In America his heart was never in his task.

He was member of Parliament for Nottingham and had publicly condemned the quarrel with America and told his electors that in it he would take no command.

He had not kept his word, but his convictions remained.

It would be to accuse Howe of treason to say that he did not do his best in America.
Lack of conviction, however, affects action.

Howe had no belief that his country was in the right in the war and this handicapped him as against the passionate conviction of Washington that all was at stake which made life worth living.
The General's elder brother, Lord Howe, was another Whig who had no belief that the war was just.