Among other circumstances, he stated that when Major Andre's boots were taken off by them it was to search for plunder, and not to detect treason. These persons, indeed, he said, were of that class of people who passed between both armies, as often in one camp as the other, and whom, he said, if he had met with them, he should probably have as soon apprehended as Major Andre, as he had always made it a rule to do with these suspicious persons. The conclusion to be drawn from the whole of Mr. Tallmadge's statement, of which this is a brief abstract, was that these persons had brought in Major Andre only because they probably should get more for his apprehension than for his release.

This remarkable version of the matter excited great interest, and Tallmadge was fiercely attacked in debate, whereupon he again rose, and stated more circumstantially what bad been related to him by Major Andre. The major, he said, told him that the captors took him into the bushes and drew off his boots in the act of plundering him, and there, between his stockings and feet, they found the papers; that they asked him what he would give them to let him go; that he offered them his watcli and money, and promised them a considerable sum besides -- but that the difficulty was in his not being able to secure it to them, for they had no idea of trusting to his honor. Colonel Tallmadge declared that Andre was above all falsehood or duplicity, and felt ready to die with shame at being in such a mean disguise -- nay, begged for a military cloak to cover him.