joint attack by land and water, not only complete fortifications, but a very formidable army also. The same causes which render this part of the United States so vulnerable to an invading enemy, commanding the sea, secure that enemy in the possession of it, after it has been acquired. It must always be found extremely difficult to drive even an inferior army from this post, without first obtaining a naval superiority.

The British General was invited to New York, not only by the facility with which that position could be taken and retained, but by the great and superior advantages it offered in the prosecution of the war.

Long Island, of the secure possession of which he could not entertain a doubt, unless his force should be insufficient to make any impression whatever on America, was a fertile country, abounding in provisions, and would of itself furnish large supplies to his army. From this post, too, it was optional with him to carry the war eastwardly, into New England; northwardly, into the state of New York; or, westwardly, into the Jerseys and Pennsylvania; or, if too weak to attempt the conquest of either, he could retire into a place of security, and either harass the American army and the adjacent country, or carry on expeditions against distant parts of the continent. -In fact, it enabled him to command perfectly his own operation, and to choose the scene of action.

The possession of the Hudson, too, would open to him the most direct communication with Canada, and enable him very greatly to interrupt the intercourse between the eastern and southern states. In addition to these circumstances, he would cover his friends, who, in turn, would recruit his army, and supply it with those necessaries, the want of which he had so severely experienced in Boston.

The command of the fleet destined for this ser vice, was entrusted to Lord Howe, the brother of the General; and they were both constituted Com, missioners for restoring peace to the colonies, and granting pardons, with such exceptions as they should think proper to make. Lord Howe, who had been detained some time in England, soliciting an enlargement of his powers as Commissioner, arrived at Halifax about a fortnight after his brother had let that place, and lost no time in proceeding after him to Staten Island, which he reached the twelfth of July *.

General Washington soon received evidence of the difficulty attending his efforts to preserve this important river from an enemy possessing so powerful a fleet as was now to act against him. Two frigates passed his batteries, without injury, and sailed up towards the high lands; the passes of which were of essenti l importauce, and were very

weakly defended. It was apprehended that on board these frigates might be a small body of troops, and arms for the numerous disaffected of that country, with whose aid, sudden possession might be taken of these important positions. It was impossible still further to weaken the army at New York, for the defence of these passes, and therefore the militia were called upon to maintain them. The frigates, however, did not make the attempt which was apprehended from them; but, by retaining this station, they cut off the commu nication, by water, between the army at New York and that at Ticonderoga. To remove this interruption, a plan was formed to set the frigates on fire, by means of a fire-ship. This plan, though considerable address and courage were manifested in the attempt, 'failed in the execution; and only a tender was burnt. The frigates returned, but this fact demonstrated a truth which the General had before believed, that a ship with a fair wind would pass his batteries at pleasure, unless stopped before them by obstacles in the channel.

› Notwithstanding the declaration of indepen dence had now been made, Lord Howe deter mined, while the troops from Europe were arriving, to try the influence of the powers for pacification which had been committed to him. He sent on shore, by a flag, a circular letter, dated off the coast of Massachussetts, addressed severally to the

late

late Governors under the crown, enclosing a decla ration, which he requested them to make public; and which announced to the people his authority to grant pardons to any number or description of persons, who, during the tumult and disasters of the times, might have deviated from their just allegiance; and who might be willing, by a speedy return to their duty, to reap the benefits of the - royal favour; and to declare any colony, town, post, or place, in the peace and under the protection of the crown, and excepted from the penal provisions of the act of parliament, prohibiting all trade and intercourse with the colonies. This letter also contained assurances, that the meritorious services of all persons who should aid and assist in restoring public tranquillity in the colonies, or in any parts thereof, would be duly considered.

These papers were immediately transmitted by the Commander in Chief to Congress, who resolved that they should "be published in the several gazettes, that the good people of the United States might be informed of what nature were the Commissioners, and what the terms, with the expectation of which, the insidious Court of Britain had sought to amuse and disarm them; and that the few who still remained, suspended by a hope, founded either in the justice or moderation of their late King, might now, at length, be convinced,

that

that the valour alone of their country is to save its liberties."

About the same time that these papers were put into circulation, Lord Howe sent, with a flag, a letter addressed to " George Washington, Esq." which the General refused to receive, as, "it did not acknowledge the public character with which he was invested by Congress, and in no other character could he have any intercourse with his Lordship." This dignified proceeding was highly ap proved by Congress, in a particular, resolution, which also 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 characters they respectively sustain."

As there was some difficulty in recognising either the civil or military character conferred on individuals by the existing powers in America, and yet it was desirable, either for the purpose of effecting a pacification, or of dividing still more the Americans, if a pacification should be impracticable, to open negotiations, and hold out the semblance of restoring peace, the Commissioners cast about for means to evade this preliminary, obstacle to any discussion of the terms they were authorized to propose; and, at length, Colonel