contents of this volume will be found copies of profiles cut by Major André for Miss Rebecca Redman. They are likenesses of Captain Cathcart, afterwards Earl Cathcart, cut in 1778; of Sir John Wrottesley, Bart., dated 1780; of Phineas Bond, afterwards British Consul at Philadelphia; of Captain Battwell, and of Major André himself. The sime work has a fac-simile full size of the ticket for the mischianza designed by André, and of the portrait of a lady by the same artist. These are transfers of the original drawings, reduced copies of which are given in Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution. The same work has a copy of a piece of poetry written by André, taken anastatically from the manuscript. I copy the lines: A GERMAN AIR. Return enraptur'd Hours When Delia's heart was mine. When she with Wreaths of Flowers, My Temples wou'd entwine. When Jealousy nor Care, Corroded in my BreastBut Visions light as Air Presided o'er my Rest. Now nightly round my Bed, No Airy Visions play, No Flowrets crown my Head, Each Vernal Holyday. For far from those sad Plains Her wretched Lover dies. German Air; words composed by Major André at the request of Miss Becky Redman, Jan 2, 1777." The original is in the possession of Henry Pennington of this city. The same work as the account of the mischianza "from an officer," sent to the Ladies' Magazine, and which, it is now generally believed, was written by André, who was a distinguished actor in the pageant. From the Philadelphia Stage from 1749 to 1821, by Charles Durang, a historical work now in progress of publication here in a newspaper, I extract the following, which gives the most complete account of André's efforts as a scene painter, whilst the British were in possession of Philadelphia in 1777– 8, that I have seen: "A garrison hemmed in by an active enemy in a long winter, go through rather a dull routine of life's scenes of enjoyment. To the dashing young officer of European education, our city of right angles and uniformity offered at that early period in the way of novelty meagre entertainment. Accordingly those gay young chevaliers resolved themselves into a corps dramatique: there were several artists among them. The lamented Major André was very talented in drawing and painting. On the eve of his execution he sketched a very accurate likeness of himself, which is extant. Captain Delancy was also a very excellent artist. They added some very useful and beautiful scenes to the old stock; one scene from the brush of André deserves a record. It was a landscape presenting a distant champagne country, and winding rivulet, extending from the front of the picture to the extreme distance. In the foreground and centre a gentle cascade (the water exquisitely executed) was overshadowed by a group of majestic forest trees. The perspective was excellently preserved; the foliage, verdure, and general colouring was artistically toned and glazed. The subject of this scene and its treatment were eminently indicative of the bland temperament of the ill-fated Major's mind, ever running in a calm and harmonious mood. "It was a drop-scene, and hung about the middle of the third entrance as called in stage directions. The name of André was inscribed in large black letters on the back of it, thus placed no doubt by his own hand on its completion, sometimes a custom with scenic artists. It was burnt with the rest of the scenery at the destruction of the theatre in 1821. It would have been a precious relic at the present day for its very interesting associations. "Poor André little thought while he was painting that scene, that a few short years afterward it would be used in a natural play, written on the subject of his capture and death. It was so used in the summer of 1807, on the 4th of July, at the Old South,' as a representation of the pass on the banks of the Hudson river where he was taken by the three militia men; it being the only scene in the house which might answer for the locality, without painting one expressly for it. The piece had no merit as a drama, and was only concocted for holiday occasions, being a sort of hybrid affair, abounding with fulsome dialogue and pantomine-full of Yankee notions and patriotic clap-trap; but incessant laughter and applause I well remember rewarded the company's efforts." There was in Peall's Museum in this city, a few years ago, a MS. poem by Major André, entitled The Cow Chase. I presume that SERVIENS is familiar with the composition; it has been printed, but I do not now know where to find it. If SERVIENS has no copy of this squib, which was in reference to the exploits of a foraging party under the command of the American General Wayne, I have no doubt but that I can procure a copy for him from New York, where I presume the original poem now is. Our museum was broken up some years ago, and most of the stock bought by P. T. Barnum, of New York. If the latter has the verses I can procure a copy. I would refer SERVIENS for an interesting account of Arnold's treason and André's fate, with illustrations to Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., in which he will find a fac-simile of a pen-and-ink portrait of André by himself. In conclusion, I inclose a newspaper clipping which has been published in New York Journal, since I thought of preparing this communication for "N. & Q." It is by a correspondent who, judging from his former writings, has devoted some attention to historical points, and I think it may be relied upon as correct. The relation throws an additional light upon the sad story of André's detection. "ARNOLD'S TREASON. "Application was made in