[FN-1] It is well known that, on the detection of Arnold's treason and his flight, Mrs. Arnold was apparently deeply affected--tearing her hair, and seeming almost frantic. So great was her agony, that the feelings of Washington, Hamilton, and other officers, were greatly excited in her behalf. The author has long been aware, through the confidential friends of the late Colonel Burr, that Mrs. Arnold was only _acting a part_ when she exhibited her distress. She was the daughter of Chief Justice Shippen, of Pennsylvania, and had been married to Arnold at Philadelphia in 1779. She had corresponded with Major Andre, during the Summer, under a pretext of obtaining supplies of millinery, &c. Her habits were extravagant, and had doubtless contributed to involve her husband more deeply in pecuniary difficulties. Having obtained from General Washington a passport, and permission to join her husband in New-York, Mrs. Arnold stopped on the way At the house of Mrs. Provost, at Paramus, the lady of a British officer, and afterward the wife of Colonel Burr, where she stayed one night. Here the frantic scenes of West Point were re-enacted while there were strangers present; but as soon as they were alone, she became Tranquilized, and assured Mrs. Provost that she was heartily sick of the theatrics she was playing. She stated that she had corresponded with the British commander--that she was disgusted with the American cause, and those who had the management of it; and that, through great precaution and unceasing perseverance, she had ultimately brought the General into the arrangement to surrender West Point to the British, &c., &c. For farther particulars upon the subject, see Davis's Life of Burr, pp. 219, 220. In his letter in her behalf to General Washington, Arnold of course entirely exculpated his wife. The public vengeance, he said, "ought alone to fall on me. She is as good and as innocent as an angel, and is incapable of doing wrong."
[FN-2] Eighteen months before the consummation of his treason, General Arnold commenced writing to Sir Henry Clinton anonymously, and from time to time communicated to him important intelligence.--_Sparks._
With a seeming desire of active service, Arnold had urged forward his trial, that, as he protested, he might be enabled the earlier to take the field. But in pursuance, no doubt, of his understanding with Sir Henry Clinton, his great anxiety was to obtain the command of West Point. With this view he wrote to General Schuyler, who was then in camp, as one of a Committee of Congress; and it is supposed that he likewise corresponded with Robert R. Livingston upon the subject. At all events, Mr. Livingston applied to General Washington for that station in behalf of Arnold. The application was successful, though not immediately. On the first of August Arnold was assigned to the command of the left wing of the army. Complaining, however, that his wounds were yet too painful to allow him to act with efficiency in the field, on the 3d of the same month he was directed to repair to West Point, and take the command of the post. [FN]