When Barclugh arrived at King’s Bridge, the time was midnight, and as
he was muffled and his name was assumed he had little risk of meeting
any person who would suspect his business.
He informed the sentinel that he must see the officer of the guard at
once.
Upon the officer coming to the guard house, Barclugh requested that a
note be sent without delay to General Clinton, the British Commander,
as information of the first importance must be sent to headquarters.
So the officer despatched a horseman to the Beekman House at full speed
with the following note:
“King’s Bridge, May 28, 1780.
“Sir: I have the honor to announce my arrival at King’s Bridge. I
must be conducted to a safe retreat at once. My plans have carried
but I am very much battered by travel and narrow escapes.
“(Signed) Pierre La Fitte.
“To General Clinton,
“Commander of H. M. Forces in America.
“Beekman House.”
Within three hours Major Andre arrived alone with an extra horse at
Fort Knypthausen, the defense at King’s Bridge, and after a few subdued
words with the officer of the guard, Barclugh was hurried to a horse.
His former animal was turned loose on the road to find its way back
to Verplancks Point. Thus no trace of Barclugh could be followed on
account of the horse that he had ridden.
Not a word was spoken by Andre to Barclugh in the guard house. Andre
ordered the officer to release the stranger. The officer told Barclugh
that he was to leave the guard house and follow Major Andre until the
horses were found, and to not speak until well out of hearing.
After Andre had travelled a few hundred yards away from Fort
Knypthausen, Major Andre grasped Barclugh by the hand and said:
“Mr. Barclugh, I am glad to see you. How are you?”
“I am nearly dead, Major Andre,” replied Barclugh, “I have been
captured and made prisoner three times. I was fired on last night and
my horse was killed. But after a hard journey, I am here with my plans
working.
“Arnold is committed to treason. I have the plans and strength of West
Point, and a great amount of information for the Commissioners.”
“Grand! Magnificent!!” exclaimed Andre. “We need a stroke like this to
arouse the nation, and counteract the French coalition with America.
I am devoted to your plan. I believe patents of nobility and grants
of land are the only means that will subdue the Americans. Of course,
results must first be brought about by the judicious use of gold to
gain the leaders.
“However, Mr. Barclugh,” continued Andre gaily. “How is my friend,
Mrs. Arnold? We used to have such gay times while in Philadelphia.
Does she not sympathize with our social life? I have heard that after
our evacuation of Philadelphia, the event was celebrated by a grand
ball given by the Whig element, but, when it came to a list of those
who should be invited, enough belles could not be found unless the
Tories were included. So the whole list of ladies that attended our
grand heraldic pageant, the Mischianza, had to be invited to be present
to have a success. The Shippens, the Chews, the Bonds, the Redmans,
the Willings and the whole list of our friends were there. Any of the
ladies of the first circles who will not stand for the principles of
aristocracy is a _rara avis_.”
“But you forget, Major Andre,” argued Barclugh, “that when you do find
such a lady, you will have a gem of the finest brilliancy. Such a one
will be a Whig out of principle, whereas a woman becomes a Tory out of
sentiment,” as he recalled the argument between Mollie Greydon and Mrs.
Arnold at the dinner party at Robert FitzMaurice’s.
Andre’s quarters were reached after the exchange of many pleasantries,
and the soldier showed the financier a room and bed and gave the key
to Barclugh to guard himself against any intrusion. Barclugh was now
safely quartered where he could carry out his business with the utmost
secrecy.
The remainder of that night and the next day were spent in bed by
Barclugh. He was suffering severely from the fall off of his horse, the
night before his arrival.
Major Andre had meals brought to his own room, and then quietly carried
the meals to Barclugh himself.
After two days and two nights of rest and nursing and a supply of clean
linen, Barclugh was sufficiently recovered to be escorted, in the dead
of the night,--when nothing was astir in the old Dutch town but the
solitary sentinel--to the Beekman mansion, the present location of 52nd
Street and Broadway. Here were the quarters of General Clinton.
