28 Major Andre and General Arnold. 



accusers. By many persons in the court this haughty air of defiance 

 was mistaken for the proud consciousness of rectitude, and despite 

 their reason they still remained incredulous of his guilt, nor was this 

 impression weakened when called upon by the president for his de- 

 fence he drew up his commanding figure to its full height, and 

 addressed his judges in a flow of natural eloquence, rendered more 

 irresistible by a pale cheek and emaciated frame, which every one 

 present knew to be the effects of the severe wounds he had received 

 at the memorable siege of Quebec, where his gallantry and courage 

 had been the theme of general admiration. 



So adroitly did Arnold extenuate the offences that had been 

 proved against him, so ingeniously did he impeach the credit of the 

 witnesses against him, and so strongly did he urge his attachment to 

 his country and her liberties, that even his judges began to waver in 

 their belief of his guilt. " I am accused," said he in concluding his 

 defence, " of having idly squandered my fortune. If I have lavished 

 my little patrimony it was as our best citizens ha've done, in the 

 defence of our country it was for her aggrandizement I impove- 

 rished myself, to this charge I freely plead guilty. I am accused, 

 too, of having abused my authority in Philadelphia, of having 

 oppressed the honest citizens of the republic for the purpose of en- 

 riching myself. If this part of the charge be true, I stand confessed, 

 in the presence of this honourable court, the vilest of men, and the 

 blood I have spilled in the defence of my country will be insufficient 

 to obliterate the foul stain. On the honour of a soldier and a gentle- 

 man, I declare to soldiers and gentlemen, that the charge is false." 



Arnold bowed to the court, and was silent ; but so powerful an 

 effect had his youth, his military fame, his noble figure, and his 

 graceful eloquence upon the hearers, that the majority of them were 

 ready to pronounce him innocent by acclamation. The cool, reflec- 

 tive mind of Washington was not, however, to be carried away by 

 the false glitter of a gilded exterior, or the deceptive light of specious 

 sophistry : he had maturely weighed the evidence wnich had been 

 brought before him, and though he mourned that a brave man should 

 have tarnished his achievements, he could not shut his eyes on the 

 conviction that Arnold was guilty of the acts imputed to him. 



The court was now cleared in order that the members might de- 

 liberate in private on the verdict which they were about to pro- 

 nounce ; and, during the brief period occupied in this deliberation, 

 many were the speculations of the auditors, now assembled in the 

 street, as to the result of the trial, but none were more opposed or 

 more resolute in their conflicting opinions than the two soldiers, 

 whom we have already witnessed taking such different views of 

 Arnold's character. They were standing beneath the plain portico 

 of the court-house, the elder leaning against one of the pillars, list- 

 ening composedly to his youthful companion, who was addressing 

 him in an animated strain. 



" I repeat, Jacob, he is as guiltless as I am, notwithstanding the 

 hard swearing of his accusers. Did you mark his scornful smile when 

 he spoke of the pitiful envy of his foes, and his proud eye how it 

 lightened, and his cheek how it flushed, when he spoke of the battles 



