Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-08-15
G5e family GirtIe.
Major John Andre.
FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.

i Inc name OF MAJOR john Andre has
| acquired an interest such as attaches it.
self to a hero of romance. OF Swiss de-
scent, born in 1749, d skillful soldier and
an accomplished man. he was still in the
prime Of his youth. While yet in London
counting room he had become enamored
of the beautiful Honora Sneyd, who sub
sequently became the step-mother of Ma
ria Edgeworth. Worldly prudence point
ed out clearly to her family the advan-
tages of union with the wealthy Rich
ard Lowell Edgeworth over that with the
comparatively poor and obscure Andre;
and the young lady was obedient. Lord
Mahon, following Miss Seward, intimates
that it was the desire of relief from sor-
row caused by the marriage of his mis-
tress to another that drove Andre into
| the army, and this seems to fix the date
near the commencement of the war. The
fact is that Andres first commission bears
date March 4, 1771: while Miss Sneyd
was not married until July II, 1878, more
than two years later. His passion, how
ever, for his lost charmer long continued.
In 1775, when he was captured by Mont
gomery. at St. Johns, he writes: have
been taken prisoner by the Americans,
and stripped Of every thing except the
picture Of Honora, which | concealed in
my mouth. Preserving that, I yet think
myself fortunate" From Canada he was
sent with other prisoners to be cofned on
parole at Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and
here his winning manners and graceful
accomplishments soon gained the regards,
not only of the neutral land perhaps 10y
aD portion of the population, but even of
some of the less austere Wings. A taste
| for the fine arts was distinguished fea-
ture in his character; and with his pencil
he possessed uncommon proficiency. The
hearts Of many parents were subdued by
| the pains he took to cultivate the nascent
talents of their children; and numerous
drawings and water-color sketches from
his hand are still preserved by the de-
scendants of those who knew and loved
him well. But Lancaster not being deem
] ed place of sufficient security, Andre
was presently removed to Carlisle, still
remoter village; and here his lodgings
we're, singularly enough, shared by Au-
thor Despard, then military captive, and
destined too, to an ignominious death, be-
ing executed at London, some years later,
for high treason. 1t is remembered, as an
instance of amiability, that during all his
imprisonment he was studiously careful to
avoid the display of any of that arrogance
which so many of the British officers at
this time not only felt, but manifested in
their intercourse with the people, whom
they regarded as malignant and wicked
traitors. He never for Instance, spoke
of the Americans to their faces as rebels;
the Colonists was the milder phrase to
which he gave the preference.
At last however, Andre was exchanged,
and returned to the scene of his duties.
1t is no slight tribute to his actual merit
that we find him selected, on this ground
alone, to be the aide de-camp, first of Gen.
Grey, and afterward of Sir Henry Gin
ton. Indeed, so sensible was the latter of
his worth, that he made his promotion his
special care; and Andre was rapidly adj
vanced, not only to majority, but to be
acknowledgement of the army. Nor did
Clinton ever cease to bear honorable tes-
timony to the character Of Ito use his own
language this most amiable and yalu-
able young man, who was adorned with
the rarest endowments of education and
nature, and who, had he lived could moi
but have attained the highest honors oil
his profession"
With Howe, in Philadelphia, Andre
passed that season which was signalize0
by the attractive fete Of the Meschianza
so often commemorated by annalists, and
of which he was the chief promoter
! But when Sir Henry Clinton proceeded
against Charleston, in the spring of 1880
he entered into other and more dangerous
lists. In Johnson's Life of Greene" We
are told Of the universal belief in the
British army, and after its fall, in the city
of Charleston, that Andre had been II
that city as a spy during the SIEGE Anc
there is irrefragible evidence that this i'm
preston was correct, in the Reminiscen
ces Of the amiable and respectable DR.
johnson, of South Carolina. These are
weighty and important antecedents, that
in our opinion, have powerful bearing
on his subsequent career.
Eve1y reader is familiar with the cir
cumstances Of Andres capture and o
Arnold's fight, and it is not our purpos,
to repeat them here. But the extent o
the comprehensive scheme that was ther
frustrated is perhaps not SO generally ap
preciated, nor is it noticed by Lord Ma
hon, otherwise than it was to be effected
" in such manner as to contribute ever
possible advantage to his Majesty's arms.
We have before US the manuscript iourna
of an English gentleman, an officer of tn,
Cold-stream Guards, who at this time wa
serving under Sir Henry Clinton, ant
whose social position was such as to give
weight to the views he here expresses
They are, moreover, fully confirmed by
the exceedingly intelligent and well-in
formed author of the Complot OAR
mold, " French work, published by thu
elder Didot, in 1916, and therefore may
we think, be received without hesitation
Our Guardsman says, that on a certain
day agreed upon between Andre and Ar
mold, Sir Henry was to invest fort Def
ance. Arnold was Immediately to senc
for reinforcements. to Washington, hold
ing out to the latter such false lights as
would, most probably, induce him to lead
in person, detachment for the relief O
the beleagured fortress, and the capture
of Clinton and his whole army. at :
suitable Juncture, Arnold was to surren