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the British commander his proposals for delivering that fortress into his hands—a scheme which, if it had succeeded, might not improbably have put an end to the war. On Arnold's overtures being accepted, Andre was appointed to conduct the negociation with him. After some correspondence under feigned names, Andre and Arnold met on the banks of the Hudson on Friday the 22d of September, when everything was arranged for the execution of the plot on the following Monday, and the necessary information in writing was put into Andre's hands to be delivered to general Clinton. Unfortunately for Andre, the boatmen who had brought him on shore from the English sloop of war in which he had come up the river, having had their suspicions or fears awakened, refused, although he bore a flag of truce from general Arnold, to convey him back, and he was obliged to determine upon attempting to make his way to New York by land. Arnold, to whom he returned, insisted, in these circumstances, that he should exchange his military uniform for a plain coat; and to this Andre reluctantly consented. A person of the name of Smith was then sent away with him as a guide, and they set out together; but when they reached the next post, they found themselves obliged, in order to prevent suspicion, to follow the advice of the commanding of ficer, and to remain there for the night. Next morning they proceeded on their journey, and Smith having conducted his charge till they had come within view of the English lines, left him a little below Pine's Bridge, a village on the Croton. Andre rode on alone for about four leagues farther, when as he was entering the village of Tarrytown, his horse was suddenly taken hold of by three men, who turned out to belong to the New York militia. With unaccountable imprudence, Andre assumed that they were of the English party, and instead of producing his passport, desired them not to detain him, as he was a British officer. When he found his mistake,he endeavored to induce them to let him go by the the offer of his watch and the most tempt ing promises; but the men were no. to be bribed, and having found the impor

tant papers of which he was the bearer concealed in his boots, they immediately conducted him to the nearest station. His first anxiety now was for the safety of Arnold; and he prevailed upon the officer in command, who must have been a person of very little perspicacity to forward a notice of the capture to that general, by which the traitor obtained the opportunity of escaping with his life. Having secured this point, Andre now stated who he was, on which he was conducted to the presence of general Washington at Tappan or Orange Town. On the 25.h, his case was submitted by the American general to the consideration of a board of fourteen general officers, among whom were Rochambeau und Lafayette, who had recently arrived with the troops from France. Before this tribunal, Andre urged that he had come on shore under the sanc ion of a passport, or flag of truce, transmitted to him by Arnold, who was, at the time of granting it, a major-general in the American army, and of course had au horiy so to act. But the circumstance of his having been found disguised and bearing a false name was considered as taking from lim the benefit of this plea, alhough he proved that in both these points he had acted in obedience to the commands of Arnold, under whose orders he was while he bore his flag of truce. The decision of the court-mar.ial, though the mombers do not appear to have been unanimous, as has sometimes been asserted, was that the prisoner ought to be considered as a spy; and he was accordingly sentenced to be executed. Bo h entrenties and remonstrances were employed in vain by general Clinton to avert his fate: but as retaliation was no taken by the execution of any American prisoners, it may be inferred that it was fels even by the English that his sentence was according to the rules of martial law. He himself exhibited the most perfet re ignation to his fate, and docs no: after his condemnation appear to have di pued the justice of the decision under which he was to suffer. He only begged that his death might be that of a soldier.-He was kept in ignorance of the decr mination of the court-mar ial upon this

point; when upon being brought to the fatal spot, on the morning of the 2d of October, he perceived, that he was to perish on a gibbet, he exclaimed, "It is but a momentary pang," and gave no further expression to his feelings. He died with the respect, even of those, who had found themselves obliged to execute him. “ Andre" said Washington, in a letter to a friend, "has met his fate, and with that fortitude, which was expected from an accomplished man and a gallant officer." A monument was erected to his memory, at the public expense, in Westminster Abbey.

Whatever the books, which are considered the standard authorities upon international law may say in reference to such a case as that of Andre, there is no good apology for his conduct. To say that he acted under the orders of an officer whom he knew to be playing the part of a traitor, cannot be considered as any exculpation. There would be no security for an army or a government if it were not to be at liberty, when it had them in its power, to punish persons detected in devising such plots as this of Arnold and Andre, and under whatever subterfuge they might attempt to shelter themselves. The having recourse to the use of a flag of truce, in such circumstances, must be regarded as a mere trick. General Clinton and Arnold were the great culprits, of whom the latter only has received his due share of opprobrium.

To his last moment Andre had cherished the hopeless passion which had driven him from his country and his early pursuits. In a letter written after his capture, which has been printed, he states that when he was stript of everything, he had concealed the picture of Honoria Sin his mouth. This lady, although it does not appear that he had been informed of the event, had died of consumption only a few months before

This unfortunate officer was a person of cultivated mind and elegant accomplishments. He excelled in painting and music, and was also no despicable writer of verse. His humorous poem, entitled the Cowchase, which appeared in three successive portions at New York, in 1780, the last being published on the very day on which its author was taken prisoner, is a production of decided talent. It is the style of Cowper's JOHN GILPIN, which celebrated poem was not written till some years later.Penny Cyclopedia.

Early Heroism of Washington.

GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE having informed the assembly of Virginia, on the 1st of November, 1753, that the French had erected a fort on the Ohio, where Pittsburg now stands, it was resolved to send a message to M. St. Pierre, the commander, to claim that country as belonging to his Britannic Majesty, and to order him to withdraw. Mr. Washington, the future father of his country, a young gentleman just arrived at age, offered his service on this important and hazardous mission. The distance from Williamsburg, the capital of Virginia, was upwards of 400 miles; more than one half of which was through a trackless and howling desert, inhabited by cruel and merciless savages; and the season was uncommonly severe. Notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances, Mr. Washington, attended by one companion only, set out upon this arduous and dangerous enterprise; travelled from Winchester on foot, carrying his provisions on his back, executed his commission, and after incredible hardships, and many providential escapes, returned safely to Williamsburg.

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