Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 5.djvu/281

A.D.1780.]  Jameson. Jameson read the papers, and determined to send them express to Washington, retaining André as prisoner till he received further orders. It is alleged that Jameson, though he was acquainted with Arnold's handwriting, had been so stupid as not to perceive that general's concern in the affair, and therefore, having dispatched his messenger to the commander-in-chief, also wrote a full account of it to Arnold, as the commander of the district. It is certain that Washington declared that Jameson showed "egregious folly" in the transaction, and that Arnold was, by a communication from Jameson, duly warned of the discovery.



When this startling letter reached Arnold at his headquarters—which were at one Robinson's house, not within the lines of West Point, but on the eastern bank of the Hudson, and some miles lower down—he was hourly expecting the arrival there of Washington from his interview at Hartford. It was the morning of the 25th. Two of Washington's aides-de-camp had already arrived, and they were breakfasting with him and his staff when the express arrived from Jameson. He opened the letter bringing him such terrible tidings; but, mastering his feelings, he requested the officers to proceed with breakfast whilst he made a communication to his wife, who had not risen. Then he disclosed to her the appalling fact, which had the effect of throwing her into an instant swoon. But there was no time to be lost. He left her lying insensible, descended, and desired the officers to tell general Washington, on his arrival, that he was suddenly called to West Point, and, mounting his horse, rode off. Arriving at the Hudson, he put off in a boat, and, on reaching the mid-stream, taking out a white handkerchief, as a flag of truce, he bade the men row to the Vulture. The white flag secured him impunity, both from the American lines on shore, and from the guns of the Vulture. He was received safely on board, made himself known, and was conveyed securely to New York. It is remarkable how easily Arnold could himself escape, though he did not take the same effectual means for André's safety. Thus how different his fate to that of unhappy André!—Arnold was received with a warm welcome by Clinton and the English officers, though he had not secured the advantages offered, and though André was the apparent sacrifice for his treason. He was immediately made a colonel in the British army with the local rank of major-general, and received a payment of six thousand pounds as compensation for his loss by the change. He soon after issued an address to the people of America, declaring the public grounds for his abandonment of the republican cause, and calling on the continental troops to follow his example.

Scarcely had Arnold left his house when Washington arrived there, and, hearing that he was gone to West Point, went after him. No Arnold could be found; and, whilst Washington was wondering at the circumstance, colonel Hamilton brought him the dispatch of colonel Jameson, which, in Arnold's absence, he had opened. Washington thus learned the whole mystery, and soon after received a letter from Arnold, on board the Vulture, justifying his proceeding, and entreating that his wife might not suffer on his account; and it is to the honour of the Americans that she did not—a generous fact, which we record with the more pleasure, because such facts are thinly sown on the part of the Americans in this war. She was