ページの画像
PDF
ePub

which being effected, the men proceeded with the greatest caution, and the clay was removed with the hands, as we soon discovered the lid of the coffin was broken in the centre. With great care the broken lid was removed, and there to our view lay the bones of the brave André, in perfect order. I, among others, for the first time discovered that he had been a small man; this observation I made from the skeleton, which was confirmed by some then present. The roots of the small peach tree had completely surrounded the skull like a net. After allowing all the people to pass round in regular order and view the remains as they lay, which very many did with unfeigned tears and lamentation, the bones were carefully removed, and placed in the sarcophagus, (the circle having been again formed.) After which I descended into the coffin, which was not more than three feet below the surface, and with my own hands raked the dust together, to ascertain whether he had been buried in his regimentals or not, as it was rumoured among the assemblage that he was stripped; for, if buried in his regimentals, I expected to find the buttons of his clothes, which would have disproved the rumour; but I did not find a single button, nor any article, save a string of leather that had tied his hair, in perfect preservation, coiled and tied as it had been on his hair at the time. This string I forwarded to his sister in England. I examined the dust of the coffin so minutely (as the quantity would not fill a quart) that no mistake could have arisen in the examination. Let no unworthy motive be attributed to me for recording this fact; I state it as one which I was anxious to ascertain for the reason given. I do not pretend to know whether buttons would moulder into dust, while bones and a leather string would remain perfect and entire; but sure I am there was not a particle of metal in the coffin. How far these facts accord with the rumours adverted to, others may judge; but it is useful, that all these facts should be brought to light, as it may reasonably be inferred, that if stripped, those who permitted this outrage, or who knew of it, had no idea that the unfeeling act they then performed would be blazoned to the world near half a century after the event; or that the future historian should hold up such procedure to the reproval of all honourable men. Having placed the remains in the sarcophagus, it was borne amidst the silent and unbought regret of the numerous assemblage, and deposited in the worthy pastor's house, with the intention of removing it to his Majesty's packet on the Tuesday following.

I should be ungrateful did I omit doing justice to the feelings of an aged widow, who kept the turnpike-gate on the way to New York, who, upon hearing the object of my visit, declared she felt so much gratified that the remains were to be removed from the field where they had so long lain neglected, that all the carriages should pass free of toll on the occasion. Whether she had this power I know not, but it marks strongly the sentiments of the American people at large, as to a transaction which a great part of the British public have forgotten, at least those in the humbler walks of life, as this gate-keeper was.

On returning to New York, on the evening of the 10th, a citizen of the first respectability called on me and stated, that as political favour was to be obtained by manifesting hatred to every English measure, he had learned that some hot spirits had agreed that they would mark every citizen who should attend, and that they were determined to meet

the procession on the way, and throw the sarcophagus into the Hudson. Let not the people of the United States be charged with participating in feelings that could suggest such an outrage. There was nothing in it hostile to the remains of Major André; it was to forward political views, just as abuse was poured out upon the present and late President of the United States previous to the late election; yet it is difficult to explain to those not long acquainted with the United States the motives. which govern the actions of a democracy, and I am supported in the opinion by men whose judgment I deem sound, that solely from such views did some of the papers in this city and Philadelphia differ from those journals that applauded the removal, as party feeling in political matters generally runs so high, that the favour of one party is sure to subject its object to the opposition of the other. I am thus particular, lest the threatened opposition should be regarded as a mark of the character of the country; and I hope I may be pardoned, while on the subject, in saying, that the manifestation of hatred to England is no longer a proof of patriotism, as formerly.

The information, however, led me to act so as to avoid any kind of proceeding likely to produce excitement; and although all that was purposed was to have the attendance of Major M'Neil, Captain Phillips of the British army, Captains Ricketts and Laurence of the British navy, the Austrian, Prussian, Russian, and Spanish consuls, as I had declined the offered attendance of a number of the most respectable citizens, (as soon as I found the papers alluded to animadverted in the spirit I have mentioned.) Determined to act promptly, without informing my family, or any others, of my intention, I called on the commander of his Majesty's packet, and we proceeded to Tappan on the evening of Saturday the 11th, taking a gig, in which we rode, and directed a carriage to follow to a place about sixteen miles distant, and there wait for me, without intimating to the party furnishing the gig or carriage my destination. I delayed my departure to get, as night fell, within about four miles of the village, where we stopped at a tavern to feed the horse and refresh ourselves, having come twenty-four miles. While tea was getting ready, a number of the country people came to the tavern, (the usage of the country on a Saturday evening,) among whom, it so happened, were some who had witnessed the exhumation the day before; and inasmuch as no stranger can travel without being questioned through a quarter where strangers are rarely seen, I took every precaution to avoid coming in contact with the persons at the tavern. However, one man came forward, and, without any prefatory observation, by way of introduction, asked me, was I not the British consul, as he thought he had seen me the day before at Tappan. I had no way of retreat; so I told him I was often taken for the consul, and that at times it was very inconvenient to have so close a resemblance to that person. He then began to inform me of the exhumation of Major André, the magnificence of the sarcophagus, and that the whole country would be there on Tuesday to join in the procession. I need not say that I got away from this kind and inquisitive person as quickly as possible, as others were approaching, who, had they been at Tappan the day before, I know not how I should have got clear of these men, more than the lamented André did from those men who met him when he was taken. It was my intention to have stopped at this tavern till twelve o'clock;

