Washington said afterwards that, either on account of his " egregious folly, or bewildered conception, he seemed lost in astonishment, and not to know what he was doing." This is as lenient a judgment, perhaps, as can be passed on his conduct. No one ever doubted the purity of his intentions. Perceiving the mischievous tendency of the papers, and knowing them to have been copied by Arnold, at the same moment that he sent Andre under guard to West Point, he dispatched an express with the papers to meet General Washington, then supposed to be on the road returning from his interview with the French commanders at Hartford. Two reasons were subsequently assigned by Jameson, for a course which seemed so extraordinary to every body else ; first, that he thought the affair was an imposition by the British, intending to destroy the confidence of the Americans in Arnold ; secondly, that, not knowing the Vulture was up the river, he supposed Arnold could not get to the enemy, without passing through the American out-posts on the lines, where he would be taken.

Major Tallmadge, next in command under Jameson was absent on duty below White Plains when Andre was brought in, and did not return till evening. He was filled with astonishment when Jameson related what had happened, and could not refrain from expressing his surprise at the course that had been pursued. To his mind the case was so clear, or at all events was attended by such peculiar circumstances, as