tion, what they cannot accomplish in a manly way. Great honor is due to the American army, that this is the first instance of treason of this kind, where many were to be expected from the nature of the dispute; and nothing is so high an ornament to the character of the American soldiers as their withstanding all the arts and seductions of an insidious enemy.

3. Arnold, the traitor, has made his escape to the enemy; but Mr. André, Adjutant-general' to the British Army, who came out as a spy to negotiate the business, is our prisoner. His Excellency the Commander-in-chief has arrived at West Point, from Hartford, and is now doubtless taking proper steps to unravel fully so hellish a plot.

4. A gentleman at the American camp, in a letter dated Robinson's House, gives the following account of the discovery of Arnold's plot:-"I make use of the present express to acquaint you with a scene of villainy which happened in this quarter. A very singular combination of circumstances has preserved to us West Point and its dependencies. General Arnold, who was the commanding officer, has been bought over to the interest of the enemy, and the place in a few days must have become theirs. They had a part of their army in readiness to act on this occasion, and could not have failed of success from the concert of Arnold within the fort.

5. "Such was the situation of this important post, when a providential event discovered the traitor. Major André, the British Adjutant-general, a person of great talents, appears to have been the principal actor with Arnold. In his return to New York, after an interview with Arnold, he was stopped near Tarrytown by a few militia (notwithstanding a pass written and signed by General Arnold, by which André was permitted to proceed as a John Anderson), and detained as a spy. As they were conducting him to a party of Continental troops, he offered them a large sum of money for his release, which they rejected with as much virtue as Arnold received his with baseness.

6. "The state of the garrison, the arrangements for its defence

In case of attack, a council of war, etc., were found on André in Arnold's own handwriting. Colonel Jameson, of the Light Dragoons, to whom he was conveyed in the first instance, and before a detection of these papers, dispatched an account to Arnold that he had a spy in his care, and described him in such a manner, that Arnold knew it to be André. His Excellency General Washington, the Marquis de la Fayette, General Knox, and their aids, were within a few miles of his quarters at this juncture. I had preceded them with a Major Shaw, to give notice of their coming.

7. "Arnold, I think, must have received the advice while we were present, as I observed an embarrassment, which I could not at that time account for. The approach of his Excellency left him but an instant to take measures for his own safety, or it is likely he would have attempted that of André's, and the matter might have remained in obscurity. He ordered his barge, and passing King's Ferry as a flag-boat, fell down to the Vulture sloop of war, which lay below at a short distance. In the mean time an officer arrived with the papers which had been discovered, and a letter from André to his Excellency, in which he endeavors to show that he did not come under the character of a spy. Upon this, Colonel Hamilton and myself rode to King's Ferry, but Arnold had before this gained the enemy's vessel.

8. "We expect André here every minute. I lament Arnold's escape, that we might have punished such a high piece of perfidiousness", and prevented the enemy from profiting by his information. André has ventured daringly for the accomplishment of a great end; fortunate for us his abilities failed him as it was on the point of being finished, and he must in all human probability submit to the fate of a common spy."

9. [October 1.] Yesterday the Board of General Officers, appointed by General Washington for the trial of the unfornate Major André, having fully considered the facts belonging to his case, reported that he "Ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy, and that agreeably to the law and usage of v nations, in their opinion he ought to suffer death." General

Washington approved of this opinion, and ordered the execution to take place this afternoon; but owing to the arrival of a flag from the enemy, it is postponed until to-morrow at

noon.

10. The following is a copy of a letter from Major André to his Excellency General Washington, received to-day:

"Sir:-Buoyed above the fear of death by the consciousness of a life spent in the pursuit of honor, and fully sensible that it has at no time been stained by any action which, at this serious moment, could give me remorse, I have to solicit your Excellency, if there is anything in my character which excites your esteem, if aught in my circumstances can excite you with compassion, that I may be permitted to die the death of a soldier; it is my last request, and I hope it will be granted. I have the honor to be, etc."

