St. Clair, mentioned in
such a way as to excite suspicion that he was connected with Arnold's
treason. The sergeant, who was an intelligent man, soon discovered
that there was no ground for such suspicion, and that the paper which
had excited it was designed by the enemy to fall into Washington's
hands and excite jealousy and ill-feeling among the American officers.
The papers were traced to a British emissary named Brown.

"Sir Henry Clinton was much distressed on reading Washington's
despatch and the letter of Andre. He summoned a council of officers
and it was at once resolved to send a deputation of three persons to
the nearest American outpost to open communication with Washington,
present proofs of Andre's innocence, and try to procure his release.
General Robertson, Andrew Elliott, and William Smith were the men
chosen as the committee, and Beverly Robinson went with them as a
witness in the case. Toward noon, on the last of October, they arrived
at Dobbs Ferry, in the _Greyhound_ schooner, with a flag of truce.

"General Greene had been appointed by Washington to act in his behalf,
and was already at the ferry when the _Greyhound_ came to anchor.
General Robertson opened the conference with great courtesy of manner
and flattering words, and was going on to discuss the subject of
conference, when General Greene politely interrupted him by saying,
'Let us understand our position. I meet you only as a private
gentleman, not as an officer, for the case of an acknowledged spy
admits of no discussion.'

"With that understanding the conference was carried on, the British
saying what they could in Andre's favor, but bringing forward nothing
that affected the justice of his sentence. Then a letter from Arnold
to Washington was produced. It was impudent, malignant, and
hypocritical; menaced Washington with dreadful retaliation if Andre
should be executed, prophesying that it would cause torrents of blood
to flow, and the guilt of that would be upon Washington. Such a letter
could not reasonably be expected to produce any good effect.

"The conference ended at sunset. Robertson expressed his confidence
that Greene would be candid in reporting to Washington the substance
of what had passed between them, adding that he should remain on board
the _Greyhound_ all night, and that he hoped that in the morning he
might take Major Andre back with him, or at least hear that his life
was safe.

"Robertson was overwhelmed with