Turning his eyes on West Point as an acquisition which would give value to treason, and inflict a mortal wound on his former friends, he sought the command of that fortress for the purpose of gratifying both his avarice and his hate.[42] [Footnote 42: The author is informed by General Lafayette that Arnold, while commanding at West Point, endeavoured to obtain from General Washington the names of his secret emissaries in New York, and his means of communicating with them.

He pressed Lafayette, who had also his private intelligencers, for the same information.

His applications were of course unsuccessful.

It cannot be doubted that his object was to commit the additional crime of betraying them to Sir Henry Clinton.] To New York, the safety of West Point was peculiarly interesting; and, in that state, the reputation of Arnold was particularly high.

To its delegation he addressed himself; and one of its members had written a letter to General Washington, suggesting doubts respecting the military character of Howe, to whom its defence was then entrusted, and recommending Arnold for that service.