He also furnished ever (y) man with a bed-sack, sheet & Blanket, and assisted in dressing once a Day, Exercising Judgement & skill in his profession & the Humanity of a generous Enemy.

Thus, Sir, I have given the outlines of the Doctors Conduct towards the wounded, But shall not do Justice to him, if I do not declare to you, that his Conduct, was not only such as we had a right to expect from a generous Enemy, but such as would meet with approbation, from a friend. I am, Sir, Your &c.

Silas Holmes.

W. S. Smith, Esqr.

[No. 5228.]

Congress Selects Two Towns in Which to Hold Sessions. October 21, 1783, after several days debate Congress reached the following decision:

The preamble then being taken into consideration and the same being amended the whole was agreed to as follows:

Whereas there is reason to expect that the providing Buildings for the alternate residence of Congress in two places [at Trenton and Georgetown] will be productive of the most salutary effects by securing the mutual confidence and affections of the States.

Resolved, That buildings be likewise crected for the use of Congress at or near the lower falls of Potowmack or Georgetown, provided a suitable district on the banks of the river can be procured for a federal Town and the right of soil and an exclusive jurisdiction or such other as Congress may direct shall be vested in the United States; and that until the buildings to be erected on the banks of the Delaware and Potowmack shall be prepared for the reception of Congress their residence shall be alternately at equal periods of not more than one year and not less than six months in Trenton and Annapolis-And the President is hereby authorized and directed to adjourn Congress on the 12th day of November next, to meet at Annapolis on the 26th day of the same month for the dispatch of public business.

Chas. Thomson, Secy.

[No. 5230.]

James Duane Disparages the Two Capital Proposition.

Princeton, 23d October, 1783. Dear Sir, It was with very great pleasure that I learned from Mr. R. C. Livingston that your Excellency had got the better of your Fever and was daily gathering strength, permit me most sincerely to solicitate with yourself and your Family on this happy Event.

Since my last, Congress to satisfy the uneasiness of the Southern States have agreed on two federal Towns one near the Head of the Potomack. It renders in my opinion the Falls of Trenton a very improper place for the other and points out the propriety of fixing one of the Towns more northerly; probably this subject will be moved before I leave Congress. Mr. Van Borkle is arrived at Philadelphia but has not yet announced himself to Congress, nor do I expect to see him, as it is agreed to adjourn to Annapolis about the time our Delegation expires: that city being fixed for the temporary Residence of Congress till proper Buildings for the use of Congress shall be erected: but with this provision, that after a period not longer than a year nor less than six months they shall remove for a like temporary Residence to Trenton: and so alternately to sit at each place till the federal Towns are fit for their Reception. It would be tedious to trace the Causes which produced this project, and unnecessary because I shall soon have the pleasure of detailing them in person.

I took the Liberty to draw upon your Excellency for £100 and am obliged to you for the orders you have given to answer my Request. I had no time to apprize your Excellency of it in form, as Mr. Livingston called upon me while I was engaged in

a debate in Congress the issue of which I had much at Heart. I hope I may be fortunate enough to receive the money in time to discharge my Bills of Expence and get some Cloaths which the season requires.

With every possible sentiment of Esteem and Respect-I have the Honor to be, Dear Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient & very humble Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

Jas. Duane.

[No. 5234.]

Massachusetts Appoints Three Commissioners to Act with New York on the Question of Lands Claimed by Massachusetts in Western New York.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

In Senate October 28th, 1783.

Whereas the Honorable Timothy Danielson, Caleb Strong & Samuel Phillips, junr., Esquires were on the twenty seventh of October instant chosen Commissioners by the joint Ballot of both Houses of the Legislature on behalf of this Commonwealth to join with such Commissioners as may, or shall be appointed by the Legislature of the State of New York in precisely ascertaining the dividing line between the unappropriated Lands lying Westward of Hudson's River & belonging to this Commonwealth & the said State of New York-therefore

Resolved, that his Excellency the Governor be & he hereby is requested to Commission the persons aforenamed according to the Tenor of the Resolve for appointing such Commissioners & to inform the Governor of New York of the proceedings of this Government relative to the ascertaining of the boundaries aforesaid.

Sent down for concurrence

Samuel Adams, President.

Tristram Dalton, Speaker.

In the House of Representatives Octo'r. 28th, 1783 Read & concurred

A Loyalist's Views of the Events that Preceded Evacuation Day. Sir Guy now set himself seriously about the evacuation of New York, and the British territories in its neighborhood. By the treaty it was to be done "with all convenient speed." This left the time,

in a great measure, discretionary in the Commander-in-Chief. He was the proper judge of the time convenient. He made no unnecessary delays. He was pressed by the British Ministry, by Congress, and by the Legislature of New York, to push on the evacua tion with all haste. Sir Guy was a man of spirit, of honour, of resolution, and was determined not to leave the country till he could transport the loyalists (whom the new ministry had abandoned) to their respective places of destination, and procure tranports sufficient to carry off all his stores, his troops, the baggage, and property, of the royal army. Considering the difficulties attending so large an embarkation, the great deficiency of transports for a long time, and the amazing number of loyalists to be conveyed from the British lines, it is really amazing in how short a time this intricate, complicated, and troublesome piece of business was effected. The articles of peace arrived at New York in March, 1783. The provisional ones were not ratified by Congress till the month of May following. Yet by the 25th of November, in the same year, did Sir Guy send from New York not less than 100,000 souls, who, finding the treaty violated in every instance by the Americans, who, seeing their friends and relations who returned home in consequence of the peace, tied up to trees, publicly scourged, insulted in every shape, many of them even hamstringed, and all sent back to the British lines, (this was not only a manifest violation of the treaty, but at this very time there were not less than 2,000 rebels in New York, who had come into the city in consequence of the same peace, and were taking care of their property, and receiving back their houses), and recollecting, also, the cruelties inflicted upon the Loyalists upon the evacua tions of Savannah, and Charleston, determined to leave the places

of their nativity, rather than put themselves in the power of persecuting, merciless, and unrelenting enemies. Some were sent to Nova Scotia, some to Newfoundland, to Canada, to St. Johns on the Bay of Fundy, to the Bahamas, the Summer, and West India, Islands, with all their cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, poultry, grain, household furniture and utensils of husbandry. In this time Sir Guy also sent to England all the stores belonging to the Crown, all the baggage and artillery of the British Army, with the household effects of a numerous train of Loyalists who accom panied the fleet, and about 40,000 souls, of which the army, their wives, servants and children, at that time consisted. The final evacuation took place on the 25th of November, 1783, and forms a grand epoch in the annals of America.

Upon the evacuation of New York, the Americans were left in the full possession of their idol, their phantom, independency. A mere ignis fatuus. This they found, in a short time, from woeful experience, to be really the case. Upon the evacuation of New York, also ended one of the most inglorious wars in which Great Britain had ever been engaged, prosecuted by a Ministry the most irresolute, undetermined, and pusillanimous, that ever Great Britain had, conducted by such Generals as Great Britain never before employed, and terminated by a peace the most infamous that Great Britain ever made. A peace made under the auspices of a Ministry composed out of a faction that had for more than twelve years opposed every measure of government, encouraged the Americans in their rebellion, spread the flames of discord. through the nation, created a dissension in the navy, and protected Generals and Admirals, who had by their conduct disgraced England, lost America, and exhausted the treasury.