A late biographer of Arnold gives the particulars of a conversation between Andre and Major Tallmadge, the officer who had him in custody, and who brought him from West Point down the river to Tappan, the place of his subsequent execution : ' Before we reached tlie Clove, (a landing just below Yerplanck's Point,) Major Andre became very inquisitive to know my opinion as to the result of his capture. When I could no longer evade his importunity, I remarked to him as follows : I had a much loved class mate in Yale College by the name of Hale, who entered the army in 1775. Immediately after the battle of Long Island, Washington wanted information respecting the strength of the army; he v/ent over to Brooklyn, and was taken just as he was passing the out-posts of the enemy, on his return. Said I, with emphasis, do you remember the sequel of his story ? Yes, said Andre, he was hanged as a spy, but you surely do not consider iiis case and mine alike? I replied yes, precisely similar, and similar will be your fate. He endeavored to answer my remarks, but it was manifest he was more troubled in spirit than I had ever seen him before.'"^

What a contrast does this scene present to the passage of the traitor himself, who, as soon as his villainy was ascertained, " mounted a horse belonging to one of his aids that stood saddled at the door, and rode alone, with all speed, to the bank of the river. He there entered a boat, and directed the oarsmen to push out to the middle of the stream. The boat was rowed by six men, who, having no knowledge of Arnold's intentions, promptly obeyed his orders. He quickened their activity by saying, that he was going down the river and on board the Vnlture with a flag, and that he was in great haste, as he expected Gen.