344 On the honours due to the British flag. dicular to the horizon, with the point As I am apprehensive, Mr Urban, the foregoing experiments are not thought fufficient to fet afide a favourite hypothefis, by your leave I will add one more. Take the apparatus as in the last experiment; put a glafs handle on the difcharging wire; let a person take the upper point, and hold it oppofite to the under point close to the glass with one hand, and with his other hand let him touch the coating of the jar. When he is thus fixed, charge the jar, and let it be difcharged by fuddenly touching the knob with the wire; and if he does not find the fpark pafs through his body, notwithstanding the obftructions of the glafs, I am much deceived. I will only add, Mr Urban, that on this fubject I have thought for myself. I have neither been prejudiced by the experiments, nor influenced by the obfervations, of those who have gone beHow far I have fore me in this path. fucceeded in proving the penetrability of glafs to the electrical fluid, I leave to the candid and the curious to judge. If I am mistaken, I am open to conviction, and am ready to acknowledge any error pointed out to me. If, on the contrary, what is here offered, thall ftand the teft of a fevere inquiry, I shall then be induced to lay before the public fome farther experiments and obfervations in this branch of natural philofophy. Dover, July 10. 1778. SIR, JOHN LYON. London, July 18. TH HE right of falutation infifted on by Vol. 40. ever, in every part of that ocean called I. It is evident, that before the conqueft by the Romans, the Britannic feas always belonged to the island of G. Britain; that her inhabitants always claimed it, and always enjoyed an exclufive fovereignty on those feas. The conquet gave to the Romans these rights; who afterwards tranfmitted them with the empire to the feveral fucceeding Saxon, Danish, and Norman kings. Under the different reigns of each, every mark of refpect was fhewn to the British flag, and these marks confirmed that right at the fame time. 2. The feas on which this right of salutation was infifted on, are the four feas which wash the coafts of the island, and upon which all ships were bound by cuftom, and an ordinance of King John, to obferve it. The acknowledgement of this right is determined in the 4th article of the treaty of peace concluded betwixt the King and the States-General of the United Provinces, which is thus expreffed. "All fhips or veffels belonging to the faid provinces, whether ships of war or other, whether alone or with others, or forming a fleet, and when upon any of those seas which extend from Cape Finifterre to the centre of Van Steten in Norway, whenever meeting with any of his Britannic Majefty's fhips, whether thefe latter are alone, or in fquadrons, if they carry the British flag, fhall lower their flag with all the respect that ever has been obferved and practifed from time immemorial, by all the shipping belonging to the United States, and of their predeceffors," 3. His Majefty does not look on this falute, and the respect claimed, as the result of this convention, but as the This right exlong-established and inherent right of the empire of G. Britain. tends over all nations, and obliges all without exception which navigate any fhipping whatever in any of the abovedefcribed feas, to lower their flag to the British navy, and to acknowledge its fovereignty over those feas. And if any ship whatever fhall refuse it, and make refiftance, that ship may be compelled by force, vi et manu forti; because the honour of the British King cannot fuffer any diminution, The The History of 1776, continued. [298.] AMERICA, continued.' THERE were three principal objects propofed in the conduct of the British forces in the prefent campaign. The first was the relief of Quebec, and the redemption of Canada, which alfo included the fubfequent invafion of the back parts of the colonies by the way of the lakes. The fecond was the making a strong im preffion on the fouthern colonies, which it was hoped would at least have fucceeded fo far as to the recovery of one of them. The third was the grand expedition against the city and province of New York. Of the two collateral parts of this plan we have already feen the event, fo far as the firit was yet capable of being carried into execution. On the third, the greatet hopes of fuccefs were not unjustly founded. Much the better part of the province of New York is inclofed in iflands, which being long and narrow, were expofed on all fides to the hoftility of our fleets, and to the descents of our troops, with every advantage in their favour, whilst they continued in a state of enmity. When reduced, the protection of the fhips of war would be as effectual in their prefervation, as their hoftility had been in their reduction. The central fituation of this province afforded great advantages. The war could be carried on with equal facility either in Connecticut, and the continent of New York, on the eaftern fide, or in New Jerfey, and from thence to Pennsylvania, on the weern; or it might be transferred to and from either at pleafure: fo that this po fition enabled the British commander to prefcribe the fcene of action, and to quit it when he liked; while, if the army was withdrawn from the field, he might, by the means of the great North river, and the different channels between the iflands and the main land, with his fhips and detachments, harafs and ruin the adjoining countries; at the fame