[Footnote 76: _Tuneful Anna._--Miss Anna André has a poetical talent.] [Footnote 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.] [Footnote 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.] [Footnote 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."] [Footnote 80: _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.] [Footnote 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.] [Footnote 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.] [Footnote 83: _Tappan._--The place where Major André was executed.] [Footnote 84: _Funeral scarf._--Our whole Army in America went into mourning for Major André, a distinguish'd tribute to his merit.] [Footnote 85: _Vestal flame._--The Vestal fire was kept perpetually burning, and originally kindled from the rays of the Sun.] LETTERS ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR OF THE FOREGOING POEM, BY MAJOR ANDRÉ, WHEN HE WAS A YOUTH OF EIGHTEEN. LETTER I. Clapton, _October 3, 1769_.