He adds that they are about the Definitive treatys which offer no Difficulty and are only Delayed by an Invitation given to the two Mediating powers to be parties to the Business, Russia and the Empire. The matter perhaps would have been as well done without them.

We have the Honour to be with perfect Respect Your Excellencys Most Obedt Servts

Wm Floyd.

Alex Hamilton.

His Excellency Governor Clinton

BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED

April 15th, 1783. Congress took into Consideration the Articles agreed upon at Paris on the 30th day of November last, entitled "Articles agreed upon by and between Richard Oswald, Esquire the Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty for treating of Peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America in behalf of his said Majesty on the one part and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and Henry Laurens, four of the Commissioners of the said States for treating of Peace, with the Commissioner of his said Majesty, on their behalf on the other part; to be inserted in and to constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which treaty is not to be concluded until terms of a Peace shall be agreed upon between Great Britain and France and His Britannic Majesty shall be ready to conclude such treaty accordingly" and thereupon

RESOLVED Unanimously, That the said Articles be ratified and that a ratification in due form be sent to our Ministers plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles to be Exchanged if an Exchange shall be necessary.

RESOLVED That the Agent of Marine cause all the Naval Prisoners to be set at

Liberty.

RESOLVED, That the Commander in Chief be and he is hereby instructed to make the proper Arrangements with the Commander in Chief of the British forces, for receiving possession of the posts in the United States occupied by the troops of his Britannic Majesty and for obtaining the delivery of all Negroes and other property of the Inhabitants of the United States in the possession of the British forces or any Subjects of or adherents to his said Britannic Majesty, and that, the Secretary at War in conjunction with the Commander in Chief take proper Arrangements for setting at Liberty all Land Prisoners.

Extract from the Minutes Geo. Bond, Depy Secy.

[No. 5030.]

PEACE FORMALLY DECLARED.

Sir Guy Carleton's Proposition to Meet Washington to Discuss the Release and Transfer of Prisoners and the Evacuation of New York.

New York 24th April 1783.

Sir, It is with great Satisfaction that I receive notice by your letter of the 21st Instant,* of Arrangements being taken for the

*From Headquarters, Newburgh, 21 April, 1873, Washington had written Sir Guy Carleton as follows:

I have the satisfaction of enclosing to your Excellency a proclamation, which I have received from the sovereign power of the United States, ordering a general cessation of hostilities, as well by sea as land, with directions that the same should be published to all their subjects under my command. In compliance with these instructions, the same was made public in the American camp on the 19th, with my orders that it should be made known at all the out-posts of the American army as soon as possible.

In consequence of this declaration, and in conformity to the articles of the treaty. Congress have been pleased to pass their resolutions on the 15th instant, directing arrangements to be formed for the liberation of all prisoners, and other purposes, which your Excellency will collect from the enclosed copy, which I transmit for your observation.

In a conference, which I had yesterday with the minister of war, agreeably to the terms of the above mentioned resolutions, it has been agreed between us, that the land prisoners should be liberated as soon as possible, and that orders should be immediately given for commencing their march towards New York. But as their situation, by being removed to the interior of the country, is far distant from New York, which will make their march disagreeable and long, we have agreed to submit it to your option, whether to have them marched the whole distance through the country or to have them delivered at the nearest water, where it may be convenient for your ships to receive them. Should you choose the latter, the following arrangement has been determined. The prisoners, who are lodged at Fredericktown and Winchester, in the States of Virginia and Maryland, in number about fifteen hundred, including women and children, will begin their march on the route towards Baltimore, where they may arrive on the 10th of May; at which time. should your ships be ready to receive them there, they may be embarked, and proceed to New York. If ships are not directed to receive them at the time mentloned at Baltimore, they will proceed by land to the Delaware. The remainder of the prisoners, being in Pennsylvania, amounting to about four thousand five hundred, may all (except those at Reading, between three and four hundred,) be embarked at Philadelphia, and also those from Fredericktown and Winchester, should they not be received at Baltimore, provided your ships are there by the 5th of May at farthest. Should ships not be ordered by your Excellency to take them by water, they will be marched in convenient detachments of about five hundred each, through the country to Elizabethtown, with all convenient expedition. In any case, those from Reading, being in the upper part of Pennsylvania, will march directly to Elizabethtown.

It is also submitted to your option to send or not, as you shall think proper, an additional number of officers to attend the march of the prisoners through the country, and to prevent any irregularities that disorderly persons may be disposed

to commit.