time that the rebels, however powerful, could make co attempt on the iflands, that would not be attended with the greatest difadvantages, and liable to the moft imminent danger. Another great object in view from this fituation was, that if Gen. Carleton could penetrate to Hudfon's or the great North river, Gen. Howe might thereby totally cut off all cena unication between the northern and father poVOL. XL. vinces. To crown these advantages, Long ifland, which is very fertile in wheat and all other corn, and abounded with herds and flocks, was deemed almost equal in itfelf to the maintenance of an army. The inhabitants were also supposed to be, in general, well affected to the royal caufe. The attainment of these great objects, and the conduct of the grand armament which was neceffary to the purpose, were committed to Adm. Lord Howe, and his brother the General; men who stond high in the opinion and confidence of the nation, as well from their own merit and fervices, as from the military character and bravery of the family. To this fervice was allotted a very powerful army, confifting, befides the national forces, of about 13,000 Heffins and Waldeckers. The whole force, if the different parts of which it was compofed could have been united in the beginning of the campaign, it was fuppofed, would have amounted to about 35,000 men. It will be easily conceived by thofe acquainted with inilitary affairs, that all calculations of this nature, though founded upon the best official information, will far exceed, even at a much nearer diftance than America, the real effective number that can ever be brought to action. This force, when united, was, however, truly formidable, and fuch as no part of the new world had ever feen before: nor was it, perhaps, ever exceeded by any army in Europe of an equal number, whether confidered with refpect to the excellency of the troops, the abundant provifion of all manner of military ftores and warlike materials, or the goodness and number of artillery of all forts with which it was provided. It was, befides, fupported by a very numerous fleet, particularly wel adapted to the nature of the fervice. Befides their military powers, the General and Admiral were appointed the commillioners under the late act of parliament, for refloring peace to the colonies, and for granting paidon to fuch as fhould deferve the royal mercy. The situation of the army at Halifax. and the long tay of above two months; which it was obliged to make there, fil waiting the arrival of fome of the rein forcements from England to enable it to go upon fervice, was neither pleafing to the General, nor comfortable to the me The country was in no fituation to af ford them a ftaficient fupply of provifta X X or neceffaries; nor was the place even capable of providing quarters on fhore for the private men, who were obliged to continue on board the ships during the whole of their stay. As the funimer advanced, the General grew impatient at the delay, and was probably further urged by the fcarcity of provifions. He accordingly, without waiting for his brother, or the expected reinforcements, departed, with Adm. Shuldham, and the fleet and army, from Halifax, about the 10th of June, and near the end of the month, arrived at Sandy-hook, a point of land that stands at the entrance into that confluence of founds, roads, creeks, and bays, which are formed by New York, Staten and Long islands, the continent on either fide, with the North and Rareton rivers. On their paffage they were joined by fix tranfports with Highland troops on board, who were separated from several of their companions in the voyage. It appeared, foon after, that fome of the miffing fhips, with about 450 foldiers, and feveral officers, were taken by the American cruifers. The General found every approachable part of the island of New York ftrongly fortified, defended by a numerous artillery, and guarded by little lefs than an army. The extent of Long island did not admit of its being fo ftrongly fortified, or fo well guarded: it was, however, in a powerful ftate of defence; had an encampment of confiderable force on the end of the island, near New York, and feveral works thrown up on the moft acceffible parts of the conft, as well as at the strongest internal paffes. Staten island, being of lefs value and confequence, was lefs attended to. The General landed on the ifland, July 3. without oppofition, to the great joy of thofe of the inhabitants who had fuffered for their loyalty; and the troops being cantoned in the villages, received plenty of thofe refreshments which they fo much wanted. He was met by Gov. Tryon, with feveral well-affected gentlemen who had taken refuge with him on board a fhip, at Sandy-hook; who gave him a full account of the ftate and difpofition of the province, as well as of the ftrength of the enemy. He had the fatisfaction of being joined by about fixty perfons from New Jerfey, who came to take arms in the royal caufe; and about 200 of the militia of the island were em bodied for the fame purpofe; which af forded the pleafing profpect, that when the army was in force to march into the country, and protect the royalifts, fuch numbers would join it, as would contribute not a little to bring the prefent troubles to a speedy conclufion. Lord Howe arrived at Halifax about a fortnight after his brother's departure, from whence he proceeded to Staten ifland, where he arrived before the middle of July. His firft act was to fend afhore, by a