1783. to receive your affiftance in preparing and digesting plans relative to thofe important objects." The commander in chief made a reply that was highly acceptable. He also removed with his family to Rocky-hill, near Princeton, that he might the more conveniently confer with the committee.

Sept.

25.

Congress in a proclamation published to the United States, the treaty of amity and commerce concluded on the 3d of April 1783, between the king of Sweden and the United States of North America, for the space of fifteen years, by the honorable Benjamin Franklin, commiffioned by the United States, and a minifter plenipotentiary named for the purpose by the faid king. By the 7th article, the refident fubjects of each party are permitted fafely to navigate their veffels, without any regard to those to whom the merchandises and cargoes may belong; and to frequent the places and ports of powers, enemies to the contracting parties, without being in any wife molefted, and to carry on a commerce not only directly from the ports of an enemy to a neutral port, but even from one port of an enemy, to another port of an enemy, whether it be under the jurifdiction of the fame or of different princes. Free fhips are to make merchandises free; and every thing (contraband goods alway excepted) on board of fhips belonging to fubjects of the one or the other of the contracting parties, is to be confidered as free, even though the cargo or a part of it belongs to the enemies of one or both. Perfons on board a free fhip, though enemies to both or either of the parties, are not to be taken out of the free fhip, unless they are foldiers in the actual service of the faid enemies. Article the 9th fpecifies

I

arms,

arms, great guns, and various warlike inftruments, under the name of contraband or prohibited goods, and then clofes with-" and all other like kinds of arms and instruments of war for the use of troops." By the 10th article no goods are to be confidered as contraband, which have not been worked into the form of any inftrument or thing for the purpose of war by land or fea, much less such as have been prepared or wrought up for any other ufe, all which are to be reckoned free goods; as alfo all those which are not comprehended and particularly mentioned in the foregoing article. Such goods may be freely transported by the fubjects of either party, even to places belonging to an enemy, fuch only excepted as are befieged, blocked or invested; and those places only are to be confidered as fuch, which are nearly furrounded by one of the belligerent powers.

1783.

The eighth of October was marked by the attendance o of a deputation from the yearly meeting of the people called quakers, who being admitted, delivered their addrefs to congrefs and withdrew. By fuch act that American body of people acknowledged the independent fovereignty of the United States, and implicitly profeffed their own allegiance. The meeting was held in Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the western parts of Maryland and Virginia. The addrefs was dated the 4th of the 10th month, and was figned by more than five hundred members. It related to the flave trade. That refpectable body had at length proceeded fo far in the cause of general liberty, without regarding country or complexion, as to enjoin the members of their fociety to liberate all such as they held in bondage: which injunction was generally complied with,

and

8.

1783. and the African thereby restored to his natural and just right. They feared however, that fome, forgetful of the days of diftrefs, were prompted by avaricious motives to renew the trade for flaves to the African coafts, contrary to every humane and righteous confideration, and in opposition to the folemn declarations often repeated in favor of univerfal liberty. They therefore earnestly folicited the chriftian interpofition of congress, for the discouragement and prevention of fo obvious an evil.

વી.

Ten days after the delivery of their addrefs, congrefs 18. by proclamation directed that the 11th of December fhould be fet apart as a day of public thanksgiving. On the fame day they " refolved, That two pieces of the field ordnance taken from the British army at the Cowpens, Augufta, or Eutaw, be presented by the commander in chief of the armies of the United States, to major general Greene, as a public teftimonial of the wifdom, fortitude and military skill which distinguished his command in the fouthern department, and of the eminent fervices which, amidst complicated difficulties and dangers, and against an enemy greatly fuperior in numbers, he has fuccefsfully performed for his country: And that a memorandum be engraved on the faid pieces of ordnance, expreffive of the fubftance of this refolution." The commander in chief was also to be informed, that gen. Greene had the permiffion of congrefs to vifit his family at Rhode Island. They clofed the business of the day by iffuing a proclamation. In that the armies of the United States were applauded for having difplayed in the progrefs of an arduous and difficult war every military and patriotic virtue-for their fortitude and

magna

magnanimity in the moft trying fcenes of diftrefs-and 1783. for a series of heroic and illustrious atchievements, exalting them to a high rank among the moft zealous and fuccefsful defenders of the rights and liberties of mankind, After giving them the thanks of their country, for their long, eminent and faithful fervices, congrefs declared it to be their pleasure, that fuch part of the fœderal armies as ftood engaged to ferve during the war, fhould from and after the third day of November next, be abfolutely discharged from the faid fervice. On the 29th, the commander in chief was directed by them to discharge all the troops in the fervice of the United States, who were in Pennfylvania or to the fouthward thereof, except the garrifon of Fort-Pitt.

On the 31st of October, the honorable Peter John 31. Van Berckel, minifter plenipotentiary from their high mightineffes the States General of the United Netherlands, was admitted by congrefs to an audience. The chevalier de la Luzerne, general Washington, the fuperintendent of finance, many other gentlemen of eminence, together with a number of ladies of the first character, affembled in the chapel of Princeton college to participate of the joys the audience fhould afford; and for which their fpirits were put into proper tone, by the arrival, a little before Mr. Van Berckel entered, of an authentic account that the definitive treaty between Great Britain and the United States was concluded. Mr. Van Berckel upon being introduced, addreffed congress in a speech, which was fo gracefully pronounced as to please thofe who could not understand it, because of its not being in English. He then delivered a letter from their high mightineffes. The prefident returned an answer

to

1783. to the minifter; in the close of which it was observed, that the United States had received the most distinguished proofs of regard and friendship from his illuftrious family. The affembly after that feparated; and the day clofed with convivial meetings.

Nov.

2.

On the 2d of November, were iffued from Rocky Hill, general Washington's farewell orders to the armies of the United States. Having taken notice of congrefs's proclamation of October the 18th, he faid- It only remains for the commander in chief to address himfelf once more, and that for the last time, to the armies of the United States (however widely difperfed the individuals who compofed them may be) and to bid them an affectionate-a long farewell.-But before the commander in chief takes his final leave of those he holds moft dear, he wishes to indulge himself a few moments in calling to mind a flight review of the paft:-he will then take the liberty of exploring, with his military friends, their future profpects-of advifing the general line of conduct, which, in his opinion, ought to be purfued; and he will conclude the addrefs, by expreffing the obligations he feels himself under for the spirited and able affistance he has experienced from them, in the performance of an arducus office." His clofing words were-" And being now to conclude these his last public orders, to take his ultimate leave, in a fhort time of the military character, and to bid a final adieu to the armies he has fo long had the honor to command, he can only again offer in their behalf, his recommendations to their grateful country, and his prayers to the God of armies.-May ample justice be done them here, and may the choiceft of heaven's favors, both here and

hereafter,