Major Andre and General Arnold. 285 



It was in the early part of September 1780 that a rumour began 

 to spread that a large reinforcement of French troops had sailed for 

 America, and that Washington only waited their arrival to commence 

 the siege of New York. Clinton becoming alarmed at his situation, 

 importuned Arnold not to delay further the execution of his plans, 

 urging that if the allies were permitted to effect a junction, it might 

 be no longer in his power to fulfil his intentions. To these repre- 

 sentations Arnold replied 'in the language of commerce as concerted: 

 " Our master goes away on the 17th of this month, he will be absent 

 five or six days, let us avail ourselves of this interval to arrange our 

 business. Come immediately and meet me within the lines, and we 

 will settle definitively the risks and profits of the co-partnership. All 

 will be ready." 



Washington had in fact appointed to meet and confer with the 

 French general Rocharnbeau at Hartford in Connecticut, but Ar- 

 nold was deceived as to the period of his departure, which with his 

 usual caution he had never communicated to any person, and this 

 error into which Arnold fell was productive of the most important 

 consequences. 



On the receipt of Arnold's letter, Andre burned with impatience 

 to seize the golden opportunity, which should give to his hand the 

 honour of terminating the war at a single blow. The English gene- 

 ral, however, saw more danger in the measure than his impetuous 

 friend, and he hesitated before he would consent to expose a valu- 

 able officer to the risk of clandestinely passing the enemy's line, when 

 the business to be transacted might with greater safety be committed 

 to the agents who had hitherto conducted it so faithfully. But Andre, 

 dazzled by the glory of the enterprise, would not permit himself to 

 view the danger through the brilliancy which surrounded it, com- 

 bated Clinton's foresight with all the energy of an ardent soldier 

 thirsting for fame. He represented that as Arnold had not hitherto 

 confided in any one but himself and Robinson, it was only natural 

 that he should wish to entrust the maps of West Point into no hands 

 but those of the person whom he had chosen to put his plans into 

 execution. Persuaded, if not convinced by the earnestness of Andre, 

 the English general consented to leave the management of the affair 

 to him, exhorting him, however, to be guided rather by prudence 

 than blind valour in the prosecution of his enterprise. Clinton then 

 issued private orders to get the Vulture sloop-of-war in readiness to 

 convey Andre up the Hudson, and it was calculated that by leaving 

 New York on the 19th of September, he would reach the American 

 forts in two days, In this romantic expedition he was accompanied 

 by Beverly Robinson, the colonel through whom Arnold had made 

 his first overture ; this gentleman's prudence Clinton hoped would 

 serve as a wholesome check upon the rash ardour of the young major. 



Those alone who have experienced the tumultuous sensations 

 hovering between anticipated success and dreaded defeat, which fill 

 the mind of a man who feels that upon his exertions depends the 

 fortunate issue of some great action, can form a perfect idea of the 

 throng of busy thoughts that crowded upon his imagination, as with 

 folded arms he leaned over the quarter-rail of the sloop, watching 



