For his patriotism, it is enough to say, that Isaac van Wart was one of the captors of Andre. For proofs of his exemplary life, and for his firm belief in our holy religion, to you my friends I appeal as witnesses. Some of you have known him in the noonday and evening of life, have heard him breathe the patriot's prayer, " 0 God save my country," have seen his practical examples of virtuous conduct, his piety, his devotion, and his humble submission to the will of Heaven.

The capture of Andre, fellow citizens, formed an important epoch in the history of our Revolution. This event took place on the morning of the 23d oj Sept., 1780, and what is well worthy of observation, within three miles of the spot where we are now assembled, and within a few miles of the place where the man, to whose perishable remains we are now paying the last tribute of respect, w^as born, brought up and died. It 03curred too, at a period when our country was in the deepest distress. It will be recollected, that Charleston, South Carolina, had then but recently been taken by the enemy, with the loss of our whole army, under the command of General Lincoln, amouhting to upwards of five thousand men, together with all the magazines of military and naval stores, the shipping in the harbor, and four hundred pieces of ordnance. General Gates had also been defeated at Camden in North Carolina, seven hundred of our troops having been killed in battle, and one thousand three hundred wounded and made prisoners, and the whole of his forces routed and dispersed. The eastern states had likewise been overrun by the enemy, with fire and sword. And to add to the general gloom which now overspread the United States, the small army that was left, was reduced to the greatest distress and misery ; and, nothing, it is believed, but the wisdom and prudence of the immortal Washington, could have kept it together ; for, in the language of a committee appointed by Congress to visit it, the soldiers were unpaid for months together, seldom having more than six days provision in advance ; and on several occasions for several successive days, entirely without meat.