Before he departed from Smiih's house, he urged Smith to go back with Andre to ihe Vulture as soon as it should be dark ; yet the matter seemsNo have been undecided, for he wrote and gave to Smith two passports, (dating them ' Head (Quarters,') one authorizing him to go by water, and the other by land.

" The former was in these words : * Joshua Smith has permission to pass with a boat and three hands, and a flag, to Dobb's Ferry, on public business, and to return immediately.' "a-

After the trial of Andr6 at Tappan, and his letters and those of Washington, as well as the proceedings of the board of examination, had been received by Sir Henry Clinton, then in New York, it was resolved by Clinton and a board of general ofncers, "that a deputation of three persons should proceed to the nearest American out-post, furnished with evidence to prove Major Andre's innocence, and to impart information which Sir Henry Clinton thousjht would place the question in a different light from / that in which it had been viewed by the American board. The persons delegated on this mission were General Robertson, Andrew Elliot, and William Smith. They were accompanied by Beverly Robinson as a witness in the case, and were fortified in their estimation, but w^eakened in reality, by a long explanatory and threatening letter from Arnold to General Washington . The commissioners went up the river in the Greyhonnd schooner, with a flag of truce, on the first of October. Notice of the - intended visit and its objects had been already communicated by Sir Henry Clinton to Washington; and when the vessel an- \ , chored at Dobbs' Ferry, General Greene was there, having been deputed by Washington to hold the interview on his behalf.