immediate command; and have the pleasure to inform them, that the measure seemed to have their most hearty consent; the expressions and behaviour of both officers and men, testifying their warmest approbation of it."

General Howe had sailed from Halifax in June, and early in July landed his army, without serious opposition, on Staten Island; and on the twelfth of that month, he was joined by Lord Howe, with the reinforcements for the army. Lord Howe had been appointed to command the naval force on the American station; and he and the General were invested with the powers of Commissioners to treat with individuals, and with corporate bodies in the Colonies, upon terms of reconciliation with Britain. Although independence was already declared, yet they were anxious to commence negotiation; and though unwilling to recognize the official capacity of Congress, or of General WASHINGTON, yet they desired to open with them a correspondence. His Lordship sent a letter by a flag, directed to "George Washington, Esq." This the General refused to receive, as "it did not acknowledge the publick character, with which he was invested by Congress, and in no other character could he have any intercourse with his Lordship." Congress, by a formal resolution, approved the dignified conduct of their General, and directed, "That no letter or message be received on any occasion whatever from the enemy, by the Commander in Chief, or others, the Commanders of the American army, but such as shall be directed to them in the character they respectively sustain."

An intercourse between the British commander, and General WASHINGTON, was greatly desired for political reasons, as well as for purposes growing out of the war. Not yet disposed to adopt his military address, they sent Colonel Patterson, Adjutant General of the British army, to the American head quarters, with a letter directed to "George Washington, &c. &c. &c." When the Colonel was introduced to the General, he addressed him by the title of Excellency, and said, "that General Howe greatly regretted the difficulty that had arisen respecting the address of the letter; that the manner of direction had been common with Ambassadours and Plenipotentiaries, in cases of dispute about rank and precedency; that General WASHINGTON had himself, the last year, directed a letter in the following manner, "The Hon. William Howe;" that Lord and General Howe held his person and character in the highest respect, and did not mean to derogate from his rank; and, that the et ceteras implied every thing which ought to follow." He then laid the letter which had been before sent, on the table.

It

The General, declining its reception, observed, "that a letter, directed to a publick character, should have an address descriptive of that character, or it might be considered as a private letter. was true that the et ceteras implied every thing, they also implied any thing. The letter alluded to, was in answer to one received from General Howe, under the like address, which being received by the officer on duty, he did not think proper to return ;

and therefore answered in the same mode of address; and that he should absolutely decline any letter relating to his publick station, directed to him as a private person."

Colonel Patterson then said, that General Howe would not urge his delicacy farther, and repeated his assertion, that no failure of respect was intended. Some general conversation then passed, respecting the treatment of prisoners, when the Colonel proceeded to observe, that the goodness of the King had induced him to appoint Lord and General Howe his commissioners, to accommodate the dispute that had unhappily arisen; that their powers were very extensive, and they would be highly gratified in effecting the accommodation; and he wished his visit might be considered as the introduction to negotiation.

General WASHINGTON replied, that Congress had not invested him with powers to negotiate; but he would observe, that from what had transpired, it appeared that Lord and General Howe were only empowered to grant pardons: That they who had committed no faults, wanted no pardon; and that the Americans were only defending what they thought their indubitable rights. Colonel Patterson rejoined, that this would open a wide field of argument, and after expressing his fears, that an adherence to forms might obstruct business of the greatest moment, took his leave. The highest courtesy was observed in this conference: The address of Colonel Patterson was manly and polished; the American General fully supported the dignity of

his character and station; and the scene was highly interesting to spectators.

In

The Commander in Chief expected no salutary consequences to result from the agency of the British commissioners. He apprehended, that their attempts at negotiation were calculated only to divide and weaken the continent; and he feared, that their measures would operate to relax the exertions of the United States to meet the conflicts of the field. a private letter to a confidential friend, as early as May, he lamented the effects of this nature, which had actually been produced. "Many members of Congress," he wrote, "in short the representatives of whole provinces, are still feeding themselves on the dainty food of reconciliation; and although they will not allow that the expectation of it has any influence on their judgments, so far as respects preparations for defence, it is but too obvious that it has an operation upon every part of their conduct, and is a clog upon all their proceedings. It is not in the nature of things to be otherwise; for no man who entertains a hope of seeing this dispute speedily and equitably adjusted by commissioners, will go to the same expense, and incur the same hazards, to prepare for the worst event, that he will who believes that he must conquer or submit unconditionally, and take the consequences, such as confiscation and hanging."

General Howe commanded a force of

AUG. 8. twenty four thousand men, well disciplined, and abundantly supplied with every thing necessary to take the field; he daily expected to be

reinforced by a second detachment of German troops; and he was supported by a fleet judiciously fitted to its destined service. To oppose this formidable enemy, General WASHINGTON had under his direction seventeen thousand two hundred and twenty five men; of these three thousand six hundred and sixty eight were in the hospital. His effective force was disposed in New York, on Long and Governour's Islands, and at Paulus Hook; and he informed Congress, that in case of an attack, he could promise himself only the addition of one small battalion. Some of the posts occupied by the army were fifteen miles distant from others, and navigable waters intervened. "These things," observed the General, “are melancholy, but they are nevertheless true. I hope for better. Under every disadvantage, my utmost exertions shall be employed, to bring about the great end we have in view; and so far as I can judge from the professions and apparent disposition of my troops, I shall have their support. The superiority of the enemy, and the expected attack do not seem to have depressed their spirits. These considerations lead me to think, that though the appeal may not terminate so happily as I could wish, yet the enemy will not succeed in their views without considerable loss. Any advantage they may gain, will, I trust, cost them dear."

Before serious hostilities commenced, the American army was reinforced by several regiments of permanent troops, and by detachments of militia, which made the whole number amount to twenty seven thousand; but the men were not accustomed

M