FOOTNOTES:
[68] Victor-garland—alluding to the conquest by Lord Cornwallis.
[69] Bloody scroll. The court-martial decree, signed at Tappan, for Major André's execution.
[70] Julia—the name by which Mr. André addressed the author in his correspondence with her.
[71] All his gifts.—Mr. André has conspicuous talents for Poetry, Music, and Painting. The newspapers mentioned a satiric poem of his upon Americans, which was supposed to have stimulated this barbarity towards him ["The Cow-Chase">[.—Of his wit and vivacity, the letters subjoined to this work afford ample proof.—They were addressed to the author by Mr. André when he was a youth of eighteen.
[72] Early grave.—Miss Honora S. [Honora Sneyd], to whom Mr. André's attachment was of such singular constancy, died in a consumption a few months before he suffer'd death at Tappan. She had married another Gentleman [Richard Lovell Edgeworth] four years after her engagement with Mr. André had been dissolved by parental authority.
[73] Julia's arm.—Mr. André drew two miniature pictures of Miss Honora S. on his first acquaintance with her at Buxton, in the year 1769, one for himself, the other for the author of this poem.
[74] 'Twas thus Apelles.—Prior is very elegant upon this circumstance in an Ode to his Friend, Mr. Howard the Painter.
[75] Hov'ring Rumour.—The tidings of Honora's Marriage. Upon that event Mr. André quitted his Profession as a Merchant and join'd our Army in America.
[76] Tuneful Anna.—Miss Anna André has a poetical talent.
[77] Last dear record.—"I have a Mother, and three Sisters, to whom the value of my commission wou'd be an object, as the loss of Grenada has much affected their income. It is needless to be more explicit on this subject, I know your Excellency's goodness."—See Major André's last letter to General Clinton, publish'd in the Gazette.
[78] Impetuous André.—It is in this passage only that fiction has been employ'd thro' the narrative of the poem. Mr. André was a prisoner in America, soon after his arrival there, but the Author is unacquainted with the circumstances of the action in which he was taken.
[79] Shade of my Love.—The miniature of Honora. A letter from Major André to one of his Friends, written a few years ago, contained the following sentence: "I have been taken prisoner by the Americans and stript of everything except the picture of Honora, which I concealed in my mouth. Preserving that, I yet think myself fortunate."
Intrepid Portia.—"Brutus. Impatient of my absence,
"And grieved that young Octavius with Mark Antony
"Had made themselves so strong, she grew distracted,
"And, her Attendants absent, swallow'd fire.
"Cassius.] And dy'd so?
"Brutus.] Even so!"
See Shakespear's Play of Julius Cæsar, Act IV., Scene IV.]
[81] Hudson's tide.—Major André came up the Hudson River to meet General Arnold. On his return by Land he fell into the hands of the Enemy.
[82] Felon-cord.—"As I suffer in the defence of my Country, I must consider this hour as the most glorious of my life.—Remember that I die as becomes a British Officer, while the manner of my death must reflect disgrace on your Commander." See Major André's last words, inserted in the General Evening Post, for Tuesday, November the 14, 1780.
[83] Tappan.—The place where Major André was executed.
[84] Funeral scarf.—Our whole Army in America went into mourning for Major André, a distinguish'd tribute to his merit.
[85] Vestal flame.—The Vestal fire was kept perpetually burning, and originally kindled from the rays of the Sun.