THE TOW]^ OF GREENBURGH. 323 



Among these was the Swedish Minister, Monsieur Andre, uncle to 

 Major Andre ; another was the " celebrated Johann Andre, author of 

 the opera of ' The Potter,' who was born at Offenbach in 1741, and who 

 died in 1799."* 



Though as yet opportunity is wanting to verify the supposition, there 

 is strong reason to believe that a near connection existed between the 

 immediate family of Major Andre and the once celebrate St. Andre of 

 Southampton — a character whose career is scarcely to be paralleled 

 even in the pages of Gil. Bias. This person came over to England from 

 his native Switzerland, at a very early age and, probably, towards the 

 close of the seventeenth century. By his own account, his origin was 

 perfectly respectable, and even distinguished ; and in his later days he 

 would assert that by right he was possessed of a title." & Major John 

 Andre was born either in London or Southampton, A. D. 1751. He 

 was first placed in school at Hackney, under a Mr. Newcombe ; whence 

 after a time he was withdrawn and sent for several years to Geneva to 

 complete his education. He was master of many things that in those 

 days very rarely constituted a part of a gentleman's education, and which, 

 indeed, even in these are to be found rather in exceptions than the rule. 

 The modern European languages — French, German, Italian, &c, are 

 said to have been possessed by him in singular perfection ; while in 

 musie, painting, drawing and dancing, he particularly excelled. When 

 we consider that with these accomplishments was joined a nature always 

 ambitious of distinction, a mind stored with the belles lettres of the day, 

 and endowed not only with a taste for poetry, but with considerable 

 readiness in its composition ; added to his person which, though slender, 

 was remarkably active and graceful, we need not wonder that his at- 

 tractions were such as to win the favor of all with whom he came in 

 contact. At the university of Geneva he was remarked for a diligent 

 student, and for an active and inquiring mind ; and in special was dis- 

 tinguished by his proficiency in the schools of mathematics and of 

 military drawings. To his skill in this last branch, his subsequent rapid 

 advancement in the army was in great part attributable." In 1767 or 

 1 768, when about sixteen or seventeen years of age, he entered the count- 

 ing house of his father. Nor did the death of his father, which occurred 

 at the house in Clapton (called the Manor house) in April, 1769, make 

 at the time any material difference in the nature of his avocations. 



What family was left by the elder Andre can only be gathered from 

 the fact that in 1780, besides his widow, there still remained a second 



a Ditto. 



b Life of Major Andre by Winthrop Sargent. 



c Life of Major Andre by Winthrop Sargent. 



