Smith nor any other person shall be made acquainted with your proposals ; if they (which I doubt not) are of such a nature that I can officially take notice of them, I shall do it with pleasure. I take it for granted, Colonel Robinson will not propose anything that is not for the interest of the United States, as well as of himself." Smith had likewise two papers signed by Arnold, which he showed to Robinson; one, a permission to pass and repass with a boat to Dobb's Ferry, the other a permission to Joshua Smith, Mr. John Anderson and two sen-ants, to pass and repass the guards near King's Ferry at all times. By these papers Colonel Robinson understood that Arnold expected Andre to come on shore. Smith was left with the captain of the vessel for about a quarter of an hour, when Robinson returned with a person whom he

302 ' HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

introduced as Mr. Anderson. He excused himself from going ashore, but this person would go in his stead, and was competent to the transaction of the business. Andre, although in his uniform, was so completely enveloped in a blue great-coat, that Smith (if we believe his assertions) did not suspect his real name or character.

Smith and Andre descended into the boat, where the Colquhouns awaited them. They were landed at the foot of a mountain called the Long Clove, on the western margin of the river, about six miles below Stony Point. The Vulture lay between the place and Teller's Point. Here Arnold was in attendance on horseback, with another horse brought by a servant of Smith's. It was perfectly dark, and Smith, knowing the spot designated by Arnold, groped his way up the bank, and found the commander of West Point concealed among the trees and bushes.0