But if such was the purpose of the British commander, he promptly abandoned it (being actuated, it is supposed, by the prudential feeling that it would be wisest to await the arrival of the bulk of his forces); and, indeed, it was not until the 22d of August that the landing on Long Island was made. There Washington was granted a respite of seven weeks, which he availed of by perfecting the Long Island defenses and making all practical arrangements for concentrating in that quarter a force capable of resisting the invasion. How nearly this proved fatal to the American cause is a theme that the historians of the Revolution never weary of expatiating upon. General Howe, in bringing his formidable command to America, had, at least nominally, a double function to discharge. While he grasped the sword with one hand he bore the olive branch in the other. Before proceeding to sanguinary measures he was to proffer terms of reconciliation, which were to include gracious pardon for all acts of rebellion. But toward the end of peace so devoutly to be wished for, he unfortunately was not able to make any progress whatever One of his first acts was to dispatch an officer under a flag of truce with a letter addressed to " George Washington, Esq./' impertinence, the offireminding one of that other historic British cial designation of the fallen and captive Emperor Napoleon, after Waterloo, as "General Bonaparte." Howe's messenger, after exchanging'the most elegant and amiable courtesies with the American officer who came to meet him, stated that he had a letter for a " Mr. " Washington. The other informed him that some unaccountable mistake must have been made, that there was no person answering to such a name in the whole patriot camp. The missive the specified priwas next produced, and still it was disavowed thatpuzzled messenger vate individual had any known existence.