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； and not until the 4th of August did his defeated ships reach New York。
A mighty armada of seven hundred ships had meanwhile sailed into the Bay of New York。 This fleet was commanded by Admiral Lord Howe and it carried an army of thirty thousand men led by his younger brother； Sir William Howe； who had commanded at Bunker Hill。 The General was an able and well…informed soldier。 He had a brilliant record of service in the Seven Years' War； with Wolfe in Canada； then in France itself； and in the West Indies。 In appearance he was tall； dark； and coarse。 His face showed him to be a free user of wine。 This may explain some of his faults as a general。 He trusted too much to subordinates； he was leisurely and rather indolent； yet capable of brilliant and rapid action。 In America his heart was never in his task。 He was member of Parliament for Nottingham and had publicly condemned the quarrel with America and told his electors that in it he would take no command。 He had not kept his word； but his convictions remained。 It would be to accuse Howe of treason to say that he did not do his best in America。 Lack of conviction； however； affects action。 Howe had no belief that his country was in the right in the war and this handicapped him as against the passionate conviction of Washington that all was at stake which made life worth living。
The General's elder brother； Lord Howe； was another Whig who had no belief that the war was just。 He sat in the House of Lords while his brother sat in the House of Commons。 We rather wonder that the King should have been content to leave in Whig hands his fortunes in America both by land and sea。 At any rate； here were the Howes more eager to make peace than to make war and commanded to offer terms of reconciliation。 Lord Howe had an unpleasant face； so dark that he was called 〃Black Dick〃； he was a silent； awkward man； shy and harsh in manner。 In reality； however； he was kind； liberal in opinion； sober； and beloved by those who knew him best。 His pacific temper towards America was not due to a dislike of war。 He was a fighting sailor。 Nearly twenty years later； on June 1； 1794； when he was in command of a fleet in touch with the French enemy； the sailors watched him to find any indication that the expected action would take place。 Then the word went round： 〃We shall have the fight today； Black Dick has been smiling。〃 They had it； and Howe won a victory which makes his name famous in the annals of the sea。
By the middle of July the two brothers were at New York。 The soldier； having waited at Halifax since the evacuation of Boston； had arrived； and landed his army on Staten Island； on the day before Congress made the Declaration of Independence； which； as now we can see； ended finally any chance of reconciliation。 The sailor arrived nine days later。 Lord Howe was wont to regret that he had not arrived a little earlier； since the concessions which he had to offer might have averted the Declaration of Independence。 In truth； however； he had little to offer。 Humor and imagination are useful gifts in carrying on human affairs； but George III had neither。 He saw no lack of humor in now once more offering full and free pardon to a repentant Washington and his comrades； though John Adams was excepted by name* in repudiating the right to exist of the Congress at Philadelphia； and in refusing to recognize the military rank of the rebel general whom it had named： he was to be addressed in civilian style as 〃George Washington Esq。〃 The King and his ministers had no imagination to call up the picture of high…hearted men fighting for rights which they held dear。
* Trevelyan； 〃American Revolution〃； Part II； vol。 I （New Ed。； vol。 II）； 261。
Lord Howe went so far as to address a letter to 〃George Washington Esq。 &c。 &c。；〃 and Washington agreed to an interview with the officer who bore it。 In imposing uniform and with the stateliest manner； Washington； who had an instinct for effect； received the envoy。 The awed messenger explained that the symbols 〃 &c。 &c。〃 meant everything； including； of course； military titles； but Washington only said smilingly that they might mean anything； including； of course； an insult； and refused to take the letter。 He referred to Congress； a body which Howe could not recognize； the grave question of the address on an envelope and Congress agreed that the recognition of his rank was necessary。 There was nothing to do but to go on with the fight。
Washington's army held the city of New York； at the southerly point of Manhattan Island。 The Hudson River； separating the island from the mainland of New Jersey on the west； is at its mouth two miles wide。 The northern and eastern sides of the island are washed by the Harlem River； flowing out of the Hudson about a dozen miles north of the city； and broadening into the East River； about a mile wide where it separates New York from Brooklyn Heights； on Long Island。 Encamped on Staten Island； on the south； General Howe could； with the aid of the fleet； land at any of half a dozen vulnerable points。 Howe had the further advantage of a much larger force。 Washington had in all some twenty thousand men； numbers of them serving for short terms and therefore for the most part badly drilled。 Howe had twenty…five thousand well…trained soldiers； and he could； in addition； draw men from the fleet； which would give him in all double the force of Washington。
In such a situation even the best skill of Washington was likely only to qualify defeat。 He was advised to destroy New York and retire to positions more tenable。 But even if he had so desired； Congress； his master； would not permit him to burn the city； and he had to make plans to defend it。 Brooklyn Heights so commanded New York that enemy cannon planted there would make the city untenable。 Accordingly Washington placed half his force on Long Island to defend Brooklyn Heights and in doing so made the fundamental error of cutting his army in two and dividing it by an arm of the sea in presence of overwhelming hostile naval power。
On the 22d of August Howe ferried fifteen thousand men across the Narrows to Long Island； in order to attack the position on Brooklyn Heights from the rear。 Before him lay wooded hills across which led three roads converging at Brooklyn Heights beyond the hills。 On the east a fourth road led round the hills。 In the dark of the night of the 26th of August Howe set his army in motion on all these roads； in order by daybreak to come to close quarters with the Americans and drive them back to the Heights。 The movement succeeded perfectly。 The British made terrible use of the bayonet。 By the evening of the twenty…seventh the Americans； who fought well against overwhelming odds； had lost nearly two thousand men in casualties and prisoners； six field pieces； and twenty…six heavy guns。 The two chief commanders； Sullivan and Stirling； were among the prisoners； and what was left of the army had been driven back to Brooklyn Heights。 Howe's critics said that had he pressed the attack further he could have made certain the capture of the whole American force on Long Island。
Criticism of what might have been is easy and usually futile。 It might be said of Washington； too； that