the Ratification of the preliminary Articles by the United States, but so many difficulties have arisen on this Subject, that the Proclamation is yet delayed.

By the last Accounts from New York, which appear to come from good Authority, there is reason to believe the Evacuation of that City will take place sometime the next month. Sir Guy Carlton has sent a verbal message to our Commander in Chief, by Mr. Parker, that his Troops will embark in all the month of November.

We have the Honour to be with the utmost Respect, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient & very humble Servants.

Jas. Duane.

Ezra L'Hommedieu.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 5223.]

Mr. l'Hommedieu Compelled to Leave Congress-Discomforts of Being a Member of Congress-Question of the Date of the Evacuation of New York.

Princeton, October 16, 1783.

Dear Sir, Our joint Letter which your Excellency will receive with this, contains all the material Information I am able to communicate, and I believe you will think it a little strange to find it principally the same in substance & verbatim with mine of last week. It is owing to this Circumstance: some Time before, I mentioned the propriety of writing a joint Letter, but having no Expectation of its being done I wrote a separate one, since which it was proposed to me to prepare an official Letter; in which I inserted so far as related to the Communications from our ministers at the Court of France, the words of my last Letter (having a Copy of the same by me.) I trust this will be a sufficient apoligy

as I did not choose to mention my having wrote on that subject before. I have been favoured with Colo. Benson's Letter of the 5th, wrote by your Excellency's Direction. Your observations respecting the Lands at Oriskeny are in my Opinion very just. I shall call on Governor Livingston on my Return, tho' I have no Expectation of making any Bargain with him.

I expect to leave Congress the last of this week or the Beginning of next. The Season is so far advanced that unless I am very soon at Home I shall not be able to remove to Long Island with my Family till next Spring. Mr. Duane will tarry till the first of next month, and I trust the state will, considering my present Circumstances, excuse my leaving the State unrepresented a few Days, especially as there will be Ten States represented after I am gone. I expect to return by the way of Dobbs Ferry as the nighest Road without going thro' New York.

General Washington told me yesterday that he expected the Evacuation of New York would take Place about the Middle of next Month, Mr. Parker having been informed by Sir Guy that he should leave the City about that Time. It is yet undetermined where Congress will Reside for the Winter. There is so great an aversion to return to Philadelphia, even for a temporary Residence, by the New England States, that it is doubtful whether they will not remain here or go to Trenton, notwithstanding the inconvenient winter Accommodations in either Place.

I conclude your Excellency is on the Recovery from your long and dangerous Illness, and hope you will be able to go into New York on the Evacuation where I expect to have the Pleasure of seeing you sometime in the Winter.

With the greatest Esteem & Regard I am, Sir, Your Excelleys Most Obed. Servt.

Ezra L'Hommedieu.

[No. 5225.]

Congress Recommends the Several States to Observe the 2nd Thursday in December, 1783, as a Day of Thanksgiving.

By the United States in Congress Assembled:

A Proclamation.

Whereas it hath pleased the Supreme Ruler of all human events to dispose the hearts of the late belligerent Powers to put a period to the effusion of human blood by proclaiming a cessation of all hostilities by Sea and land and these United States are not only happily rescued from the dangers and calamities to which they have been so long exposed, but their freedom, sovereignty and independence ultimately acknowledged: and whereas in the progress of a Contest on which the most essential rights of human nature depended, the interposition of divine Providence in our favor hath been most abundantly and most graciously manifested and the Citizens of these United States have every reason for praise and gratitude to the God of their Salvation. Impressed, therefore, with an exalted sense of the blessings by which we are surrounded and of our entire dependence on that Almighty Being from whose goodness and bounty they are derived, The United States in Congress Assembled do recommend it to the several States to set apart the second Thursday in December next as a day of public thanksgiving that all the people may then Assemble to celebrate with grateful hearts and united voices, the praises of their supreme and all bountiful Benefactor for his numberless mercies and favors that he hath been pleased to conduct us in safety through all the perils and vicissitudes of the war; that he hath given us unanimity and resolution to adhere to our just rights; that he hath raised up a powerful ally to assist us in supporting them and hath so far crowned our united efforts with success, that in the course of the present year hostilities have ceased and we are left in the undisputed possession of our Liberties and Independence and of the fruits of our own lands and in the free participation of the treasures of the sea; that he hath prospered the labour of our husbandmen with plentiful harvests; and above all that he hath been pleased to continue to us the light of the blessed Gospel and secured to us in the fullest extent, the rights of conscience in faith and worship. And while our hearts overflow with gratitude and our lips set forth the praises of our great Creator that we also offer up fervent supplications, that it may please him to pardon all our offences, to give wisdom and unanimity to our public Councils, to cement all our Citizens in the bonds of affection and to inspire them with an earnest regard for the national honor and interest to enable them to improve the days of prosperity by every good work and to be lovers of peace and tranquility; that he may be pleased to bless us in our husbandry, our commerce and Navigation, to smile upon our Seminaries and means of education, to cause pure religion and virtue to flourish, to give peace to all Nations and to fill the World with Glory.

