Alexandria Gazette

AFFECTING SCENES.

From the Life of Alexander Hamilton, by John C. Hamilton, he gives an account of the pursuit that he, in company with others, had made to overtake Arnold, immediately after his defection. In a letter to Miss Schuyler, (afterwards Mrs. C. Hamilton,) he thus writes respecting the situation in which he found Mrs. Arnold:

"I saw an amiable woman frantic with distress for the loss of a husband she tenderly loved—a traitor to his country and his fame—a disgrace to his connections. It was the most affecting scene I ever was witness to. She for a considerable time entirely lost herself. The General went up to her, and she upbraided him with being in a plot to murder her child. One moment she raved, another she melted into tears. Sometimes she pressed her infant to her bosom, and lamented its fate, occasioned by the imprudence of its father, in a manner that would have pierced the bosom of insensibility itself. All the sweetness of beauty, all the loveliness of innocence, all the tenderness of a wife, all the fondness of a mother, showed themselves in her appearance and conduct. We have every reason to believe that she was entirely unacquainted with the plan, and that the first knowledge of it was when Arnold went to tell her that he must banish himself from his country, and from her forever. She instantly fell into a convulsion, and he left her in that situation.

"This morning she is more composed. I paid her a visit, and endeavored to soothe her by every method in my power; though you may imagine she is not easily to be consoled. Added to her other distress, she is very apprehensive the resentments of her country will fall upon her (who is only unfortunate) for the guilt of her husband. I have tried to persuade her that her fears are ill-founded; but she will not be convinced. She received us in bed, with every circumstance that would interest our sympathy; and her sufferings were so eloquent, that I wished myself her brother, to have a right to become her defender. As it is, I have entreated her to enable me to give her proofs of my friendship.

Could I forgive Arnold for sacrificing his honor, reputation, and duty, I could not forgive him for acting a part that must have forfeited the esteem of so fine a woman. At present she almost forgets his crime in her misfortunes; and her horror at the guilt of the traitor, is lost in her love of the man. But a virtuous mind cannot long esteem a base one, and time will make her despise, if it cannot make her hate."