence to the British naval commander. Then only was Arnold to put in motion that portion of the garrison which remained in the works, and station it at posts which would not be attacked.

Colonel Dearbourne and the officers who were under his command were, already, insidiously prepared by him to see the movements of the garrison without surprise. He had told them,

as a mark of great confidence apparently, that his plan, if the enemy made an attempt upon West-Point, was to meet and fight them in the defiles, and he often repeated that good care was to be taken not to wait for the enemy behind the works.

He thought the conference with André terminated; but the latter had not yet spoken of another plan at least as important in his eyes as the capture of the fortress. "Washington," said the young Englishman, " is on his return from Hartford, to inhabit your quarters with several officers and generals. We may arrange things so as to make them all prisoners, at the same moment that we seize the forts. When in our power, they may be put on board our vessels, and carried forth with to New York,"