Major Andre had his permanent quarters at No. 1 Broadway, and when
he and Barclugh walked out of the rear of these quarters a chaise and
postillion were ready for the financier and his escort to be driven in
haste to General Clinton.
Sir Henry Clinton, the Commander of the British forces in North
America, spent much of his time at his country house, the former
mansion of Dr. Beekman, and on the night in question he was anxiously
waiting to greet Roderick Barclugh.
His career had been unfruitful of results in America thus far, as he
had failed to aid Burgoyne, and, after evacuating Philadelphia, and
retreating by land to New York, had suffered disaster at Monmouth; he
had failed in his attack on Fort Moultrie, and now his whole career was
centered upon the capture of West Point by intrigue.
Seated in one of the upper chambers of the Beekman house were Sir
Henry Clinton, the Commander, Lord Carlisle and William Eden, M. P.,
Commissioners of the British government to America.
Lord Carlisle was the life-long friend of George Selwyn,--the wag of
English society and court circles in London at this time. William
Eden, a mere figure-head and courtier, was the intimate friend and
political supporter of both Carlisle and Selwyn. Charles Fox was the
brains and political force for this entire coterie, so that the
presence of Carlisle in America on his mission is obvious, since Fox
was irretrievably in debt to Carlisle and Selwyn. Furthermore, Fox
had been the associate of Carlisle at Eton and they had grown up to
be inseparable cronies; both were involved in all the noted gambling
escapades at Brooks’ and Almack’s for the previous ten years.
Besides the Commander and the two Commissioners, the room contained
a large round table and a sideboard well supplied with Madeira and
claret. This chamber was used for councils of war by General Clinton.
A map of the thirteen Colonies and the seaboard was lying carelessly
on the table. Carlisle and Clinton were discussing the losses at
the gaming table the night before and Eden was snuggling up to a
newly-opened bottle of Madeira, while seated in a large arm-chair,
enjoying a pipe of tobacco.
Barclugh entered the room, following Major Andre, and was received by
the three very, very cordially, but with much formality, as they had
met on serious business.
Here were five men authorized to treat with the Colonists in any manner
that would win them back to the allegiance of the King. They could wage
war, confiscate property, starve prisoners, offer rewards for treason,
offer to concede every demand of the Colonies for their political
welfare except independence. The utmost desire of the Commissioners
was to effect some compromise with the leaders of the revolution and
preserve allegiance to the mother country.
Roderick Barclugh was a very important personage in this council. He
had done important service in Paris for the financial interests of the
English government, and was now working out plans to stop the war for
the benefit of England’s Exchequer, so that, whatever he said had much
weight.
They all listened most intently to the recital of his advent into
Philadelphia’s commercial circles,--because he had much capital at
his command. How he became acquainted with the weakness of Arnold,
through the oyster vender, Sven Svenson, and how he interested Arnold
in privateering enterprises, all was heard with much interest. Then the
final surrender of Arnold to the proposition of treason, for twenty
thousand pounds sterling and a brigadier’s commission in the British
army, was received with profound satisfaction.
When Barclugh told of his journey, his being captured three times and
his interview with Washington, they listened with wonder; but when he
told of the experience with the Connecticut dame at the Red Squirrel
Inn and the wooden ham, the whole party laughed long and heartily.
At the conclusion of the narrative, Barclugh turned to General Clinton
and said brusquely:
“General Clinton, Arnold has been paid part of his price, and I shall
turn the military end of the business over to you. He will get his
assignment to West Point and you must carry out the details of the
plans already entered into. He will correspond with you under an
assumed name, and his language will have the _entente_ of carrying out
some large commercial transactions.”
“Mr. Barclugh, the conception and execution of your plans have been
magnificent, and I shall entrust the fulfilment of them to my able,
young adjutant, Major Andre,” graciously assented General Clinton, as
he turned with beaming eyes and countenance to his staff officer.
