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should be treated with kindness and respect. He left her in the care of her female servant, and sent for an officer whom he knew was strongly attached to Arnold, and who commanded one of the most important posts in the Highlands. When the officer came, Washington said to him, Colonel, we have been deceived, Arnold is a traitor; your post may be attacked to-night; go back to it without delay, and defend it bravely, as I know you will." This generous confidence excited the feelings of the officer so much, that for some moments he was unable to reply; but when he could speak, he said, "Your excellency has more than rewarded all that I have done, or ever could do for my country."

Arnold wrote to General Washington by the return of the boat which had conveyed him to the vessel. The daring insolence of his letter raised a glow on the cheek of Washington, but the first words he spoke after reading it, were dictated by the benevolent feelings of his heart. He desired that Mrs. Arnold might be relieved from her fears for the safety of her husband, by being told that he was secure from pursuit. Preparations were made for the defence of West Point, in case the enemy should attack it; but Sir Henry Clinton would not venture to make the attempt, when he could not be aided by the treason of its commander.

When the fate of André was to be deter

mined, the general officers of the army met to examine him, and inquire into all the circumstances attending the dark plot in which he had been engaged, that they might judge whether he must be considered as a spy. He was treated with great tenderness, and was told that he might refuse to reply to any questions that would lead to his condemnation; but his mind, which had no doubt been engaged in solemn reflection, could no longer willingly practise deception, and he acknowledged the part he had been acting, so that it was not necessary to examine one witness.

With the hope of forming some excuse for him, it was said that he had gone to West Point with a flag of truce. He was asked if this was true; he replied, "Had I come with a flag, I might have returned with a flag." An American officer, who had a hope that he might yet be saved from condemnation, began to say to him that perhaps he might be exchanged for Arnold,-"Stop," said André, "such a proposal can never come from me." All the circumstances which he confessed, led. the officers to determine that he deserved the character of a spy, and death is the sentence which the stern laws of war pass upon such a character.

Universal sorrow was felt for the sad and disgraceful close of life to which this young officer was brought by his departure from the path of rectitude. General Washington, in a

private letter, expressed his estimation of the character of André; and perhaps never performed with so much reluctance any painful duty, as he did that of signing his sentence of death. This sentence was executed soon after, when André was hung, according to the usage of war in such cases. Arnold wrote several letters on the subject to General Washington, but he did not notice them; and directed that his baggage should all be sent to him, and that Mrs. Arnold should be carefully conducted to New York, where he was.

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We are so ready to forget how unbounded and wonderful the power of God is, that we think and speak of events, which we consider trifling, as if they were not directed by him; but to say that any event happens by chance," or "by accident," has no meaning, unless chance and accident are used as names for the secret workings of Divine power, which overrules the smallest occurrence as certainly as the greatest event. In every circumstance connected with Arnold's plot of treason, might be traced that Providence which can make the smallest accident defeat the wisest plans of man; and prove that "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps."

The disappointed baseness of Arnold was made, by Him who ruleth all things, to be useful to his country. Arnold sent addresses to the officers and soldiers of the American

army, to persuade them to follow his example, assuring them that if they did so, they would be liberally rewarded. These addresses had the effect of uniting the Americans more firmly than ever; and the indignation which they felt, animated them to more exertions to prove that they were determined to persevere in the defence of their country, and despised the man who had forsaken the cause of freedom.

Arnold was the only American officer who, through all the course of the war, deserved the name of traitor; and he most truly merited it; for, after he had joined himself to the enemies of his country, he was active in his endeavours to plan and perform deeds that would be most likely to injure it, and cause distress to his countrymen; but those endea. vours were made to produce good for those against whom they were directed.

The account which he gave to Sir Henry Clinton of the weak and suffering state of the American army, caused him to feel a security and confidence in his own strength, which in several instances was advantageous to them. It has been said, that when all the probable consequences of his plot, had it been successful, came to be considered, and the seeming accidents by which it was discovered and defeated, all were filled with a kind of awful astonishment, and the devout perceived in the transaction the hand of Providence guiding America to independence."

CHAPTER VII.

1780-1781.

In his conversation with the French admiral at Hartford, General Washington had been convinced that he must give up his favourite plan of attacking New York that season. The admiral told him that he expected an addition to his fleet; but that until it arrived, he had not a force which he considered sufficient to meet the English fleet, with any probability of success, in an action. The two armies continued merely watching each other, until the time arrived for going into winter quarters; and the Americans were then stationed near Morristown, and on the borders of New York and New Jersey. The troops belonging to the New England states were placed at West Point, and on both sides of the river Hudson.

The scenery of West Point and its neigh bourhood is beautifully wild; and is rendered very interesting, by Washington having wintered there in that gloomy period of the revo lution. Nearly six hundred feet above the Hudson river, are the ruins of Fort Putnam, which commanded the river below and above, and also a passage which opens in the moun tain. The large stones of which the fort was constructed, it is said, were carried up the steep path by men. On some of the hills are