atmosphere was perfectly clear. Thus by a Providential interposition of an unusual fog, our army, consisting of nine thousand men, in one night embarked under great disadvantages, and with their baggage, provisions, stores, horses, and the munitions of war, crossed a river, a mile or more wide, and landed at New York undiscovered and without material loss. The enemy were so near, that they were heard at work with their pick axes, and in about half an hour after, the fog cleared off and the enemy were seen taking possession of the American lines.

20th.-General Washington, finding the city of New York untenable, has removed his whole army about nine miles up the country; which he effected in safety, though under a heavy cannonade from the British shipping. General Howe with his army took immediate possession of the city. Major General Sullivan, who was captured on Long Island, has been permitted to return on his parole; and is charged with a message to Congress from Lord Howe. The purport of the message is, that his Lordship, as commissioner, could not treat with Congress, as such; but is desirous of a conference with some of the members, as private gentlemen. Congress could not consider themselves justified in sending any of their members in their private character; but, ever desirous of establishing peace on reasonable terms, offered to send a committee to inquire, whether his Lordship had any authority to treat with persons authorized by Congress for this purpose, and what that authority was; and to hear such propositions, as he should think proper to make respecting the same. They accordingly made choice of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Esq. and Edward Rutledge, Esq. who had an interview with Lord Howe on Staten Island. The first proposition from his Lordship was, that the colonies should return to their allegiance and obedience to the government of Great Britain. The committee expressed their opinion,

that a return to the domination of Great Britain was not to be expected. They mentioned the repeated humble petitions of the colonies to the King and Parliament, which had been treated with contempt, and answered with additional injuries; the unexampled patience we had shown under their tyrannical government, and that it was not till the last act of Parliament, which denounced war against us, and put us out of the king's protection, that we declared our independence; and that it is not now in the power of Congress to agree that the people should return to their former dependant state. The committee reported to Congress that it did not appear, that his Lordship's commission contained any other authority of importance than what is expressed in the act of Parliament, namely, that of granting pardons, with such exceptions as the commissioners shall think proper to make, and of declaring America, or any part of it, to be in the king's peace on submission. The committee conducted the business with great judgment, and in a manner becoming the dignity of their character. The Congress adopted no other measures on this occasion; and the British commissioners, finding that the United States could not relinquish their independency, published their declaration to the people at large, recommending to them" to reflect seriously on their present conduct and expectations, and to judge for themselves, whether it is more consistent with their honor and happiness to offer up their lives as a sacrifice to the unjust and precarious cause in which they are engaged, or to return to their allegiance, accept the blessings of peace, and be secured in the free enjoyment of their liberties and property." Had the declaration of independence been deferred but a few weeks longer, this proceeding of the commissioners might have been productive of consequences exceedingly disastrous to our country. It would probably have increased the number of opposers to the measure, and occasioned