“But, gentlemen,” continued Barclugh, “my task at Philadelphia is
but commenced. My desires are to finish my business here as soon as
possible and return to start my next enterprise. I have the people and
plans engaged to start a bank in this country. It is to be known as the
Bank of North America. The model is to be our Bank of England, and we
shall have the government of this country so closely allied with this
institution that only safe measures of legislation will be allowed.
“Our great obstacle in overcoming the rebellion in our Colonies is the
lack of any centralizing power to draw all the men of substance into
one party and the poor devils into another. The reason is that there
are no organizations to control the accumulation of property.
“Life and industry create property, and money has been sanctioned
by custom to represent property; but an artificial system can be
established to control money; therefore, whoever controls the money of
a nation controls its life and industry.
“Commissary receipts answer as well for money now as gold, but if
we have a corporation of leading men of substance who lose their
individual interests in the policy of the bank, why, we can issue
a dictum that gold only will be received as money; then the vital
interests of thousands at once are merged into the centralized body.
“Let me establish a bank in Philadelphia, and I shall lay the
foundations of a rich man’s party that will bring the Colonists to the
institutions of the mother country more effectually than armies or
navies ever can.
“If the armies will conquer and hold the valley of the Hudson, and if
the military will conquer and hold the southern provinces, the power of
money will take Philadelphia with no loss of life. Then the Americans
will tire of the war and be glad to surrender to the fair offers of His
Majesty’s Commissioners.”
Lord Carlisle rubbed his hands with an excited air of satisfaction and
said enthusiastically:
“Mr. Barclugh, you have outlined the whole matter. Nothing more is
necessary. Eden and I are mere figureheads here, waiting for a decisive
blow, so that we can ply our vocation.
“The army must act now on your initiative and the results are sure to
be forthcoming,” continued Carlisle.
“Gentlemen,” proposed Lord Carlisle, as he arose with his glass partly
filled with Madeira, “success to Mr. Barclugh and his enterprise.”
They all drank their Madeira, standing, in honor of Barclugh.
The financier arose after the compliment paid to him and said modestly:
“Gentlemen, I thank you for your expression of regard.” Then, raising
his glass he continued: “My best wishes for a speedy conclusion of war
between Great Britain and her Colonies on constitutional grounds.”
The sentiment was received heartily by the others, and with glasses
raised high all drank deeply as only Englishmen can drink,--with no
“heel-taps.”
The conference being over, General Clinton took Barclugh by the arm
and escorted him to another room for his arrangements to return to
Philadelphia. The other three remained in the council chamber, to see
that King George, the aristocracy and British sordidness, were well
remembered with innumerable glasses of Madeira.
Lord Carlisle and William Eden were ordinary representatives of English
hangers-on to royalty’s apron strings. Both were fat and lymphatic. No
enterprise thrilled their souls. They were more than pleased to accept
the established order of their condition so long as the government was
good,--to them and theirs. They were as pliable as putty in the hands
of the controlling influence of the monarchy. They wanted a fat living
out of government with little service in return.
William Eden had his hobby, especially when a chance to tell it over
his Madeira offered. Filling his glass, and turning to Carlisle, he
stupidly rehearsed his theories:
“My Lord, you know I have very decided policy in regard to subduing the
King’s enemies. (By Jove, that’s good Madeira.)
“To make it the interest of Congress to close with us (the King’s
Commissioners) will be of the first consequence. (How’s that, Andre?)
“Well, from the many conversations which I have held with the men of
substance here in New York and from the nature of things, you know
that we ought to propose a scheme of government (My Lord, a government
as is a government), by a Parliament in the Colonies, composed of an
order of nobles or patricians,--and a lower house of delegates from the
different Colonial assemblies,--to be given to the provinces upon their
return to allegiance to our King.”
“That’s it, that’s it, Eden, allegiance is what we want,” interjected
Carlisle, enthusiastically.
