113 Natural History Tour 



frowning and murky heads throw a grand and solemn, but 

 somewhat suitable, aspect upon the landscape of this memor- 

 able place. Old Tappan, which consists of only tw o or three 

 small houses, and lies a short distance up this valley, was the 

 place selected for the execution of the once brave, noble- 

 hearted, patriotic, and accomplished Major Andre. I was 

 anxious to make a pilgrimage to the grave of my unfortunate 

 countryman ; and, as the wind was scarcely sufficient to bear 

 us up against a strong ebb-tide, I easily prevailed on the 

 captain to anchor his charge, and allow the small boat to go 

 on shore. 



Major Andre, you may recollect, was taken prisoner by the 

 Americans during the revolution as a British spy. The house 

 or hut in which he was kept in confinement had only very 

 lately gone into ruins. It was then a tavern, and its land- 

 lord, now extremely old, still resides close by, and recites 

 the melancholy tale with much affection and feeling. He 

 witnessed the gentlemanly manners and equanimity of this 

 heroic soldier, while in his house, under the most trying cir- 

 cumstances, and from its threshold to the fatal spot. In his 

 room the prisoner could hear the sound of the axe employed 

 in erecting the scaffold; and on one occasion, in the presence 

 of a friend, when these sounds, terrible to all but himself, 

 were more than usually distinct, he is said to have observed, 

 with great composure, *' that every sound he heard from that 

 axe was indeed an important lesson, it taught him how to 

 live and how to die." When conducted to the place of exe- 

 cution, and on coming near to the scaffold, he made a sudden 

 halt, and momentarily shrunk at the sight ; because he had, to 

 the last, entertained hopes that his life would have been taken 

 by the musket, and not by the halter. This apparent want of 

 resolution quickly passed away, and the disappointment he 

 felt told more against the uncompromising spirit of the times 

 than against himself. Rejecting assistance, he approached 

 and ascended the platform with a steady pace and lofty de- 

 meanour, and submitted to his fate with the pious resignation 

 of a great and good man. A large concourse of spectators, 

 among whom were several well-dressed females, had assem- 

 bled on this sorrowful occasion; and it is reported that 

 scarcely a dry cheek could be found throughout the whole 

 multitude. Andr^ was then seen as he always had been, 

 and moved by that which had through life presided over all 

 his actions, resolved beyond presumption, and firm without 

 ostentation. 



The person and appearance of Major Andre were prepos- 

 sessing : he was well proportioned, and above the common 



