Benedict Arnold

Year
1892
Month
4
Day
15
Article Title
Benedict Arnold
Author
------
Page Number
2
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
BENEDICT ARNOLD. In the latest issue of dominion archives Mr. Douglas Brymner, the compiler, has embodied some letters and memoranda from Governor Simcoe of Upper Canada. Among these are some interesting references to Benedict Arnold, whose betrayal of the American cause and subsequent residence in St. John will be readily recalled by all. It appears from the papers now recovered that Arnold was an applicant for a large tract of land in Upper Canada. His claims were urged strenuously on the ground of his services and sacrifices. In a letter to the duke of Portland, dated 2nd January, 1797, he wrote. "There is no other man in England that has made so great sacrifices as I have done of property, rank, prospects, etc., in support of the government, and no man who has received less in return, and, further, I have the strongest possible claim on the faith, justice and honor of the nation for some further compensation and provision for myself and family." Arnold first claimed to be entitled to 5,000 acres for himself and 1,200 acres for each member of his family, in all 14,600 acres. His claim was subsequently increased to 21,000 acres, and eventually to 50,000. Some correspondence between the colonial office and Governor Simcoe called forth the following remark from the latter, which shows pretty plainly the estimation in which Arnold was held by the loyalists of that time. Governor Simcoe wrote:— To answer your first query, is there any objection to Arnold and his children having any grant of lands in Upper Canada? I say, there is no legal impediment (on American grounds), provided they have not already had any grant in the province of New Brunswick, but General Arnold is a character extremely obnoxious to the original loyalists of America; his not intending to reside in Upper Canada does away in some measure with that objection.