[This request could not be granted, and this hapless young officer-far more unfortunate than criminal-was hung at Tappan, October 2, 1780. His fate was universally samented; for he was of irreproachable character, of an amiable and gallant disposition. and fine talents. His request to Washington to be permitted to die the death of soldier, not of a spy, is beautifully expressed in the following lines by N. P. Willis.]

André's Last Request.-Willis.

IT is not the fear of death
That damps my brow;

It is not for another breath

I ask thee now;

I can die with a lip unstirr'd,

And a quiet heart

Let but this prayer be heard

Ere I depart.

I can give up my mother's look

My sister's kiss;

I can think of love-yet brook

A death like this!

I can give up the young fame

I burn'd to win;

All but the spotless name
I glory in.

Thine is the power to give,

Thine to deny,

Joy for the hour I live,

Calmness to die.

By all the brave should cherish,

By my dying breath,

I ask that I may perish

By a soldier's death.

The Death of Washington.-G. W. P. Custis.

[The War of the Revolution was virtually ended by the capitulation of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781; and on the 3d of September, 1783, Great Britain acknowledged the independence of the United States. On the reorganization of the Government in 1789, under the Constitution, Washington became the first president. In 1797, having declined a second re-election, he was succeeded by John Adams, during whose administration his death took place (Dec. 14. 1799). The following account of that event is taken from "Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington," by George Washington Parke Custis, his adopted son.]

1. MANY years have passed since an interesting group were assembled in the death-room, and witnessed the last hours of Washington. On the morning of the 13th of December, 1799. the General was engaged in making some improvements in the front of Mount Vernon. As was usual with him, he carried his own compass, noted his observations, and marked out the ground. The day became rainy with sleet; and the improver remained so long exposed to the inclemency of the weather, as to be considerably wet before his return to the house. About one o'clock, he was seized with chillness and nausea; but, having changed his clothes, he sat down to his in-door work,there being no moment of his time for which he had not provided an appropriate employment.

2. At night, on joining the family circle, the General complained of a slight indisposition; and, after a single cup of tea, he repaired to his library, where he remained writing until between eleven and twelve o'clock. Mrs. Washington retired about the usual hour; but, becoming alarmed at not hearing the accustomed sound of the library door as it closed for the night and gave signal for rest in the well-regulated mansion, she rose again, and continued sitting up, in much anxiety and

suspense. At length the well-known step was heard on the stair; and, upon the General's entering his chamber, the lady chided him for staying up so late, knowing him to be unwell; to which Washington made this memorable reply: "I came as soon as my business was accomplished. You well know, that through a long life, it has been my unvaried rule never to put off till the morrow the duties which should be performed today."

3. Having first carefully covered the fire, the man of mighty labors sought repose; but it came not as it long had been wont to do, to comfort and restore, after the many earnest occupations of the well-spent day. The night was passed in feverish restlessness and pain. "Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," was destined no more to visit his couch: yet the manly sufferer uttered no complaint; and it was only at daybreak he would consent that the overseer might be called in, and bleeding be resorted to. A vein was opened, but no relief was

afforded.

4. Couriers were dispatched to Dr. Craik, the family physician, and Drs. Dick and Brown, as consulting physicians, all of whom came with speed. The proper remedies were administered, but without producing their healing effects; while the patient, yielding to the anxious looks of all around him, waived his usual objections to medicines, and, without hesitation or remark, took those which were prescribed. The medical gentlemen spared not their skill; and all the resources of their art were exhausted in unwearied endeavors to preserve this noblest work of nature.

5. The night approached,-the last night of Washington: the weather became severely cold, while the group gathered nearer the couch of the sufferer, watching with intense anxiety for the slightest dawning of hope. He spoke but little. To the respectful and affectionate inquiries of an old family servant, as she smoothed down his pillow, how he felt, he answered, "I am very ill." To Dr. Craik, his earliest companion in arms, longest-tried and bosom friend, he observed, "I am dying, sir; but I am not afraid to die."