[60] Above may be seen a fac-simile of the last paragraph of Dean Stanley's letter.
[61] The letter of Mr. Field conveying his generous offer to the New York Historical Society (September, 1880) was referred to the Executive Committee. They warmly recommended its favorable consideration by the society. In their report, referring to the event commemorated by the memorial-stone at Tappaan, the committee said it was an "event which, perhaps, more signally than any other act of his life, illustrates the wisdom and firmness of Washington under circumstances of peculiar trial, in which even his devoted followers were disposed to question his humanity, if not his justice, and almost to fall in with the sentimental calumny of the day, which has been so often reviewed and refuted as to become ridiculous. The memorial-stone of André's execution is a monument to Washington."
[62] The engraving is from the original drawing of the architect. Just below the inscription, at the bottom of the shaft, is cut "Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Dean of Westminster."
[63] It was ascertained that the perpetrator of the crime was a "crank"—a printer, in the city of New York—who, after eluding the officers of the law for some time, finally died.
[64] A petition addressed to the Governor of the State, asking him to assist in an effort to discover the perpetrator of the crime, was signed by a large number of the most respectable citizens of Rockland County.
MONODY ON MAJOR ANDRÉ.