the year 1825 for assistance in making out the necessary documents for a pension by one of the bargemen in the barge that conveyed General Arnold to the sloop of war 'Vulture.' He was bow-oarsman in the boat, next in rank to the coxswain, whose name was James Lar. vey. His memory was remarkably accurate, and his veracity unquestionable. "The day before the flight of Arnold, the barge brought him with Major André from Lawyer Smith's below Stony Point, to the general's head-quarters. They conversed very little during the passage. The general told his aid, who was at the landing when they arrived, that he had brought up a relation of his wife. Arnold kept one of his horses constantly caparisoned at the door of his quarters, and the next morning, soon after breakfast, he rode down in great haste with the coxswain just behind him on foot. The coxswain cried out to the bargemen to come cut from their quarters that were hard by, and the general dashed down the footfall instead of taking a circuit, the usual one for those who were mounted. The barge was soon made ready, though the general, in his impatience, repeatedly ordered the bow-man to push off, before all the men had mustered. The saddle and upholsters were taken on board of the barge, and Arnold, immediaiely after they pushed off, wiped the priming from the pistols and primed them anew, cocked and half-cocked them repeatedly. He inquired of Collins, the bow-man, if the men had their arms, and was told that they came in such haste that there were but two swords, belonging to himself and the coxswain. They ought to have brought their arms, he said. He then tied a white handkerchief to the end of his cane for a flag in passing the forts. On arriving alongside of the Vulture, he took it off and wiped his face. "The general had been down in the cabin about an hour, when the coxswain was sent for, and by the significant looks and laughing of the officers, the men in the barge began to be very apprehensive that all was not right. He very soon returned and told them that they were all prisoners of war.' The bargemen were unmoved, and submitted to the fortunes of war, except two Englishmen who had deserted, and who were much terrified and wept. The bargemen were promised good fare if they would en ter on duty aboard the Vulture, but they declined, and were handcuffed, and so remained for four days. General Arnold then sent for them at New York. In passing from the wharf to his head-quarters, the two Englishmen slipped aboard a letter of marque, then nearly ready to sail. "The others, five in number, waited on Arnold, who told them that they had always been attentive and faithful, and he expected they would stay with him he had, he said, command of a regiment of horse, and Larvey and Collins might have commissions, and the rest should be non-commissioned offcers. Larvey answered that he could not be contented he had rather be a soldier where he was content-than an officer where he was not. The others expressed or manifested their concurrence in Larvey's opinion. Arnold then gave the coxswain a guinea, and told him they should be sent back At night they were conveyed to the Vulture, and the next day set ashore. "This worthy and intelligent applicant was a native of Plymouth, and belonged to an old and respectable family of that place by the name of Collins. He remembered perfectly well the dress of Major André when they took him up in the barge from Lawyer Smith's house 'to Arnold's quarters-blue homespun stockings, a pair of wrinkled boots not lately brushed, blue cloth breeches tied at the knees with strings, waistcoat of the same, blue surtout buttoned by a single button, black silk handkerchief once round the neck and tied in front, with the ends under the waistcoat, and a flopped hat.' "André, it will be remembered, was executed in October, 1780, at Tappan, in Rockland county, in this state, (New York). His body was buried on a farm near the place of execution, where it remained undisturbed until the 10th of August, 1821, when, by order of the Duke of York, Mr. Buchanan, the then British consul residing in this city, caused the remains of the unfortunate yet brave and accomplished youth to be disintered and placed in a sarcophagus, with the view of being conveyed to England, and deposited near the monument erected to his memory, in Westminster Abbey. In proceeding to disinter the remains, the coffin was found about three feet below the surface of the earth: the lid was broken in the centre, and had partly fallen in, but was kept up by resting on the skull. On raising the lid the skeleton was found entire, without a vestige of any other part of his remains, except some of his hair, which appeared in small tufts; and the only part of his dress was the leather string which tied the hair." In conclusion allow me, as an American, to allude to the Query of Mr. TRIVETT ALLCOCK, whether André was altogether blameless in the "questionable affair" for which he suffered. I do not see how his conduct can be defended. The spy who endeavours to discover the force and disposition of an enemy's troops, executes a dangerous commission, but it is an honourable one. The intelligence which he brings is of the greatest consequence, and though by the code of war, his life is forfeit if he is detected, in a moral point of view he has done no wrong. But André was engaged in other offices than those of the spy. He knew that he was negotiating the terms of a treason, and tempting a weak officer to bargain away the cause of his country for gold and military rank. He did not enter the American camp with the furtive design of an honest