[Extract]
My lord, Nothing is more true than the intelligence I had the honor to send you concerning the fact that General Howe had not received any letters from the Government since 26 October. I could not believe this circumstance, but it is generally known and accepted today. Since that period the vessels carrying the dispatches from the Court to Boston were forced by adverse winds to make for the island of Antigua instead of reaching their destination. The operations which decided General Howe's retreat are also known. After advancing their positions, the Americans erected batteries in different places, orie among others on a point called Phipp's farm from where they greatly inconvenienced the city. But the true attack was being prepared near Dorchester. After effecting a lodgment, they began to ,bombard Boston from this high position with such advantage that there remained no other alternative but to dislodge them from that position or else abandon the city. General Howe decided on the first course and made an attempt against their position at the head of 2400 elite troops. Meanwhile a storm had come up and the continuous fire of the Americans prevented the landing. Back in Boston, the General who had apparently recognised . the difficulty to capture that position even in calm weather called for the Select Men, some sort of Magistrates appointed by the people and whom General [Thomas] Gage had forbidden to leave the city. He entrusted them with the mission of finding General Washington in order to inform him that he wanted to leave Boston and embark; that he would not harm the city if the Americans would cease fire, but that he would destroy everything if they continued. The American General requested a letter from General Howe and promised to give it a suitable answer but the latter refused to submit and write to a rebel General. The shelling started again: the Select Men were summoned again and enjoined to write General Washington and present to him that he should be satisfied with becoming master of the city, and that, far from gaining its destruction, it was to his advantage to preserve it. The American General sent this letter to the Provincial Congress gathered in Concord located a few miles from the camp. It was unanimously agreed to let the troops embark peacefully, which was done on the 17th and the following days.
It appears to be an established fact that the General abandoned all the iron guns located on the lines, as well as the artillery horses. During the session on the day before yesterday, some members of the Lower House assessed the loss of the items which the General could not take 1-Vith him to two hundred thousand pounds sterling; but this count may be exaggerated.
As for the article in the Gazette of the Court, it stirred up nothing but jeers, especially when in such circumstances it is followed by the pardons who are carried by Lord [Richard] Howe and M. [Henry] Strachey, the Secretary. The latter was secretary to the late Lord Clive during his last expedition to India. He is said to be a worthy man. 2 They do not speak so well of his superior's brains which are commonly thought to be rather confused. He left for Portsmouth from whence the English and Hessian troops sailed night before last.
The fleet which transports them consists of 135 transport ships. It is convoyed by a ship of 50 guns called Preston, a hospital ship also. of 50 guns called Jersey, the Frigate Rainbow of 44 guns and the Emerald of 32, and two fire-ships. Lord Germain has just told me that he gave yesterday to Mr. Strachey the Commission and the instructions for Lord Howe, and that he expects this Admiral to put to sea today or tomorrow. He has been invested with the most extensive powers with this restriction, nevertheless, that he will not negotiate with Congress, but confer only with Deputies.
It was felt that His British Majesty could not promise in writing to have the Acts of the Legislative Body revoked. They would like the submission of the Americans by force, and they are rather embarrassed as to how to accomplish it while they do not know how to go abo1,1t making peace. Lord Sandwich was telling me the other day that England would end this affair, but not as advantageously as we would do it in such a case because we would be satisfied with a complete and absolute submission, whereas the English Government is embarrassed with this word liberty; he talked further with sound reasoning on the drawbacks of the English Constitution with respect to the administration of the Colonies.
On the day before yesterday, the Lower House debated whether to vote an extraordinary million for the disposal of His British Majesty. This is the request which had been announced previously by Lord North. Before giving his consent, Colonel Barre 3 deemed necessary to require that the House be informed of the situation in America. He requested to this effect that, as of the first of March last, the correspondence of the General in command of the Army and that of the Admiral in command of the fleet in Northern America be brought to the attention of the House. Buf this motion was rejected by a majority of 171 votes against 54.
You can see, My lord, that it is easier for the Insurgents to acquire cities in America than to obtain votes in the English Parliament. But at this point of the quarrel, the victories of the Ministry in Parliament will be usefol only as far they will be followed by more real advantages in America ....
P.S. According to this evening's papers, it appears that the small American Squadron commanded by M. Hopkins sailed on a course quite opposite to the one which had first been suspected. They are claimed to have sailed for Florida and to have captured the Island of [New] Providence. If this information is correct the Navy will be in a better position to judge the degree of usefulness of such an undertaking.