but I had to decamp, for the reason mentioned. My companion remained concealed in a small back-room, where we got tea; for his appearance would have called forth an examination all my ingenuity could not have delivered us from; an ordeal not to be understood by travellers on great leading roads in Europe. Unfortunately for our object, it was moonlight; and for the first time in my life did I find moonlight unpleasant. I wished for a cloud,-for total darkness. But no; it was a clear moonlight night; so light, that only those who have witnessed the clear sky of the United States, in latitude 40°, can have any idea of its brightness. But my anxiety for concealment rendered the light intolerable, as so many people were stirring, or, as it is termed in that Dutch quarter," frolicking," on a Saturday night. Moving slowly, we entered the village at half-past eleven o'clock; and passing through, I left the gig with my friend under a tree, which obscured them, while I proceeded forward to reconnoitre the worthy pastor's house. To my great annoyance, I heard several voices from a piazza in front of his house, where a number of persons were sitting enjoying the mild moonlight night. I remained under a tree a full hour, within hearing of their conversation, fearing to go forward, lest some of the inhabitants of the village formed part of the group, as I dreaded discovery, as I had learned from my inquisitor at the tavern that great preparation was making to entertain the numbers who would attend on the removal on Tuesday, by the several tavern-keepers in Tappan. I also feared to come in contact with the patriots whom, with the aid of the tavern-keeper, I had silenced the day before: I could not expect the same co-operation to leave me at liberty to pursue my object; so I determined to leave nothing to chance, as my friend and I were alone, unaided and unarmed. One o'clock having struck, and the voices having diminished, I ventured forward; not without apprehension also of a watch-dog, unprovided as I was, and found the good old minister still. outside the house, with some of his relations, who had come to spend a day with him, and see the sarcophagus. I took him aside, before he recognised me, and stated to him the cause of my sudden visit; but he derided my fear; for that such was the feeling of the country and his friends, that he would guarantee all would go off well; and that it would greatly disappoint numbers who were to come to his house next day to see the "rare spectacle of so grand an article as the sarcophagus." In fact, I found the old gentleman was not to be moved from his purpose. I therefore went in with him, and found his wife a subject more likely to be moved by fear; and I accordingly roused her apprehension so effectually, that she joined me in persuading her husband to acquiesce in my purpose, which he did reluctantly, as he felt for the honour of the community, and, in the simplicity of his heart, did not believe there were such miscreants in the world. All this time my companion remained under the tree, his mind filled with the midnight. meeting, of the events which led him and myself to our enterprise; from whence I called him into the house. Having the key of the sarcophagus, I had to open it, so that the relatives who had come might see it; and finding that I had paid above one hundred guineas for it, they were astonished at the munificent disposition of his Royal Highness. Having requested the old lady to inclose it in a quilt, we got it placed on the gig; and having taken some refreshment, of which we stood much in

need, we departed, and returned to the place where I had ordered the carriage to come, into which we got, and proceeded on to New York, where we arrived about five o'clock on the morning of Sunday. Having arranged to have a boat in waiting from his Majesty's packet, with feelings that never shall be effaced from my memory, I placed the remains under the British flag.

