University of Virginia Library

The PREFACE.

The Author of the following Poem, being unacquainted with his real character, once had the highest esteem for the late General Arnold, and therefore it need not be thought strange, that the glaring, though deceitful figure he formerly made in the service of the UNITED STATES, as well as the high rank he held in the AMERICAN line, should suggest those grand allusions to angels; heavenly bodies and some of the heroes of antiquity, with other handsome things said of him in the former part of the Poem: Yet some readers may suppose, as has been hinted, that these, by placing that infamous apostate in a respectable light, do him too much honor; but the devil himself ought to have his due, and it must be confessed, that; though Arnold, as a citizen, has eventually proved an execrable villian, his behaviour, as a soldier, has indeed been heroical: and that, though he probably possessed no other considerable intrinsic greatness of character, yet, while the glorious cause of LIBERTY added such a lustre to them, the rank and honors he sustained must needs give at least an adventitious dignity even to a scoundrel. Besides, in order to represent the GREATNESS of his FALL, which was the poet's design, it is obvious, it was necessary to contrast what he now is with what he once, whether really or apparently, was; as it is impossible to conceive what darkness and deformity mean, without having seen light and beauty, or to obtain adequate ideas of the character of a fiend, without first contemplating that of an angel.

From a remark made by a judicious Friend, who, however has an high esteem for those virtuous young men who captured Major Andre; the author apprehends some of his readers will think he has celebrated them in a stile of encomium too high for their condition in life, and somewhat derogatory to the honor of those eminent worthies, who afterwards exerted themselves with so much virtuous dignity on that occasion; especially as their meritorious conduct is passed over

in silence; but he hopes his candid readers will indulge him in his enthusiastic veneration for those humble peasants; and he is confident, he need make no apology to those distinguished personages, whose characters shine with too much lustre to need the decorations of the muse. Glad indeed should he always be to do justice to real merit, in whatever station it appears; but he confesses, he is peculiarly charmed with public spirit in obscure life; especially when (as in the present case) it at once forms so strong a contrast with, and leads to the detection of, the basest, selfish and mercenary guilt in a dignified character.

This Poem was composed in the month of October, and finished by the first of November; but its publication has been hitherto retarded by a variety of unfortunate circumstances: However, as so black a treason, and so critical a providential DELIVERANCE ought never to be forgotten; the Author hopes its appearance, late as it is, will not be thought altogether unseasonable.

After all, the Author thinks it necessary to apologize for the vehicle in which he offers his Poem to the public. Necessity is his plea, and he hopes his readers will not despise it, merely because it is obliged to appear in the world in a mean dress, as well as its