rested till this important position was regained, and had he been King of Spain, cost what it would, he would have wrenched it from our grasp. Perhaps Napoleon himself might have fared no better than Charles the Third, or the Duc de Crillon.

E. H. L.

MAJOR ANDRE

THE removal, in 1822, of the remains of this gallant officer, from the spot where they were originally interred in the neighbourhood of New York, has revived a considerable portion of the deep interest with which his countrymen contemplated the untimely fate that befel him during the American war. Our readers will be probably gratified by a short narrative of the affair.

The contest between Great Britain and her American Colonies had been carried on with various success, from its commencement in 1775, until the autumn of the year 1780, when the British army, under General Sir Henry Clinton, occupied New York; while Washington, the leader of the Revolutionists, commanded the American forces, which were strongly posted in its vicinity, and awaited the arrival of a considerable body of French troops, recently landed at Rhode Island, which were designed to co-operate with them in a general attack upon New York.

For

General Arnold, who then served as second in command of the American army, had long been disgusted with the conduct of the Congress towards him; he had resolved to abandon their cause, and to join the royalists upon the first favourable occasion. this object, during the last eighteen months, he had carried on a secret communication with Sir Henry Clinton, and supplied him from time to time with accurate intelligence of the intended movements of Washington, who, not suspecting his fidelity, en

trusted to him the important charge of West Point (a second Gibraltar), which was the key to his whole position. It was agreed that this post should be surrendered to the British General, as the means of ensuring the certain defeat of Washington and his army; and the object was of such critical importance, that a personal conference with Arnold was considered indispensable to the final completion of the arrangements.

Major John André was at this time AdjutantGeneral of the forces under the command of Sir Henry Clinton. Though he had scarcely attained the age of 29, he was already so much distinguished for his courage and ability in the field, that no officer in the British army gave greater promise of rising rapidly to the head of his profession; while the integrity of his conduct, and the high accomplishments of his education, enhanced the value of those amiable qualities of the heart, which endeared him in a peculiar manner to his family and friends.

This enterprising officer, to whom Arnold's secret communications were officially known, volunteered his services to meet him at a secret conference, without the American lines, on the banks of the Hudson river. For this object he embarked in the Vulture sloop of war, on the night of the 21st of September, 1780, and was conveyed in a boat to the appointed rendezvous, where Arnold met him on the neutralground. The day broke before their arrangements could be completed, and he was persuaded to retire, during the day, to a place of concealment within the lines, of which André was unconscious at the time: here he remained until the following night, when every thing being finally settled, Arnold furnished him with several important papers, showing the strength of his position, the numbers of the American troops, and other valuable intelligence for the information of Sir Henry Clinton. Meanwhile the Vulture had been compelled, by the fire of the enemy's artillery to drop down the river nearer to New York; and being thus prevented from retiring as he had

come, André, with great reluctance, consented to exchange his regimentals for a plain suit, the General supplying him with a horse and a passport, in the name of "John Anderson," to return by land to New York. He proceeded without interruption till he came to Tarry-Town, when three patroles of American militia (one of whom is still living,) suddenly sprung from a wood, and seized his bridle. Surprised at this unexpected rencontre, he asked, whence they came? to which they replied "from below (New York);" " and so do I," said he, thus at once avowing himself a royalist. In a moment he discovered his fatal error, for he was immediately arrested. On this he offered his watch and money to be allowed to pass: but the men were honest, and refused the bribe, conducting him to Colonel Jameson, their commander, by whom he was rigorously questioned. During this examination, he carefully preserved his disguise, and presenting Arnold's passport, demanded his release, which being refused, he desired it might be forwarded immediately to that officer, expressing his readiness to remain in custody until an answer should be received. By this manœuvre he saved Arnold's life at the expense of his own; for on receiving this intelligence of the arrest of "John Anderson," the General instantly escaped on board the Vulture, in the same boat which had been appointed for André's conveyance, and thus reached the British head-quarters in safety.

The tidings of Arnold's escape relieved the mind of the generous captive, who being searched, the secret papers entrusted to him were found concealed in his boot. Having now no longer occasion for disguise, he frankly declared his real name and rank, desiring only to be treated with becoming consideration.

It happened that Washington was at this time absent from head-quarters, but on his return to his camp at Tappan on the 28th, he received the report of Major André's arrest, and of General Arnold's desertion, which he transmitted without delay for

the information of Congress, and took vigorous measures to prevent the operation of those plans which had been concerted. André had already addressed to him a letter, explaining the circumstances under which he was taken; and, on being brought prisoner to his head-quarters, on the 29th September, Washington the same day assembled a board of sixteen general officers, to whose decision he referred the whole affair. When called into their presence, André answered every question with the same manly freedom which marked his conduct throughout the whole transaction; and so inflexible was his regard to truth, that he readily admitted those circumstances, upon the proof of which his fate mainly depended. The council of officers, "having maturely considered these facts, reported that Major André ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy; and that, agreeable to the law and usage of nations, it was their opinion that he ought to suffer death." In conformity with this sentence, Washington gave orders for his execution. The unfortunate prisoner received the tidings with the utmost firmness, expressing his readiness to suffer, but earnestly solicited from the General "a mode of death adapted to the feelings of a man of honour."

While his fate was yet in suspense, he had written the following letter to his patron, Sir Henry Clinton, which conveys an interesting picture of the serenity of his mind, and of the warm affection of his heart, when in the immediate prospect of death.

Tappan, Sept. 29, 1780.

"SIR,-Your Excellency is doubtless already apprised of the manner in which I was taken, and possibly of the serious light in which my conduct is considered, and the rigorous determination that is impending.

"Under these circumstances, I have obtained General Washington's permission to send you this letter, the object of which is, to remove from your breast any suspicion that I could imagine I was bound by your Excellency's orders to expose myself to

what has happened. The events of coming within an enemy's posts, and of changing my dress, which led me to my present situation, were contrary to my own intentions, as they were to your orders; and the circuitous route which I took to return, was imposed (perhaps unavoidably,) without alternative, upon me. "I am perfectly tranquil in mind, and prepared for any fate to which an honest zeal for my King's service may have devoted me.

me.

"In addressing myself to your Excellency on this occasion, the force of all my obligations to you, and of the attachment and gratitude I bear you, recurs to With all the warmth of my heart I give you thanks for your Excellency's profuse kindness to me; and I send you the most earnest wishes for your welfare, which a faithful, affectionate, and respectful attendant can frame.

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"I have a mother and three sisters, to whom the value of my commission would be an object, as the loss of Grenada has much affected their income. It is needless to be more explicit on this subject; I am persuaded of your Excellency's goodness.

"I receive the greatest attention from his Excellency General Washington, and from every person under whose charge I happen to be placed.

"I have the honour to be, with the most respectful attachment, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,

"JOHN ANDRE, Adjutant-General." The British General urged the whole weight of his authority and influence in behalf of his gallant young friend. He addressed an earnest remonstrance to Washington upon the severity of the sentence; and on receiving an unfavourable reply, he sent a commission, composed of Lieut.-General Robertson and two other gentlemen, under a flag of truce, to offer some personal explanations which could not be conveyed in writing. Of these the General alone was permitted to land, and was met by General Green, the president of the council of officers, whom Washington deputed to confer with him. Arnold