Page:Sketch of Connecticut, Forty Years Since.djvu/211

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FORTY YEARS SINCE.
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ed forth by the allusion of the disabled soldier to the surrender of Burgoyne.

The transient reverie of Colonel ——— was dispelled by the voice of the Lady, kindly mentioning Anderson, who had been the last speaker.

"I take so much pleasure," she said, "in his narratives, that I sincerely regret any draw-back should exist to his part of the satisfaction in visiting me. So strong are his patriotic feelings, that he likes not to be long in a house, which, for so many years, gave shelter to General Arnold."

"I feel strongly indignant," said Colonel ———, "that my native place should have given birth to the only traitor, who ever existed among the officers of the United States."

"When we recollect," replied Madam L——, "that our contest had, at first, all the repulsive features of a civil war—when we balance the labours, the privations, the discouragements of our officers, with the infirmities of human nature. I have often been surprized, and always grateful to God, that this instance of treason was solitary."

"There was," said General ———, "a circumstance connected with the history of Arnold, with which, Madam, you may not have been familiar; as it was for some time known only to a few, who possessed the confidence of Washington. The treason was discovered by him, on his arrival at West-Point, from Hartford, in 1781. He was astonished at perceiving marks of disorder, and at learn-