The Virginia Gazette

A correspondent observes, that, confident with truth, the address ought to have been in the words following

TO THE INHABITANTS OF AMERICA

SHOULD forfeit. even in my own opinion, the place I have so long held in yours, if I could be silent on the motives which have induced me to join in King's army. A very few words, however, shall suffice upon this subject; for to those who are acquainted with my past life, this instance of my conduct needs no explanation. I am, therefore, only concerned, in this address to explain myself to such of my countrymen as want abilities or opportunities to detect the artifices of government in my conduct in this, as well as in every other part of my life.

It was my misfortune not to be born in affluent circumstances. My ruling passion is, and ever has been, vanity and a love for money. This I evinced at my first onset in life. For having obtained credit for a quantity of drugs, which I sold to good advantage, I pretended to be bankrupt, and availing myself of the easiness and credulity of my creditor, obliged him to compound with me for half the debt. By this means, I gained a considerable sum, part of which I laid out in building myself a spacious house, and with the remainder purchased a vessel and commenced trader.

Those with whom I had any dealings will certify, that I never deviated from my principle of tricking and cheating whenever I had opportunity.

When I quitted domestick happiness for the perils of the field, I conceived I had a better prospect of succeeding in my wishes. The expedition against Quebeck was too flattering not to be embraced with eagerness. I anticipate your question, was not the attempt dangerous? I answer, that I thought so: But I well knew the opportunity it would give me, if I succeeded, of amassing wealth by the plunder of the inhabitants and think I can boast with any highwayman, that I dare encounter danger for the sake of money. The citizens of Quebeck, some of whom in their cot were no strangers to my character, by shutting their gates and flying to arms, disappointed my sanguine expectations. The attempt to subdue them by force proved unsuccessful, and my views were thereby frustrated.

However, the opportunity I after was in had of plundering the merchants of Montreal, in some small degree compensated for this disappointment. But not having fully gratified my wishes, I determined to continue in the American army, in hopes that the honours conferred upon me by my country, who were struck with the glare, and unacquainted with the motives of my conduct, and the rapid promotion I met with, might throw in my way new and more favourable opportunities. The removal of the English from Philadelphia presented one, which I improved to my best advantage. You will say, was it not now time to withdraw? By no means. In contending for wealth, I am free to declare my opinion, that this end attained my warfare should cease. But I had married a young wife, set up a chariot, and entered on a plan of expensive living, which swallowed up all my gains. I lamented, therefore, the prosecution commenced against me by the ruling power of Pennsylvania, who detected some of my practices, and was almost driven to despair by the scrutiny into my publick accounts made by the Board of Treasury, who developed my arts of chicanery, tricking and peculation; and in one instance prevented me from securing to myself 2000 pounds, hard money, notwithstanding I practised every artifice that cunning could suggest! to gain the point. Fortunately, however, a new and tempting scene opened to my view. Major Andre, the confidential friend of
General Sir Henry Clinton, gave me an opportunity of commencing a correspondence with him. My character was blasted, the people of America were beginning to treat me with sovereign contempt. Even a Frenchman, whom I had treated with so much friendship as to borrow of him: twelve thousand pounds to pay for a country seat and plantation I had bought, when continental currency was worth about four to one, in silver and gold, had the assurance to hint he would be glad to take a pair of my horses for eight thousand pounds of the money lent. But this I refused, and therefore could hope for no farther favours of the like nature from him, and consequently have a right to abuse and hate him and all his countrymen. In this situation I should have changed my principles, if I had not embraced the opportunity of Major Andre's correspondence. In the firm persuasion that my private interest was to be preferred to that of my country, I devoted myself to Great Britain, thinking it infinitely wiser and better to cast my confidence of making a fortune upon the bargain I should make for betraying my country, than to trust Congress, who had too much reason to despise me. I affect no disguise, and therefore frankly declare, that in these principles I repaired to the army and solicited the command of West Point, in order to have an opportunity of surrendering it and the garrison to Great Britain for a stipulated sum. In concerting the measures for a purpose as grateful to the British General as would have been beneficial to me. I was only solicitous to accomplish an event of decisive importance with as much secrecy and as little danger to myself as possible and did not sufficiently provide for the safety of Mr. Andre. His capture has frustrated my schemes. I must therefore rely upon the clemency of my sovereign and the abundant conviction that I will betray him to any who will come up to my price. With respect to that herd of cenurers, whose enmity to me originates in their hatred to the principles by which I am led to devote my life to the re-union of the British empire, as the best and only means to make my fortune, they may be assured, that, conscious of the rectitude of my intentions, I shall treat their malice and calumnies with contempt and neglect.

B. ARNOLD.

P. S. Alas for my baggage, which I left behind me!