spy, but he went as a tempter, to whisper proposals of reward to the weak ear of a once respected man, hoping by the splendour of his offers to prostrate his reeling virtue. It was not an honourable office which André undertook. We do not know how far he might have been forced into the position by superior command, but at all events it was a false position, which brought upon him not merely the fall of the spy, but of the tempter. André seems in other affairs to have been a spirited, accomplished and kind man, as the letters we have given above show. His transaction with Arnold was a great and melancholy mistake. THOMPSON WESTCOTT. Philadelphia, U. S. A. I have read somewhere (but have mislaid the reference) that Washington and some of the American officers were inclined to have spared Major André, but that Lafayette and other French officers urged his execution with a vehemence and perseverance that overpowered the more merciful part of the judges. I am no admirer of the career of the "Grandison-Cromwell," but the cruelty and vindictiveness of the part here assigned him do not find, as far as I can remember, any parallel in his subsequent long and active life. Can some of your American correspondents inform me whether there is any foundation for the above statement? Mr. Sparks, in his remarks on this case, vindicates Washington from the charge of excessive severity, by what he calls a parallel instance of the execution of a young American officer, apprehended in the British camp. The cases are entirely different; for it is evident by Mr. Sparks' own account, that the American officer was a spy in the fullest sense of the word, which nobody accused André of being, although the rigid interpretation of the laws of war perhaps authorized his being treated as such. J. S. WARDEN. Major André.-Three maiden sisters of Major André lived for many years at No. 23 Circus, Bath. They dropped of one after another; the last died within the last ten years. About twenty-five or thirty years ago, a young Frenchman named Ernest André came to see his old aunts; he was their great-nephew. His father at that time. lived at Paris. The old ladies said he was their nearest relation. Perhaps some one at Bath could tell where they were buried; the date would give a clue to the will of the last, and it is most probable their nearest relatives inherited their property, so that their names would probably be in the will. The old ladies probably were buried at Weston, a village near Bath, a favourite burial-place of the gentry at Bath. ANON It is to be hopea that some of the correspondents of "N. & Q," who have the means of doing so, will come forward and vindicate the memory of Major André from the imputations cast upon it by MR. THOMPSON WESTCOTT. The question is no longer confined to a mere difference of opinion as to whether or not André had acted the part of a spy. MR. WESTCOTT not only contests his right to that honourable and honest character; but goes the length of representing him as having been engaged in the dishonourable offices of " tempter of virtue" and a negociator of treason." The sympathy shown in England for the unmerited fate of that gallant officer, was universal; and it found a âtting expression in the honours paid to his memory by the British government. But, if the charbe accredited, then all our sympathy has acter given of him by MR. WESTCOTT is to been bestowed upon a man, whose name goes down to posterity with the brand of infamy and dishonour. 66 a I was not a little surprised to find MR. WESTCOTT using such expressions as "honourable spy," " "honest spy ;" and suggesting, as a palliation for André's alleged dishonourable conduct, that "he might have been forced into the position by superior command." These sentiments may be American, but they are not English. Our notion of such matters was long ago ex pressed by that right-minded Briton, who thanked God that we had no synonym in our language for the word espionnage. HENRY H. BREEN. St. Lucia. Major Andre.-SERVIENS "being engaged upon a biography of Major André," I send the following, trusting it may be acceptable. "Colonel Hamilton to Miss Schuyler. "Head Quarters of the Army, "Tappan, October 2, 1780. "Poor André suffers tc-day. Everything that is amiable in virtue, in fortitude, in delicate sentiment, and accomplished manners, plead for him ; but hard-hearted policy calls for a sacrifice. He must die. I send you my account of Arnold's affair; and to justify myself to your sentiments, I must inform you that I urged a compliance with André's request to be shot, and I do not think it would have had an ill effect. But some people are only sensible to motives and policy, and sometimes from a narrow disposition mistake it. "When Andre's tale comes to be told, and present resentment is over, the refusing him the privilege of choosing the manner of his death will be branded with too much obstinacy. "It was proposed to me to suggest to him the idea of an exchange for Arnold; but I knew I should have forfeited his esteem by doing it, and therefore declined it. As a man of honour he could not but reject it; and I would not for the world have proposed to him a thing which must have placed me in the unamiable light of supposing him capable of meanness, or of not feeling myself the impropriety of the measure. I confess to you I had the weakness to value the esteem of a dying man because I reverenced his merit." The much-respected lady to whom the above letter was addressed, died at Wash ington, November 9th, 1854, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years, having outlived her husband, General Hamilton, for more than a half century. W. W. Malta. Andre's Family.