a sudden they found themselves on the highest pinnacle--the
one of military fame--with Gates, Lee, Wayne, Greene and many other
distinguished generals at their feet, the other of social prestige the
observed of all observers! For a time Arnold's caprices had been looked
upon as only the flash and outbreak of that fiery mind which had
directed his military genius. He attacked religion; yet in religious
circles his name was mentioned with fondness. He lampooned Congress; yet
he was condoned by the Whigs.

Then came the reaction. Society flew into a rage with its idol. He had
been worshiped with an irrational idolatry. He was censured with an
irrational fury. In the first place the position in which he was placed
as Military Governor required the exercise of the utmost patience and
tact. Neither of these qualities did he possess. The order to close the
shops caused discontent. People became incensed at the sight of a
dictator interfering with their private life. There was thrust upon them
in his person the very type that they were striving to expel. His manner
of action suddenly became obnoxious.

What was merely criticism in respect to his public life, became a
violent passion respecting the affairs of his private life. There were
many rumors of his intercourse with the Tory element. Brilliant
functions were arranged, it was said, with the sole view of gaining
their friendship and good will. He spent the major portion of his free
time in their company, nay more, he had taken to wife the most notorious
of their number. Small wonder was it that his sentiments on the question
of the war were undergoing a marked alteration. The thirst of the
political Whigs for vengeance was insatiable.

Then he had repaired to a mansion, the most elegant seat in
Pennsylvania, where he entertained in a style and after a manner far in
excess of his means. A coach and four he maintained with the greatest
ostentation. His livery and appointments were extravagant and wholly
unbecoming an officer of a country so poor and struggling. He drove to
town in the company of his wife and paid every attention to the
aristocratic leaders of the city. He disdained the lot of the common
citizen. Even his head aide-de-camp had submitted a free man to the
indignity of fetching a barber to shave him, an act countenanced by the
General himself in a letter of reply to the boy's father.

His entertainments were frequent, altogether too frequent for the
conserva