PAULDING COUNTY. 469 



" Here repose the mortal remains of 

 JOHN PAULDING, 



Who died 18th February, 1818, 



In 60th year of his age. 



On the morning of the 23rd of September, 1780, 



Accompanied by two young farmers of the county of 



Westchester, 



Whose names will one day be recorded 



on their own deserved monuments. 



He intercepted the British spy, Andre. 



Poor himself, 



He disdained to acquire wealth by the sacrifice of his country. 



Rejecting the temptation of great rewards. 



He conveyed his prisoner to the American camp, 



and, 



By this act of self-denial. 



The treason of Arnold was detected, 



The designs of the enemy baffled. 



West Point and America saved. 



And these United States, 



Now, by the Grace of God, free and independent, 



Rescued from the most imminent peril." 



On the fourth side of the pedestal : 



" The Corporation 



Of the City of New- York 



Erected this tomb 



As a monument sacred 



To 



Public gratitude." 



Efforts have been made to prove that the three captors of 

 Andre are not entitled to the praise which has been awarded 

 to them. In the Congress of the United States, a member as- 

 serted that the character of these men was infamous. He 

 accused them of being as often in the camp of the enemies 

 of their country as in our own ; of being destitute not only of 

 patriotism, but of common honesty and honour ; of belonging to 

 that detestable gang usually known by the name of Cow Boys. 



