remain in peace for a little time, and doubt not we have assigned suffi- cient reasons for avoiding at present, a dilemma, in which the entrance of a large body of troops into the city, will almost certainly involve us. Should you have such an entrance in design, we beg at least the troops may halt on the western confines of Connecticut, till we have been honoured by you with such an explanation on this important subject, as you may conceive your duty may permit you to enter upon with us, the grounds of which, you may easily see, ought to be kept an entire secret. General Lee's reply was intended to be reassuring. He disclaimed any intention of provoking strife or com- mencing hostilities, but he threw in such lurid hints of funeral pyres and the like that New York merchants were panic-stricken. On the 4th of February, 1776, Lee arrived in New York on the same day that the squadron from Bos- ton, with Sir Henry Clinton in command, arrived in the harbour. Such a coincidence threw the already agitated city into a ferment. An exodus of the more timid inhabitants commenced, and even through the succeeding hours of darkness it is said " were there carts going and boats loading, and women and children crying, and distressed voices heard in the roads in the dead of night. ' ' Digitized by Microsoft® The Island and the River in 1776 165 But nothing came of Clinton's visit. He protested that he had simply called to pay his respects in a friendly way to Governor Tryon, a proceeding that Lee reported as "the most whimsical piece of civility I ever heard of." The British fleet sailed south and the inhabitants of New York, relieved from their fears for the time, began to settle down to quiet. An agreement was reached, between the Committee of Safety and Lee, as to the nature and scope of the defence to be attempted. They are best explained in the latter 's own words: The Congress committees, a certain number of the committees of safety, and your humble servant [writes he to Washington], have had two conferences. The result is such as will agreeably surprise you. It is in the first place agreed, and justly, that to fortify the town against shipping is impracticable; but we are to fortify lodgments on some commanding part of the city for two thousand men. We are to erect enclosed batteries on both sides of the water, near Hell Gate, which will answer the double purpose of securing the town against piracies through the Sound, and secure our communication with Long Island, now become a more important point than ever; as it is determined to form a strong fortified camp of three thousand men, on the island, im- mediately opposite to New York. The pass in the Highlands is to be made as respectable as possible, and guarded by a bat- talion. In short, I think the plan judicious and complete. Kingsbridge, at the upper end of the island, con- necting it with the mainland, he considered most im- portant, and intended to make preparations for its defence. But while most of his plans were still in the air Con- gress ordered the energetic officer to another command Digitized by Microsoft® i66 The Hudson River and he bewailed the fact that upon his withdrawal the " provincial Congress and the inhabitants in gen- eral will relapse into their former hysterics." The unfavourable impression left by subsequent acts of this energetic but not too well balanced officer may blind us to the really excellent service he accomplished. His own valuation of that service was not excessive. The threats of Governor Tryon, the carpings of Tory residents, and the pleas of the timid were all disregarded, while with an energy and foresight highly creditable, he placed the city in such a condition of defence as was then possible. The peremptory measures adopted to put an end to supplying the enemy's fleet with provisions were effectual; Sir Henry Clinton, evidently discour- aged by the military demonstration in the city, with- drew without attempting to strike a blow, and time was secured for the Americans to do what the British had planned to do; that is, to fortify the highlands of the river. It is interesting to contemplate what might have been the course of American history if Clinton's fleet, upon its arrival from Boston, had not found General Lee and his volunteer forces in New York. - On the departure of General Lee, Lord Stirling, Brigadier-General, remained in temporary command of New York; but the Commander-in-chief, anticipating an attack in force, dispatched Heath and Sullivan to the city with reinforcements, ordered forward a body of three thousand Connecticut troops, and placed