Done by the United States in Congress Assembled, Witness his Excellency Elias Boudinot, our President this eighteenth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and eighty-three and of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America the Eighth. Chas. Thomson Sec'y..

Elias Boudinot.

[No. 5226.]

A Controversy Over Dr. Bayley.

New York, 20th Oct'r., 1783.

Sir, Some time in August last, I gave Doctor Richard Bayley, who intended visiting his family at Pokeepsie, a Letter of introduction to General Knox. I find it has opened a Door for a certain sett of men to indulge their malevolence; they have held Mr. Bayley disrespecting up to view, and by an annonymous Letter, not only ordered him to leave the Continent, but have thought proper to point at me -what is confined to me-I feel myself perfectly superior to; but think it a

Compliment due to your Excellency, as well as a piece of Justice to Mr. Bayley, to state the matter to you, as an apology for introducing into your Government one so obnoxious as Mr. Bayley appear'd to be.

Soon after I had formed an acquaintance with this Gentleman, I found he intended to remain in this Country, he being conscious that his Conduct had not been mark'd with any lines, that could draw upon him the ill-will, or resentment of any sett of Men; excepting the insignificant few, who had (to answer their private Ends) circulated a report of his having treated some prisoners with cruelty in the discharge of his professional Duty in the year -76. Upon this subject several Persons have handled his character in a manner, totally different from what I supposed to be just, considering the detail he gave me of his Conduct. The report, however, lead me to examine his conduct-least I should cultivate an acquaintance with a Gentleman, that I might hereafter be ashamed to acknowledge. I, therefore, wrote a Letter, of which the enclosed No. 1 is a Copy, to Doctor Silas Holmes lately a surgeon in our Service, he being the only person who I supposed capable of giving me the necessary Information. No. 2 is his Answer-by which your Excellency will perceive that those reports are without foundation, and I hope will be of service to Mr. Bayley, should it be ever necessary for him to answer to his Country for his Conduct. This effect I flatter myself it will at least have to justify in your Excellency's opinion my Conduct respecting that Gentleman, which is what I wish, and what would give me pain should I in any degree forfeit.

I must further inform your Excellency that a Number of Letters have lately been sent to this City by Mr. Malcom, addressed to certain Characters, and covering a printed Piece signed "Brutus "-this has once more roused the fears of the people, as it threatens them with the resentment of the Mob, and I am credibly informed has been the occasion of the removal of at least one hundred families, many Members of which, perhaps might have proved greater ornaments to society than ever Mr. Malcolm has yet appear'd. I write to your Excellency upon this subject with freedom, and must acknowledge myself interested as a Citizen. I think it unfortunate that the opinions of the violent, and perhaps only of the the peace-created-Patriot, should be blazed to the world, while the sentiments of the Calm, and more thinking part of the Community are not yet so publickly known. I have taken some pains to quiet the Minds of the people upon this subjectholding out to them this Idea, but they may be assured of the protection of Government, untill a candid Investigation can be had of their Conduct-when if it appears that they have in any degree, run Counter to the Laws of their Country, they must submit to their operation but that the proceedings against them, will be in a constitutional, and legal Manner-totally divested of every party resentment, or private Pique-this seems to be all they wish, and the only thing they expect will be insured to them, is, a shelter from the ways of individuals.

I had the honor some months past of giving Your Excellency my sentiments respecting Mr. Malcom and some of his Party, and I believe what I then said. will appear not to have been slightly founded. But I flatter myself they can only blaze (if at all) for a moment-their reasoning cannot operate long-they must soon appear unsupported by those Sentiments, and actions which tend to the benefit of society, and as they Issue from the spring of private Interest, must be deserving of very little short of contempt, & I think will leave them far short of their mark-with the firmest attachment to the Constitution of my Country and a perfect Respect for your Excellency, I am Your most obed. Humble Servt. W. S. Smith &c. His Excellency Govr. Clinton.

SILAS HOLMES TO W. S. SMITH.

(copy)

Sir,

Norwich, 29th Sept'r., 1783. I have yours of the 10th Inst. I will endeavour to give you as Concise a detail of Doctor Bayley's Conduct towards the wounded Prisoners in 76 as I can now retain.

When I first saw doctor Bayley he expressed sorrow that the wounded had been so long neglected. He declared that nothing in his power should be wanting to make them as Comfortable as their situation would admit of-we accordingly had an Alteration in provision for the better, and medicines such as I made a Bill of, together with a Quantity of Wine, Sugar &c.

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.

W. S. Smith, Esqr.

Silas Holmes.

[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 erected 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.