In either alternative respecting the receipt of the prisoners, you will be pleased to give the earliest information, to the minister at war in Philadelphia, of your determinations, that he may be able to make the necessary and timely dispositions to pay all proper attention to your choice. To expedite this purpose and for the

immediate release of the Prisoners, and I am to acknowledge with thanks the different options you have been pleased to give me as to the more convenient execution of this Measure; but considering the quantity of Tonnage necessary for the evacuation of this Place and that most part of what we have at hand is now actually employed in this Business, and in the removing incumbrances which must be sent off previous to our Departure, I am reduced to the necessity of adopting the march of those Prisoners by land. and I shall accordingly avail myself of your Excellency's Passport, and acquaint the Minister at War of the Choice I am obliged to make and the reasons of it.

I cannot decline the personal interview proposed by your Excellency, and purpose being in a frigate as near Tappan as may be, where I understand you mean to lodge. If I hear nothing from

convenience of transportation, I enclose a passport for such officers as you shall think proper to charge with your despatches on this occasion.

Respecting the other subjects contained in the enclosed resolution of Congress, as they may be discussed with more precision and despatch by a personal interview between your Excellency, and myself, at some convenient time and intermediate place, such as may be agreed upon between your Excellency and Colonel Humphreys, my aid-de-camp, who will have the honor to deliver this letter, I would only suggest, that, in point of time, the earliest day you can name will be most agreeable to me. Should an interview be consented to on your part, the governor of this State, being particularly interested in any arrangements, which respect the restitution of the post of New York, will attend me on this occasion. I am, &c.

The proclamation for a cessation of hostilities was agreed upon and adopted in Congress on the 11th of April. It is observable, that it was published in camp precisely eight years from the date of the first act of hostility at Lexington. General Heath describes the ceremony as follows:

"April 19th. At noon the proclamation of Congress for a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed at the door of the New Building, followed by three huzzas; after which a prayer was made by the Reverend Mr. Ganno, and an anthem (Independence, from Billings,) was performed by vocal and instrumental music."-Memoirs, p. 371.

you to occasion an alteration, I intend being up on the 5th of May accompanied by a smaller Vessel or two, for the Accomodation of Lieutenant Governor Elliot, Chief Justice William Smith and part of my family; but I am to apprize your Excellency that I have for some time expected Sir Charles Grey, who has been appointed to this command and I have reason to think he has been detained only to bring out the final arrangements. My Letters were hastened out to announce the Ratification of the Preliminary Articles and to put an end to all hostilities, so that I submit it to your Excellency's choice either to let the interview take Place on the 5th of May, or to defer it until after the next arrival from England.

I am with much consideration. Your Excellency's Most Obedient and most humble Servant

His Excellency General Washington.

[Nos. 5034-5035.]

Guy Carleton.

Governor Clinton Arranges for General Scott to Participate in the Conference with Sir Guy Carleton.

Confidential.

Pokeepsie, 29th Apl. 1783.

Dear Sir, I returned from Hd. Qrs. late last Night. On making the Arrangements for the intended Interview at Tapan, it was thought most proper not to assemble a Council in the first Instance, but to put Matters in such a Frame as that a Quorum may be convened with the least possible Delay if a Council should be necessary.

I mentioned to the General my Desire of being able to avail myself of your Opinion on any Overtures which might be made to me in the first Instance, whereupon he very politely proposed your

taking a Passage with him in his Barge of which I promised to apprize you. He intends setting out early on Satturday Morning & that he may not be delayed on my Account I have engaged to be in the Neighborhood of Head Quarters on Friday Evening. where I shall expect to meet you. It will be adviseable to take Linnen &c with you sufficient for about a Week. Will you be so oblidging as to inform me by the Return of the Bearer whether I may certainly depend upon your Company & to offer my best. Respects to Mrs. Scott & Family. I am, Dr Sir, Your Affectionate II Servt

Genl. Scott.

(G. C.)

P. S. If it will be most agreeable to you on Account of Lodging not to cross the river Friday Evening, I will endeavour to send a Boat for you on Saturday morning by Sunrise. In this Case you will please to mention the House you will be at.

GENERAL SCOTT ACCEPTS, BUT REQUESTS THE GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE FOR HIM AS HE IS "SO SHORT OF CASH."

Fishkill, April 30th 1783.

Dear Sir, I this Moment was honered with your Letter by express. I am obliged, by the Confidence placed in me both by yourself & the General. The only Objection I have to going by Water is that We have dirty Weather. As I something expected from what passed between us, that I might be called on to attend You, I had determined for the above mentioned Reason to go down in a Carriage to Dobbs Ferry, & there to cross over; but as this will depend on the Weather & that no disappointment may happen on my Account, if I should prefer going by Land, I shall take care that a Letter be left ready for your Excellency at the Landing, when you send the Boat over for Me,