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1816 Book titled: Conspiracy of Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton Against the U.S...

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 800.00 USD
1816 Book titled: Conspiracy of Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton Against the U.S...
Washington Related
“Conspiracy of Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton Against the United States of America and Against General Washington”
1816 Book titled, “Complot d’Arnold et de Sir Henry Clinton contre les Etats-Unis d’Amerique et Contre le General Washington, by François Marquis de Barbé-Marbois, in French, September 1780. Paris, Didot, 1816,” Extremely Fine.
This important historical book was written by a contemporary French Minister serving in America as liaison. It contains 164 pages, measures 8 inches x 5 inches x 0.75 inches thick. Text in English under the title Conspiracy of Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton Against the United States of America and Against General Washington. Half sheepskin corner and spine wedge cover of the period, being tight and clean. Portrait Engraving of George Washington and a Plan of West Point on the Hudson River at front.

Benedict Arnold, whose name has become synonymous with traitor, was originally a general in the Continental Army who defected to the British Army in the fall of 1780 after his plot to surrender West Point was exposed. Arnold’s communications with British Major General Clinton took place primarily through Major John André, Clinton’s “Spy Chief.” It was Andre’s capture near Tarrytown, New York on September 23, 1780, after a meeting with Arnold, that exposed the plot to surrender West Point to the British. André was hanged at Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780, after General Clinton refused George Washington’s offer to exchange André for Arnold.

François Marquis de Barbé-Marbois (1745-1837), was Secretary of the French Legation at Philadelphia during the American Revolution and a French government official who served as Minister of Finance under Napoleon, and he negotiated the Sale of Louisiana to the United States. In 1779 he was made secretary of the French legation to the United States; he remained in America as chargé d'affaires in 1784. Provenance: From the Historic Hotel des Ventes’ Chateau d’Hauteville Sale, Sept. 11-12, 2015 part of lot 213.
Marquis François de Barbé-Marbois (1745-1837), a French government official who served as minister of finance under Napoleon, negotiated the sale of Louisiana to the U.S. In 1779 he was made secretary of the French legation to the United States; he remained in America as chargé d'affaires in 1784.

The Conspiracy of Arnold seems to have attracted, from the moment of its detection, Count Barbe Marbois' particular attention. His official situation and his connexions enabled him to procure the most authentic and ample materials for the history of the transaction. At what time he began with this so evidently a favourite and laboured task, does not appear. But it cannot escape the sagacity of his readers that his work, has been, if not recast, at least retouched, since the great revolution of March, 1814, and seasoned with allusions to the state of things in France under the revived monarchy.

The " Conspiracy of Arnold" has received the highest praises from all the critics, and by one of them it is placed on a level with St Real's celebrated masterpiece, the Conjuration de Venise. Its author has at a later period visited the American continent, and has enjoyed abundant opportunities of correcting his narrative, by comparing his own recollections with those of the most eminent men of that, country.

Benedict Arnold was a Major General in the American Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. He defected to the British Army in the fall of 1780 after his plot to surrender West Point was exposed. Arnold had been appointed commander of West Point on August 3, 1780, a strategic location, command of which also gave him control over the entire American-held section of the Hudson River.

Arnold had become disillusioned with the American cause in the Revolutionary War and frustrated with his own position in the Continental Army, sentiments that dated back to at least 1778, and eventually resulted in secret communications with General Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander-in-Chief in North America.

Arnold’s communications with Clinton took place primarily through Major John Andre, Clinton’s spy chief. It was Andre’s capture near Tarrytown, New York on September 23, 1780, after a meeting with Arnold, in fact, that exposed the plot to surrender West Point to the British.

Arnold fled West Point for New York City on the British ship HMS Vulture, after which he was given a commission in the British Army as a Brigadier General. Major Andre was hanged at Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780, after Clinton refused George Washington’s offer to exchange Andre for Arnold.