144 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



patriotism, ask it of him. He will tell it in such a way, as shall neither wrong 

 the living or the dead. He will tell you of the capture of Andre, who from a 

 spy, was elevated by a false estimate and a mistaken sympathy, into a hero and 



a martyr — of the temptations which had corrupted the second man in the nation's 

 estimation, being rejected by the sons of the farmers of Westchester — of the de- 

 livery of the spy into the hands of the great good man of the age — of modern 

 times -of all times whatever, and of their receiving his glorious approbation— of 

 the applauses of the nation — and the thanks of that most illustrious body, the old 

 Congress of the United States — the noblest? reward which was ever bestowed on 

 a private citizen. Lastly, my friends, he will tell you what a source of honest 

 pride — of heart-felt pleasure — of unutterable happiness has been to him, and will 

 be to the last hour of his life, the reflection that he did his duty to his country in 

 her hour of peril. 



My Friends : — The man to whose mouldering remains and imperishable 

 memory we are now paying the last honors, was born and brought up among us. 

 Like many now present, he was the son of a plain country farmer, who culti- 

 vated his own fields with his own hands : and he received such an education 

 only, as is now within the reach of every honest man's son in these United States, 

 He had nothing to boast of but a vigorous, active, well -proportioned frame, a 

 daring spirit, and an honest heart. His means and opportunities were only such 

 as j^ou all enjoy; and his example furnishes a lesson to you all, of what every 

 one of you is capable of becoming, when the hour of danger arrives, and our 

 country requires the aid of a virtuous patriotism. He is most peculiarly an ex- 

 ample to you and yours. He belongs forever to the yeomanry of the United 

 States, a class of men always honest and patriotic — always ready to defend that 

 soil in whose products they share so liberally, and those rights in which they so 

 amply participate. 



Bear then in mind, my friends, and impress it on the hearts of your children, 

 and upon all that shall nestle in old age under your withered branches, that as all 

 are equally called upon to protect and defend their country, so there is not one 

 of them all but may one day be placed in a situation like John Paulding, to con- 

 fer a lasting benefit on his country, and like him, to merit and receive the highest 

 and noblest of all earthly recompenses — the thanks and gratitude of his country- 

 men. 



The assembly then separated, deeply impressed with the ceremony and the 

 occasion. All which is respectfully submitted, 



Abrm. M. Valentine, 

 John Ac-new, 

 John Loziee, 

 Gideon Ostkander, 

 Jameson Cox. 



The Dutch Reformed Church which stands at the corner of Main and 

 James streets, is a neat wooden edifice, surmounted with a spire of the 

 same material. Above the entrance is a tablet inscribed: — 



The Van Nest 



Reformed Dutch Church, 



Founded A. D. 1839. 



