CONFERENCE ON STATEN ISLAND.

Almost immediately after the victory on Long Island, Lord Howe made
another attempt to open a negociation. General Sullivan was despatched
by him on parole with a verbal message to congress, importing that
though he could not at present treat with them as an authorized body, he
was desirous of conferring with them as private gentlemen at any place
they would appoint. He had, he said, in conjunction with General Howe,
full powers to compromise the dispute between Great Britain and America
on terms mutually honourable and advantageous--that he wished a compact
to be made when as yet no decisive blow was struck and neither party
could allege being compelled to enter into an agreement--that in case
congress were disposed to treat, many things yet unasked might be
granted them--and that, if upon the conference there should arise good
ground for an accommodation, this might lead to an acknowledgment of its
authority, as otherwise the compact could not be settled. Congress was
embarrassed by this message. They felt that the admiral could have no
offers to make which they could accept; and yet if they declined the
conference the people might entertain a different opinion, and they
might incur their vengeance if they refused to hear the message. Under
these circumstances, while in their reply to Lord Howe they remarked
that they could not, as the representatives of the free and independent
States of America, send any of their members to confer with his lordship
in their private characters, they would nevertheless send a committee
of their body to know whether he had any authority to treat with persons
authorised by congress, and to hear such propositions as he might have
to make. The members appointed for this conference were Franklin, Adams,
and Routledge; three of the bitterest enemies of Great Britain.
This trio waited upon his lordship in Staten Island, on the 11th of
September, and they were received with true English politeness and
urbanity. His lordship commenced the conference by stating that though
he could not treat with them as a committee of congress, yet as his
powers enabled him to confer and consult with any private gentlemen of
influence in the colonies, he would be glad, if they thought proper, to
confer with them in such a character. As their business was only to hear
what his lordship had to say, the trio replied, that he might consider
them in what character he pleased,