flag, July 14. a circular letter to the several late governors of the colonies, acquainting them with his civil and military powers; and defiring, that they would publish, as generally as poffible, for the information of the people, a declaration which accompanied the letter. In this piece he informed the public of the powers with which his brother and he were endued under the late act of parliament, of granting general or particular pardons to all those, who, in the tumult and difafter of the times, might have deviated from their juft allegiance, and who were willing, by a fpeedy return to their duty, to reap the benefits of the royal favour, and of declaring any colony, province, county, town, port, diftrict, or place, to be at the peace of his Majefty; in which cafe, the penal provifions of that law would ceafe in their favour. It also promised, that a due confideration thould be had to the fervices of all perfons who contributed to the refloration of the public tran quillity. Thefe papers being immediately forwarded by Gen. Washington to the congrefs, were as speedily published by them in all the newfpapers, with a preface or comment of their own, in the form of a refolution, That the publication was in order that the people of the United States might be informed of what nature are the commiffioners, and what the terms, with the expectation of which the court of Great Britain had endeavoured to amufe and disarm them; and that the few who fill remained fufpended by a hope founded either in the juftice or moderation of that court, might now at length be convinced, that the valour alone of their country is to fave its liberties. [38.437.] At and about the fame time, different flags were fent afhore by Lord Howe, accompanied by force of his officers, with a letter directed to George Wafting ton, Efq; which that general refused to receive, as not being addreffed with the title, and in the form, due to the rank which he held under the United States. The congrefs highly applauded the dignity of this conduct, in a public refolution paffed for the purpofe; by which they directed, for the future, that none of their commanders should receive any letter or meffage from the enemy, but fuch as should be directed to them in the characters which they respectively fuftained. [38.438.] At length Adj. Gen. Paterson was fent, July 20. to New York by Gen. Howe, with a letter addrefled to George Washington, &c. &c. &c. That General received him with great politenefs; and the ufual ceremony of blindfolding, in pafling thro' the fortifications, was difpenfed with in his favour. The Adjutant regretted, in the name of his principals, the difficulties which had arifen with refpect to addreffing the letters; declared their high efteem for his person and character, and that they did not mean to derogate from the respect due to his rank; and that it was hoped the et cetera's would remove the impediments to their correspondence, The General replied, that a letter directed to any perfon in a public character fhould have fome defcription or indication of it, otherwife it would appear a mere private letter; that it was true the et cetera's implied every thing; but they alfo implied any thing; and that he should abfolutely decline any letter directed to him as a private perfon when it related to his public flation. A long conference enfued on the fubject of prifoners, and the complaints which were made on both fides, particularly by the congrefs, relative to the treatment they received. The Adjutant having obferved, That the commiflioners were armed with great powers; that they would derive the greatest pleasure from effecting an accommodation; and that Limfelf wished to have that visit confidered as making the firft advance towards that defirable object: he received for anfwer, among other things, That, by what had appeared, their powers were only to grant pardons; that thofe who committed no fault wanted no pardon; and that they themselves were only defending what they deemed their indifputable right. The Adjutant was received by Gen. Wafhington in great military ftate, and the utmost politenefs was obferved on both sides. [38.627.] Some small time previous to the arri val of the fleet and army, plots in favour of the royal caufe were discovered in New York and Albany, which were productive of much trouble. Some few executions took place, great numbers were confined, and many, abandoning their houfes under the operation of their fears, were pursued as outlaws, and enemies to their country. The eftates of those unfortunate people against whom there were proofs, were feized. In the mean time, new forms of government were eftablished in all thofe colonies which deemed the former infufficient for their prefent fituation, and the others made the alterations neceffary to adapt their old forms to the new fyftem. The declaration of independence was also pu blished in all the colonies, and every where received and accompanied with the greateft public teftimonials of joy. This confidence and boldnefs in the midft of fo untried and dangerous a struggle, and at the eve of fo formidable an invafion, fhewed either great prefumption, a knowledge of internal ftrength, or a certainty of foreign fupport, which appeared alarming. The firft divifion of Heffians, with the British troops by whom they were accompanied, failed directly from England to Halifax, as Lord Howe had done, being ftill ignorant of the General's departure from that place. By this means the month of