As soon as the removal of the sarcophagus to the packet was known in this city, it was not only honourable to the feelings of the citizens, but cheering to my mind, depressed as it had been, to find the sentiments which prevailed. Ladies sent me flowers; others, various emblematic devices, garlands, &c., to decorate the remains of the "lamented and beloved André." A beautiful and ornamented myrtle among those sent, I forwarded with the sarcophagus to Halifax, where Lieut.-General Sir James Kempt, governor of Nova Scotia, caused every proper mark of respect to be paid to the remains. From thence they reached London, and were deposited near the monument which had been erected to his memory in the Abbey, and a marble slab placed at the foot of the monument, on which is set forth their removal by the order of his Royal Highness the Duke of York. *

Having represented to his Royal Highness the generous conduct of the Rev. Mr. Demarat, I recommended that his Royal Highness should convey to him a snuff-box, made out of one of the trees which grew at the grave, which I sent home. But my suggestion was far outdone by the princely munificence of his Royal Highness, who ordered a box to be made out of the tree, and lined with gold, with an inscription, "From his Royal Highness the Duke of York, to the Rev. Mr. Demarat." While speaking of this act of liberality, I was unexpectedly honoured with a silver inkstand, with the following inscription :-"The surviving sisters of Major André to James Buchanan, Esq., his Majesty's Consul, New York." They also sent a silver cup, with a suitable inscription, to Mr. Demarat. I need not add, that I cherish this inkstand, (which I am now using,) and shall bequeath it to my children as a memorial which I prize with no ordinary feeling.

I omitted to mention, that I had the peach tree which had been planted on the grave (the roots of which had surrounded the skull, as set forth) taken up with great care, with as much of the clay as it was possible to preserve around the roots, and brought it to my garden in New York, where my daughters attended it with almost pious solicitude, shading it during the heat of the day, watering it in the cool of the evening, in the hope of preserving it to send to England. Had it reached his sisters, they would no doubt have regarded it as another Minerva; for, though it did not spring out of, yet it was nourished by, their beloved brother's head.

I have only to add, that, through the kind interference of my brother consul at Philadelphia, I obtained Major Andre's watch, which he had to part with when a prisoner, during the early part of the war. watch I sent to England lately; so that I believe every vestige connected with the subject of this narrative has been sent to the land of his birth, in the service of which his life was sacrificed. J. BUCHANAN.

*We shall procure and insert a transcript both of the original inscription on the monument, and of that added by the Duke of York, as showing that H.R.H. was influenced by the desire to do that which appeared to him consistent with the course which his revered Father had pursued.-ED.

SKETCHES OF A YEAR'S SERVICE IN THE EGYPTIAN MARINE, IN 1832 AND 1833.

(No. I.)

"Ye'll get the best o' moral works

'Mang black Gentoos and pagan Turks,
Or hunters wild on Ponotaxi,

Wha never heard of orthodoxy."-BURNS.

WHILE you in England are busying and fretting yourselves about reform bills and reformed parliaments, about the means of redressing the wrongs of the "finest pisantry in the world," or of thinning the superfluous population of the land of potatoes by the "argument of pike and gun;"-while you are engaged in these philanthropic occupations, we are quietly enjoying our unlimited freedom, both in purse and person, and getting a living into the bargain, under the government of a Turkish despot; and it is really wonderful how comfortable one can be under such circumstances, particularly when we consider that we are in the power of a man who can shorten by the head any one that he pleases, merely by nodding his own. But really the Turks have been so sadly belied, that it appears a hopeless task to endeavour to possess the public with what are called, in the present day, liberal feelings towards them.

When I left England, I had my head full of ideas of bowstrings, sabres, daggers, yattigans, and the application thereof to the personal satisfaction of the obnoxious; but the schoolmaster has been so much abroad here, that I assure you seriously the aforesaid instruments have grown quite into disrepute; perhaps the reason is, that our friends here have lately had so much to do in the way of killing their neighbours, that they have had no time to attend to the slaying of one another. However this may be, we have nevertheless very strange ideas indeed, in England, of the habits and manners of the Turks, and I cannot, I think, do better than give you a regular account of them just as I find them, and if you do not then think of them very differently from what you do at present, I shall be greatly mistaken.

You must, however, previously take warning, that you are not to expect a detailed account of the war, but must rest yourself contented with the marine campaign, which I feel a particular pleasure in relating, inasmuch as it terminated entirely to my satisfaction, that is to say, without our coming to blows. There are some people in this world who appear to have an innate fondness for fighting, or as the phrenologists would say, have the organ of combativeness particularly well developed; this to me is perfectly inexplicable, I having a particular antipathy to that department, partly in consequence of the said organ being unusually small in my proper person, and partly because I have some uncomfortable misgivings that at the termination of the affair I might possibly find myself in anything but a status ante bellum.

We will, however, leave these things to the discussion of greater philosophers, and content ourselves with less speculative affairs, trusting that the delay which has been occasioned by the above remark will only serve to whet the appetite for the forthcoming novelties.

« 前へ次へ »