George Canning Hill

“ At twenty-one, according to the legal articles by which he was bound out to learn the trade of a druggist, he became his own master, having served out his apprenticeship. About this time he left home and went off to New Haven, where he determined to set up in the business for himself. The Lathrops helped him, probably because of their feeling of interest in one of their own relations, and because they likewise knew this would be the best method of saving him to society; so that he began his career in his new and enlarged sphere of action under very favorable and encouraging auspices. ”

“ Most boys, with a temper like his, are apt to be arrant cowards; but it cannot be said that Arnold was a coward in any sense. He delighted in doing what no one else would dare to do, or even seriously think of. ”

“ Yet it is not impossible that the highest forms of manhood may be studied, sometimes, by the contemplation of their strongest contrasts; especially, in cases where it was just as easy for men to be heroes as villains, and all attending influences should have nerved them to deeds of patriotism and nobility. And I have thought it may be so in the present case. Arnold had opportunities such as few men are offered ”

“ He took a downright pleasure in making the young birds cry out with his savage torments, that he might see the old ones flying around him in distress, wailing for the destruction of their innocent offspring. ”

“ Israel Putnam; and the next year, 1756, Arnold being only sixteen years of age, he was so captivated with the thought of being a soldier, that he cherished the secret purpose of going off to the wars with the others who were at that time drafted from all parts of the Connecticut Colony. He saw in a military career something to excite and inflame his imagination; the irregular mode of life in a camp had many attractions for a spirit so uneasy and impatient of restraint as his ”

“ Arnold had three sons while he lived in New Haven, Benedict, Richard, and Henry. The former died while quite a young man, in the West Indies. It is believed that he came to an untimely and violent death, in consequence of his uncontrollable temper. In this respect he was very much like his father. Mrs. Arnold, who was originally a New Haven lady, died about the time the Revolutionary War commenced. Hannah, the only sister of Arnold, removed from Norwich to live with her brother, whom she loved with all a sister's devotion. ”

“ At length he engaged in the West India trade, and began to ship horses and cattle, mules and provisions, to the islands that compose the group known by that name, which was a great business in New Haven at that day, and continued to be for some time afterwards. This same business, too, his father had followed in Norwich before him, and became the possessor of his wealth in consequence. Like his father, too, he commanded his own vessels, and made voyages to the West Indies on his own account. He was considered a very hard captain, and did not seem to multiply his friends anywhere very fast. ”

“ It is the purpose of this narrative to do justice to his merits, while sparing in no manner his unparalleled crimes; for in no other way than by comparing one side of his character with the other, can one hope to make up a judgment that will be either just or lasting.
The ancestors of Benedict Arnold settled originally in Rhode Island. One of them, after whom he was named, was the president of the colony immediately succeeding Roger Williams. His father emigrated from Newport to Norwich, in Connecticut, together with another brother, Oliver, not long after the year 1730. ”

“ One who carefully studies marked traits of boyish character like these, cannot very well help tracing out the future career of the man who still possesses them. Arnold showed himself a reckless, bad boy; it is easy to conclude that as a man he would prove to be not very much changed. ”

“ But he was irritated at the thought of exposure, and resolved to silence his informer by driving him out of town; and after administering to him the second whipping, he appears in a card in the newspapers, and tries to divert public attention from the meanness of the act by showing the citizens what a lasting injury informers like this sailor could inflict upon the interests of trade. The whole affair illustrates Arnold's impetuous temper, and his determination to brook control at the hands of no one. ”

“ His profits came in steadily, and his prospects and position in the world ought to have been good enough to satisfy any man of reasonable desires; yet it appears that he was regarded with feelings of suspicion by his fellow citizens, and failed to secure anything like that respect for himself that gives life one of its highest values. ”