Will Paget A.L.S., New York, Oct. 12, 1780 : to Thomas Druce, London
1780
MSS L1988.190.232
Available at Main Library
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Title
Will Paget A.L.S., New York, Oct. 12, 1780 : to Thomas Druce, London
Published
New York (N.Y.) 1780
Description
[4] p. ; 26 cm. (4to)
Call Number
MSS L1988.190.232
Note
"The famous Rebel General Arnold ... has been dissatify'd and a correspondence kept up between him and Gen. Clinton an aid de camp of whom was sent for with a pass ... under the name of Andreson, (his real name being Andre) .... They have try'd the poor Major who is condemn'd as a spy."
"Washington is inexorable, and if he chooses to risque the fate of their people that are with us that are hangable he may do it -- As there is no doubt but by all the rules of war he is subject to the fate of spies."
"The scheme was no less than the surprise and probably dispersion of the Rebel Army ... and great part of them have come over with Arnold, as there is a general diffidence and discontent reigning among them -- Nothing but Washington keeps them together."
"..[T]he arrival of the 'Vile Sarpent Rodney's Fleet on their coasts has struck a general damp in them."
"Had the French fleet been timely attack'd in Rhode Island -- the affair had been all over."
At bottom of p. [3]t: Poor Andre has since undergone his sentence.
Page [4] is address leaf with portion of red wax seal intact.
Letter has been published with some background in Manuscripts, vol. XXXVI, no. 4, pp. 271-274
Pagett is apparently a British citizen in New York at the time of this letter; Audrey Wallace, in Benedict Arnold: Misunderstood Hero identifies him as a Scottish lieutenant stationed with the British Army. (p. 67). See also the British Army list for 1780, which identifies one William Paget as a surgeon in the 48th Regiment of Foot. He died in 1828
"Washington is inexorable, and if he chooses to risque the fate of their people that are with us that are hangable he may do it -- As there is no doubt but by all the rules of war he is subject to the fate of spies."
"The scheme was no less than the surprise and probably dispersion of the Rebel Army ... and great part of them have come over with Arnold, as there is a general diffidence and discontent reigning among them -- Nothing but Washington keeps them together."
"..[T]he arrival of the 'Vile Sarpent Rodney's Fleet on their coasts has struck a general damp in them."
"Had the French fleet been timely attack'd in Rhode Island -- the affair had been all over."
At bottom of p. [3]t: Poor Andre has since undergone his sentence.
Page [4] is address leaf with portion of red wax seal intact.
Letter has been published with some background in Manuscripts, vol. XXXVI, no. 4, pp. 271-274
Pagett is apparently a British citizen in New York at the time of this letter; Audrey Wallace, in Benedict Arnold: Misunderstood Hero identifies him as a Scottish lieutenant stationed with the British Army. (p. 67). See also the British Army list for 1780, which identifies one William Paget as a surgeon in the 48th Regiment of Foot. He died in 1828
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