The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 (The Revolution Trilogy Book 1)

by Rick Atkinson

The “declaration of independency” complicated his task, he said, because he had no authority “to consider the colonies in the light of independent states.” Nor could he acknowledge Congress as a legitimate body. Therefore he must negotiate with his guests not as congressmen but “merely as gentlemen of ability and influence” whom he hoped would help “put a stop to the calamities of war.” Franklin agreed that “the conversation might be held as amongst friends.” Adams quipped that the admiral could consider him “in any character which would be agreeable to your lordship except that of a British subject.” Howe eyed him curiously. “Mr. Adams,” he said, “is a decided character.” The king’s “most earnest desire [is] to make his American subjects happy,” he continued, but that required repudiating independence. If the Americans “return to their allegiance and obedience to the government of Great Britain,” it was possible they could control their own legislation and taxes. America might again provide “solid advantages” to the empire, in commerce and manpower.