Auguft was confiderably ad vanced before their arrival at New York, and it was of courfe fome days longer before any expedition of importance could be undertaken by the commiflioners. In the mean time they were joined by Sir Peter Parker and Gen. Clinton, with the fquadron and forces from South Carolina, as well as by fome regiments from Florida and the Weft Indies. All the forces being now arrived, except about one half of the Heffians, who, though on their way, were not speedily expected, an attempt upon Long island was refolved upon, as being more practicable, and therefore better fitted for the firft effay, than New York, as affording a greater fcope for the difplay to advantage of military kill and experience, and as abounding with thofe fupplies which fo great a body of men as were now affembled by fea and land neceffarily demanded. The neceffary measures being taken by the fleet for covering the defccnt, the X X 2. army army was landed without oppofition, Aug. 22. near Utrecht and Gravefend, on the fouth west end of the island, and not far from the narrows where it approaches clofeft to Staten island. Gen. Putnam was at that time with a ftrong force incamped at Brookland, or Brook lyn, at a few miles diftance, on the north coaft, where his works covered the breadth of a small peninsula; having what is called the Eaft river, which feparated him from New York, on his left; a marfh, which extended to Gowan's cove, on his right; with the bay and Governor's ifland to his back. The armies were separated by a range of hills covered with wood, which interfect the country from eaft to weft, and are, in that part, called the hights of Guina. The direct road to the enemy lay through a village called Flit-buh, where the hills commenced, and near which was one of the most important paffes. As the army advanced, the north coaft was to the left, the fouth to the right, and Flat bush was nearly in the centre between both. The inland in that part is kept narrow by Jamaica bay on the right, but foon widens. Gen. Put nam had detached a confiderable part of his army to occupy the woody hills, and poffefs the paffes; and if the commanders upon this fervice had been fkilful and vigilant, they could not have been easily paffed. Lord Cornwallis pufhed on immediately with the referve, and fome ather troops, to Flat-buth, where finding the enemy in poffeffion of the pafs, he complied with his orders in making no attempt upon it. When the whole army was landed, the Heians, under Gen. Heißler, compofed the centre at Flatbufh, Maj. Gen. Grant commanded the Jeft wing, which extended to the coaft; and the principal army, containing much the greater part of the British forces, un der the command of Gen. Clinton, Earl Percy, and Lord Cornwallis, turned fhort to the right, and approached the oppofite coal at Fiat-land. Every thing being prepared for forcing the bills, and advar cing towards the enemy's lines, Gen. Clinton, at the head of the van of the army, confifting of the light infantry, grenadiers, light horie, reftive under Lord Cornwallis, and other corps, with fourteen field-pieces, begin, as foon as it was dark on the night of the 26th, to move from Flat-land, and paiting through the part of the country called the New Lots, arrived upon the road which croffes the hills from Bedford to Jamaica; where turning to the left towards the former of thefe places, ther feized a pafs of the utmost importance, which, through fome unaccountable and fatal neglect of the enemy's generals, was left unguarded. The main br under Lord Percy, with ten field-piece, followed the van at a moderate diflance, and the way being thus happily open, the whole army paffed the hills without noi or impediment, and defcended by the town of Bedford into the leve! country which lay between them and Putnam's lines. The engagement was begun early in the morning by the Heffians at Flatbuth, and by Gen. Grant on the coak, and a warm cannonade, with a brifk fie of small arms, was eagerly fupported on both fides for fome hours. In the mem time the fhips made several motions o the left, and attacked a battery on Red Hook, not only to diftract the right of the enemy, who were engaged with Gen. Grant, but to call off their attention to tally from the left and rear, where all their danger lay. Thofe who oppoted the Heffians in the left and centre, were the first apprifed of the march of the British army, and of their own danger. They accordingly retreated in large bo dies, and in tolerable order, with the artillery, in order to recover their camp; but foon found themfelves intercepted by the King's troops, who furioully attacked, and drove them back into the woods. There they again met the Hei fians, and were alternately chafed an! intercepted by the light infantry ar! dragoons. In thefe defperate cireumftances, fome of their regiments, overpowered and outnumbered as they were, forced their way to the lines, through all the difficulties and dangers that oppofol and surrounded them. Others, perhaps not lefs brave, perithed in the attempt. Some kept the woods and escaped; thers, lefs fortunate, were loft under the fame protection. The nature of the couptry, and variety of the ground, occafioned a continuance and extenfion of im. engagements, pursuits, and flaughters, which lafted for many hours. Never was any body of men more ef fectually intrapped: their right, which was engaged with Gen, Grant on th coaft, were fo late in their knowledge(" what was pafting, that they were inter |