conviction that they were unfounded; that they had taken their rise in
the enemy's camp, and that they would be satisfactorily confuted. But
the pleasure which the latter part of this communication afforded was
damped by the tidings it imparted respecting Arnold--as on his speedy
capture and safe delivery depended Andre's relief.

The interposition of Sir Henry Clinton, who was extremely anxious to
save his much-loved aid-de-camp, still continued. It was expected that
the examination of witnesses in Andre's case and the defense of the
prisoner, would protract the decision of the court of inquiry then
assembled, and give sufficient time for the consummation of the project
confided to Champe. This hope was disappointed in a manner wholly
unexpected. The honorable and accomplished Andre disdained defense, and
prevented the examination of witnesses, by confessing the character of
the mission, in the execution of which he was arrested. The court
reassembled on the second of October. Andre was declared to be a spy,
and condemned to suffer accordingly.

The painful sentence was executed on the subsequent day, in the usual
form, the commander-in-chief deeming it improper to interpose any delay.
In this decision he was warranted by the unpromising intelligence
received from Champe--by the still existing implication of other
officers in Arnold's conspiracy--by a due regard to public opinion, and
by the inexorable necessity of a severe example.

The fate of Andre, hastened by himself, deprived the enterprise
committed to Champe of a feature which had been highly prized by the
projector, and which had engaged the heart of the individual selected
for its execution. Washington ordered Major Lee to communicate what had
passed to the sergeant, with directions to encourage him to prosecute