Another glass of Madeira and Eden laboriously gathered up his
avoirdupois and continued:
“That form of government would have a general influence upon the
minds of those who now possess authority in America, as their present
precarious power would be by this means secured to themselves and
handed down to their descendants.”
“You have the idea all right, Mr. Eden,” said Carlisle, as he slyly
winked at Andre, “but we must have some others to listen to us than
these bottles of Madeira and Major Andre.
“Now, Eden,” continued Carlisle, “let’s have one glass to the words of
Dr. Johnson:
“‘That patriotism is the first business of scoundrels.’”
After this last appeal to Bacchus for inspiration, these two pillars of
British statesmanship found that they needed the assistance of Major
Andre to help them to their bed-chambers.
While the commissioners were exchanging empty platitudes, and drinking
the wine furnished by the Crown, the real business of the evening
was being concluded between General Clinton and Barclugh. As soon as
General Clinton had led the way to an airy bed-chamber Barclugh began
to unfold his plans:
“General Clinton, I must not delay here one minute longer than
necessary, for Washington has this town filled with spies, and my
detection here, at this house, means disaster.”
“How do you propose to return to Philadelphia?” asked General Clinton.
“My plan,” replied Barclugh concisely, “is to return as far as possible
by water. I wish that you could put me aboard one of your small armed
cruisers and send me down into one of those numerous inlets that are
opposite Philadelphia on the Jersey coast. I can be furnished a small
boat, and in case of capture I can pretend to have escaped from an
English vessel. In any event I shall be taken to Philadelphia and
turned over to Arnold.”
“That’s an excellent plan, Barclugh, and I have just the man to
perform the task,” said Clinton, “Captain Sutherland of the Sloop
Albatross. I shall send for him at once, and have you secreted on board
to-night, and then you can rest from your former journey. I know that
Washington’s spies are among us, and that you must be spirited away or
you will surely be traced to us.”
While the two were waiting for Captain Sutherland, for whom an order
had been despatched to report at the Beekman house for duty orders,
Barclugh went over the details for the fruition of Arnold’s plot. The
correspondence was to be conducted between Barclugh and Major Andre.
Barclugh would sign as Gustavus; Andre would reply as John Anderson.
Barclugh would turn over his letters to Arnold so that no traces could
be found for detection. As Barclugh was known among his commercial
associates to be in touch with merchants in New York, he could
correspond with little suspicion.
When Captain Sutherland was announced in the office below, General
Clinton brightened up and arose as he addressed his associate:
“Well, well, Mr. Barclugh, have you all of your effects ready to
depart? I dislike to have you leave us so informally, but duty calls
and there we are.”
“Oh, I’m ever ready,” was Barclugh’s prompt reply. “My whole wardrobe
and effects are on my person.”
Captain Sutherland was ordered to proceed down the coast of Jersey, and
land his passenger on the Jersey coast opposite Philadelphia, but in no
case to sacrifice the safety of the passenger. Obey the passenger as
to the place and manner of landing, and in no case to let his presence
on the ship be known. Not even Captain Sutherland could be informed as
to the business or name of Barclugh; he was simply introduced as Mr.
Gustavus.
The Captain of the Albatross and Barclugh mounted their horses and
proceeded to Paules’ Hook landing in the early hours of the morning.
When Barclugh and his companion had reached the landing and were
walking briskly to the ship’s boat, out of the darkness came the figure
of a female, who walked up to the two and touched Barclugh on the arm.
Barclugh stopped in amazement and looked upon the creature inquiringly,
and asked:
“My good woman, what can I do for you?”
“Nothing, sir,” sweetly replied the mysterious woman, “I was looking
for my brother who was coming down to the ferry, and I thought that you
were he,” she continued in the voice of a well-trained Indian girl.
Barclugh was in a hurry to embark and did not make any note of the
incident, for he could not clearly see the face of his questioner in
the darkness. He passed on and boarded the Albatross, as he thought to
himself, to perfect his security.