--Many observations, I believe, occur in your former volumes respecting the family of poor Major André. Are you aware that his relations lived at the Manor House, opposite Brook House, Clapton Gate, and are buried in Hacknev Churchyard, where their tombs may be seen near the old tower? The major's father was, I believe, the last of the name who inhabited the mansion, which is now a school. ARTHUR BOWES. Upper Clifton. Major André.-In the year 1780, General Arnold, who from his rank and talents had been in great favour with the Americans, quitted their ranks and joined the British army. This, though a valuable acquisition, was too dearly purchased by the degradation and death of the brave and amiable Major André, who volunteered his services to make arrangements with Arnold on the occasion. By some accident, Major André was compelled to remain disguised within the American lines all night, and next morning was discovered, after he passed them on his way to New York. He was seized, confined, tried, and sentenced to be hanged as a spy, notwithstanding every remonstrance that could be urged against it. An American captain, and a Lieutenant Bowman, of the republican army, were selected as his guard, the day before his execution. The latter officer, who died in 1818, describes Major André as maintaining the utmost firmness and composure; and when they were silent and melancholy, he would, by some cheerful remark, endeavour to dispel the gloom. Although not a murmur nor a sigh escaped him, his composure was the result, not of the want of sensibility, or a disregard of life, but of those proud and lofty feelings, the characteristics of true greatness of mind, which raises the soul above the influence of events, and enables the soldier with unfaltering nerve and steady eye, to meet death in whatever form it may approach him; for in his sleep, nature would play her part; and home and friends-his country and his fame -his sisters and his love, would steal upon his heart, contrasting their fancied pleasures with his certain pain, and render his dreams disturbed, and his sleep fitful and troubled. Early in the morning, the hour of his execution was announced. His countenance did not alter. His servant on entering the room burst into tears. "Leave me," said he to him with great sternness, "until you can behave more manfully." The breakfast was furnished from the table of General Washington. He ate as usual, then shaved and dressed himself; placed his hat upon the table, and cheerfully said, "I am ready at any moment, gentlemen, to wait upon you." Captain Bowman described it as being a day of settled melancholy, and that Major André was, apparently, the least affected. To General Washington it was a trial of excruciating pain. It was with great difficulty that he placed his name to the warrant of his execution. Captain and Lieutenant Bowman walked arm in arm with Major André. It is well known that he had solicited to be shot; and it was not until he came within sight of the gallows, that he knew the manner of his death. "It is too much," said he, momentarily shrinking. "I had hoped," "I had hoped," added he, recovering himself, "that it might have been otherwise. But I pray you to bear witness that I die like a soldier." Author of Familiar Letters.-The author of this book was William Sullivan, of Boston, a distinguished Federalist. A second edition, edited by his son John T. S. Sullivan, was published in Philadelphia by Carey & Hart, in 1847, under the title of "The Public Men of the Revolution, including events to 1815, in a Series of Letters, with a Biographical Sketch of the Author by his son.' H. C. B. Philadelphia, Nov. 6, 1869. Your correspondent "H," in the BIB., page 312, asks for the name of the author of "Familiar Letters on Public Characters," &c. It was William Sullivan, of Boston, a very distinguished lawyer, and a gentleman of fine personal appearance, and an ardent politician of the Federal school. He was the eldest son of Gov. James Sullivan, of Massachusetts, and was born in Saco, Me., in 1774, where his father was then a practising lawyer. Although his father was a leader of the Democratic party in Massachusetts, the son, in the early part of the century, joined the Federal party and became a very active member, even in opposition to the election of his father as Governor of the State. He was an associate with Chief-Justice Pearsons, Otis, Dexter, Gore, Ames, Dane, Prescott and others of that brilliant company which upheld the Federal banner in Massachusetts, and gallantly maintained the battle against the Democratic party, led on by his father, William Eustis, Austin, Dearborn, Jarvis, Story, Lincoln and others, aided by the patronage of the National Go Author of "Remarks occcsioned by the conduct af Mr. Washington ?"-Can any reader of the BIBLIOPOLIST inform me who was the author of a pamphlet entitled as follows: "Remarks occasioned by the late conduct of Mr. Washington as President of the United States, MDCCXCVI. Philadelphia: Printed for Benjamin Franklin Bache, No. 112 Market street, 1797." An answer to this will somewhat disturb the dense ignothough perhaps trifling, curiosity of an rance, and greatly gratify the insatiable, "Occasional" BOOK-HUNTER. Thomas Jefferson's Library.—I have a copy of the "Catalogue of the Library of the United States," Washington, 1815. 4to. Upon a blank page is written," This is the Library which Congress purchased of Mr. Jefferson in 1815 for $23,000." Is it possible so much was paid for this library? W. T. K. Kingsborough's Mexico on Vellum — 1 |