also wrote to the American commander, urging in very strong terms the impolicy of carrying the sentence into execution; but this letter, which mingled threats with expostulation, was ill calculated to change a resolution which had been taken with much deliberation. Washington temperately but firmly resisted all entreaty. He considered the example just and necessary, and ordered the judgment of the court to proceed to its awful conclusion.

At 12 o'clock at noon on the 2d of October the gallant André was summoned to his fate. He came forth with a firm step, and walked arm-in-arm with the officers who guarded him to the spot where he was appointed to suffer. Having received no answer to his request that " he might meet a soldier's death," he started on perceiving the preparations for his execution, exclaiming, with emotion, "Must I then die in this manner?" but soon recovering his tranquillity, he added, "it will be but a momentary pang." He ascended the cart with cheerfulness; and requesting the spectators to bear witness to the fortitude with which he submitted to his fate, he expired amidst the sighs and tears of those who beheld him with mingled feelings of admiration and regret.

For more than forty years no attempt to remove his remains to England, from the ignominious spot on which he suffered, seems to have been contemplated, until the year 1822, when a proposal to this effect was made to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, by Mr. Buchanan, his Majesty's Consul at New York, who, with a feeling very honourable to his patriotism, stated the general regret which had long been expressed by the British residents in that part of the United States, that this mark of respect had not been paid to the memory of Major André, although the American Government had long since transferred to a public mausoleum the remains of General Montgomery, who fell in their service, in an attempt to surprise Quebec, in the year 1775.

The Duke of York, who has ever shown the

warmest regard to the honour of a British soldier, cordially adopted the suggestion of Mr. Buchanan; and on receiving the instructions of his Royal Highness, that gentleman lost no time in obtaining the consent of Mr. De Witt Clinton, Governor of the State of New York, and of the Rev. Mr. Demarest, owner of the ground at Tappan; each of whom expressed a very liberal desire to give effect to the wishes of his Royal Highness.

The whole of the British, as well as many of the principal American inhabitants of New York, were anxious to be present on the occasion; but a strong ferment having been excited by a hostile party in the city, Mr. Buchanan, accompanied only by the Spanish Consul, proceeded to Tappan, distant about twenty-four miles from New York, and with the assistance of Mr. Demarest, accomplished the disinterment on the 10th of August, 1822. The grave, marked by two small cedars, and a peach tree which grew between them, lay on the top of the highest hill in the neighbourhood; and being thus exposed to view, a numerous concourse of persons gathered round, who showed the deepest sympathy on the discovery of the coffin three feet below the surface. The bones were carefully transferred to a handsome sarcophagus provided for the occasion, which was deposited in the minister's house; from whence it was soon after removed on board the Montague packet, for the passage to Halifax, and finally brought to England in the Phaeton frigate.

On the 28th November, 1822, the remains of Major André were privately interred in a vault in front of the cenotaph formerly erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey by his late Majesty, the Dean of Westminster personally superintending the deposit. Major-General Sir Herbert Taylor attended on the part of his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief; and Mr. Locker, Secretary to Greenwich Hospital, on behalf of the three amiable and excellent sisters of the deceased.

It might naturally be expected that this testimony

of respect to an officer so justly entitled to our regard would have experienced no opposition. The clamour which arose at New York seems to have been excited by some illiberal observations inserted in one of their Gazettes; the other papers in that state breathed a spirit of cordiality on the occasion, which did them honour. For our part we cannot forget that the Americans are the descendants of Englishmen; and we readily forgive the fretfulness of one of their editors, in consideration of the many circumstances which have occurred to keep alive the animosity which gave birth to the Revolution; but we do not so easily excuse those of our countrymen here, who have presumed to condemn this last offering of affection to a man who perished in our service, beloved and respected even by those who brought him to the scaffold.

At the period when the event took place, a torrent of indignation burst forth against Washington, who was charged with cold malignity, in thus sacrificing a meritorious officer, in a manner so unworthy of his character. This is the tone of feeling which dictated Anna Seward's monody to his memory, and filled the newspapers of the day with every violent epithet. It is much to be regretted that some of our historians have adopted this view of the transaction, for highly as we estimate the claims of our lamented countryman to the gratitude of this nation, we must acquit Washington of all injustice towards him. Major André fell a sacrifice to that ardent zeal which animated his whole conduct, and to the ill advice which he received from Arnold. Against his own better judgment and intentions, he assumed a disguise in name and dress, and took charge of secret papers within the enemy's lines, which distinctly fixed upon him the character of a spy, and subjected him to all the perils of discovery. His letter to Sir Henry Clinton bears witness to the personal kindness he received from Washington, who doubtless gave no reply to his last request, in order to save his feelings the pain of a refusal. Had that General consented to

change the mode of his death, he would have abandoned the principle upon which his fate was determined.

The critical posture of affairs at that moment compelled the American chief to avail himself of an event so important to his future success. The strong measure he adopted was designed to show that the contest must be decided by force of arms

that he had thrown away the scabbard-and that he was resolved to extinguish at a blow those intrigues by which his former operations had been betrayed. As the success of Major André's confederacy with Arnold would probably have destroyed the last hope of the Revolutionists, so the terror produced by his execution, and the timely discovery of Arnold's defection, led to the independence of the United States.

The family of Major André was of French extraction; he was designed for the mercantile profession, in which part of his relatives were engaged. Some letters, written by him at the early age of eighteen, which now lie before us, convey a very pleasing picture of the talents and affections of this accomplished young man, who was even then distinguished for his taste in poetry, painting, and music, as well as by acquirements of higher importance. A disappointment of the tenderest nature induced him to relinquish his commercial engagements, and to join the British army in America, where he had scarce landed before he was made prisoner and stripped of all he possessed, excepting a miniature (painted by himself) of the lady to whom he had been betrothed, which he concealed in his mouth. Having obtained his release, he rejoined the army, and entered upon the duties of his new profession with uncommon ardour. The readiness with which he acquired military knowledge, and the intrepidity of his conduct in the field, added to the graceful attractions of his character, soon gained the notice of his commander, who, after a short period of service, selected him for the confidential station of

Adjutant-General. How well he acquitted himself in this important office, the love and admiration of his fellow-soldiers eminently showed; for when the tidings of his fate reached New York, the whole army put on mourning a a mark of their respect and sorrow. When the sad intelligence arrived in England, every heart sympathized with the gallant suf ferer, and naturally revolted from that stern severity which a great commander is sometimes called to exert. The general feeling of admiration for a youthful hero, thus devoting himself for the love of his country, overwhelmed all other sentiments. Our late excellent Sovereign effectually wiped away the reproach with which the ignominious mode of his death was contemplated, by conferring the dignity of Baronet on his younger brother, who was then serving in the British army in America. Sir William André survived many years, but dying unmarried, he left no heir to enjoy an honour so dearly purchased; and the title thus became extinct.

E. H. L.

THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLution.

THIS is the History of the most important event that ever happened in the world. Though this Revolution may be almost said to belong to our own times— though the principal incidents still live in the memory of many of those who will read this record of them-it is fuller of strange and affecting occurrences, it contains more narratives of the horrible cruelties and unlimited wickedness of a profligate people, than any of those events which changed the destinies of nations in ancient times. It is thus a subject full of the most powerful and varied interest. We shall endeavour to write upon it in a manner that may excite and prolong this interest. It is the province of the historian to investigate the obscure and sometimes contradictory causes which led to the fatal