About the middle of July, Lord Howe arrived with a fleet and army from England. He sent a circular letter to the Governors who had been displaced by their respective provinces, in which he explained, that he was empowered, in conjunction with his brother, to grant general or particular pardons, to all those who were willing to return to their allegiance to the King of Great Britain. Congress ordered this letter and declaration to be published in all the newspapers, that every one, as they said, might know the nature of the power with which the commissioners were invested, and that those who relied on the justice and moderation of the British ministry, might be fully convinced that they must trust to their valour for the preser

vation of their liberties.

Lord Howe next sent a letter to the American commander in chief; but, as it was directed to "George Washington, Esq." the general refused to receive it, as not directed to him agreeable to his station. His conduct, on this occasion, received the unanimous approbation of Congress.

To obviate this difficulty, Adjutant-General Patterson was sent by General Howe with a letter directed to "Geo. Washington, &c. &c. &c." He was politely received,

and immediately admitted to the presence of the American general. The Adjutant expressed much concern on account of the difficulties that had arisen from the superscription of the former letter, and hoped that the et cæteras would remove all obstructions to an intercourse between the commissioners and General Washington. To this he replied, "that a letter written to a person invested with a public character should specify it, otherwise it could not be distinguished from a letter on private business; true it was, the et cæteras implied every thing, but it was no less true, that they implied any thing."

The most interesting part of the conversation, was that respecting the power of the commissioners, whom, the Adjutant said, were ready to exert themselves to the utmost to effect a reconciliation. The General replied, that it did not appear that these powers consisted in any more than granting pardons; but as America had committed no offence, she asked no forgiveness, and was only defending her unquestionable rights.

From this conference, it was evident that nothing but a decided superiority in the field, could induce the Americans to relax the resolutions which they had taken with so much deliberation and solemnity.

The firmness of Congress had inspired the provincials with enthusiasm. That resolute body had declared America independent in the very face of the British fleet and army, while the first was casting anchor in sight of New-York, and the reinforcements from England were making the second landing on: Staten-Island.

An attack on Long-Island being determined on by the British commanders, the fleet covered the descent of the army, which effected a landing without any opposition, on the 22d of August, 1776. General Putnam, with a large body of troops, lay encamped, and strongly fortified, on a northern peninsu la on the opposite shore, with a range of hills. between the armies, the principal pass of which was at a village called Flat Bush.

Large detachments of the American army occupied the hills and passes. The right of the British army was commanded by Gen. Clinton, Lord Percy, and Lord Cornwallis ; the centre, composed of Hessians, under General Heister, was posted at Flat Bush; and the left, under General Grant, was stationed at the sea-shore.

Early in the morning of the 27th, the engagement was begun by the Hessians, and a heavy fire of cannon aed musquetry was con

tinued on both sides for several hours. One of the passes, which lay at a distance, had been neglected by the Americans, which gave an opportunity to the right division of the British army to pass the hills, and attack them in the rear.

The Americans, apprised of their danger, retreated towards their camp, but they were intercepted and driven back into the woods. Here they were met by the Hessians, and thus exposed to the fire of two parties. No way of escaping now remained, but by forcing their way through the ranks of the enemy, and thus regaining their camp. This numbers of them effected, but by far the greater part were either killed or taken pri

soners,

Washington had crossed over from NewYork in the height of the engagement, but he came too late to retrieve the fortune of the day. He is said to have burst into the most poignant exclamation of grief, when he saw some of his best troops killed or taken, without being able to afford them any assistance, but he used his utmost exertions to save those that remained, by a well conducted

retreat.

The victory was complete; the Americans. lost upwards of three thousand men, includ

ing two thousand killed, and eleven hundred taken prisoners, among whom were three generals. On the side of the British, the loss in killed and wounded was only about three hundred. Among the provincials who fell, a regiment from Maryland was particularly regretted. It consisted wholly of young men of the best families in that province.They behaved with the most admirable heroism they were every one killed or wounded, and thus perished in the bloom of youth.

"In this action, a body of provincials were put to death after they had thrown down their arms, and asked for quarter. The reason assigned for this piece of severity, was, that they had discharged their pieces before they had asked for quarter. They were told that if they had expected quarter, they ought to have. asked it before they fired; but now that they had fired, and done all the mischief they could, they had no mercy to expect."

After this defeat, Washington, though naturally intrepid, and possessed of an unconquerable fortitude, did not think it expedient to risk another action against a numerous army of veterans, well provided with artillery, and elated with their recent victory. New-York required to be strengthened, and the emergency did not admit of a moment's delay; for should the British fleet be able to