On the way he said: 

“Say what you say for war.  I want to meet Captain Snipes on say or shore.”

When they were closeted in the president’s private office, Mr. Madison asked: 

“Now, sir, who are you, and what is your business?”

“I’m John Henry, an Irishman, sir,” said Henry.  “And I want to tell you that for two years efforts have been in progress on the part of British authorities in Canada, sanctioned by the home government, to effect a separation of the eastern States from the Union, and attach them to Great Britain.”

“Can that be possible?” cried the president.  It was no news to him; for he had heard the rumor before; yet he had always regarded it as groundless;—­at least he had doubted the disloyalty of his opponents in the East.

“It is every word true, Mr. President, and I have the very best proof in the world of it.”

“What proofs have you?”

“Can I speak freely?”

“Certainly.”

“Without danger of arrest or imprisonment?”

“You can.”

With this assurance, Henry said: 

“I was in the employ of Sir James Craig, governor-general of Canada, in 1809, as a British spy to visit Boston and ascertain the temper of the people of New England.”

“You did so?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What was the temper of the people of New England?”

“At that time, sir, they seemed to be in a state of incipient rebellion, because of the passage of the embargo act.  I was satisfied that the New Englanders were ripe for revolt and separation.”

“Well, was any action taken on your report?” asked the president.

“No, sir.  My performances in the matter so pleased Sir James, that he promised to give me lucrative employment in the colonial government; but I waited and waited for the fulfillment of that promise, and in the meanwhile Sir James died.  I went to England last year to seek remuneration for my services from the home government.  I was flattered and cajoled for awhile, and introduced into the highest circles of society; but what did I want of society?  I wanted money, and money I must have.”

“Did they not pay you?”

“Not a cent.”

“What did you ask?”

“I demanded thirty thousand pounds sterling and not a farthing less.  I had done the odious duty of a spy for my government.  I had risked my fortune, my liberty and my life in the service of England, and she requited me with empty promises.”

“They made you no offers?”

“None.  I offered to take a lucrative position in Canada.”

“And they offered you none?”

“No.  At last they seemed to grow weary with my demands, and hinted very strongly that the disaffection in New England toward the government of the United States was nothing more serious than a local partisan feeling, and, as a polite way of dismissing me and getting rid of my demand, they referred me to Sir George Prevost, the successor of Sir James Craig.”