TO ABRAHAM SKINNER

January 6, 1783.

Sir: I inclose you a Letter I have received from Mr. Morris and must desire that you will comply with the Contents of it without delay by sending to Mr. Turner 22 every Official Paper respecting his department, either in your possession or that of your deputies, and at the same time you will give him every information in your power, of the State in which you left the Marine part of your Appointment.23

GENERAL ORDERS

Tuesday, January 7, 1783.

Parole Amsterdam. Countersigns Bolton, Calias. For Duty tomorrow the first Hampshire regiment. To the day tomorrow Lt. Colo. Mellon, Major Trescot. To give sufficient time for the settlement of the forage accounts preseding the year 1783 and prevent disappointments, the Quarter Master General requests the officers to call daily by corps, begining on the right with the Maryland Detachment tomorrow and proceeding in succession to the left. The accounts for 1782 to be seperately stated.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

Head Quarters, Newburgh, January 8, 1783.

Dear Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of the Letter your Excellency did me the honor to write on the 25th Decem

"Thomas Turner, intendant of naval prisoners.

"The draft is in the writing of Benjamin Walker.

1783]

PAY OF SERVANTS

15

ber, and to assure you of the great satisfaction I experienced from the agreable communications you had the goodness to make.2

24

Enclosed your Excellency will find the original Certificate, which was given by Mr. Chittendon,25 to the bearer of your Letter of the 11th Ulto.

Nothing very interesting has happened since my last; a Fleet sailed a few days after from New York for Europe, and I am informed the Enemy are under apprehensions lest the French Fleet, which sailed two days after, should have fallen in with it. I am extremely anxious to hear from Charlestown; and still more so to know the result of the Negociations on the other side the Atlantic, and shall therefore be much obliged by any information relative thereto. With the greatest respect etc.

To COLONEL ELISHA SHELDON

26

Head Quarters, January 8, 1783.

Sir: I am to acknowledge the rect of your Letter of the 6 of this Mo. The matter respecting the Servants of the Officers of Cavalry shall be represented to the Secretary at War and until his directions are taken the Pay Master shall be ordered to Pay Subsistence to the number of Servants allowed by the Orders of Jany last.

Lt Colonel Jameson has the leave you request. I am &c."7

"The President of Congress had written: "It is with great pleasure that I congratulate your Excellency and the Army, on the admission of our Independency and National Character by the Court of Great Britain, in the issuing a Commission under the Great Seal to Mr. Oswald, now at the Court of Versailles."

25

26 Thomas Chittenden's receipt is filed with this letter from Washington in the Papers of the Continental Congress.

20In the writing of Benjamin Walker. The draft, in the writing of David Humphreys, is dated Jan. 7, 1783.

"The draft is in the writing of Benjamin Walker.

TO HEZEKIAH WETMORE 28

Head Quarters, January 8, 1783.

Sir: In the regulation for paying Subsistence to the Officers of the Army it was not considered that the Officers of Cavalry are allowed more servants without Arms than those of the Infantry.

Untill the Secy at War shall give further directions on this head you will please to pay to the Officers of Cavalry subsistence for the number of Servants without Arms allowed them by the regulation made by a Board of Genl. officers in Philada. last Winter and published in the Genl Orders of the 18th Jany last.2

29

TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY AT WAR

Head Quarters, January 8, 1783.

Sir: When the Board of General Officers in Jany last regulated the number of Servants to be allowed to Officers, a larger number were allowed to the Cavalry than to the Infantry; this was not considered in the establishing the regulation for the subsistence to be paid to the Officers and in consequence complaints have already been made to me that for this extra number of Servants without Arms they can neither draw provisions or Subsistence. As I suppose it is owing rather to omission than to any intention of lessening the number then allow'd I have given the Pay Master orders to pay the Officers of the Cavalry agreable to the regulation of Jany last, untill your further directions should be given to him. I have the honor etc.

Deputy Paymaster General,

20 The draft is in the writing of Benjamin Walker.

80

"The draft, in the writing of Benjamin Walker, is inadvertently dated 1782.

Dear Sir: Inclosed your Excellency will receive Ninety five dollars in Bank Notes; which, if my Subscription towards the support of the Revd. Mr. Caldwells children was only Twenty Guineas, is about the Sum. As the Bank Notes, I presume, are considered (in Philadelphia at least) as ready money I have adopted this expedient as the easiest and safest mode of making you the remittance and have the honor etc.

*To ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON

Newburgh, January 8, 1783.

Dear Sir: Your favor of the 25th. of Decr. has been duly received, and I thank you for the information contained in it.

The Marquis in his Letters to me, is not very explicit in his sentiments respecting the Negotiations of Peace; but refers me to his official letter to you for his thoughts at large. In general, he holds up an idea, which perfectly accords with my opinion, that nothing will be concluded till the meeting of the British Parliament; and, if matters are not brought to a favourable Issue in a Month afterwards, that the War will rage in all its Fury.

Ever since the Secession of Mr. Fox and others from the Administration, I have been decidedly of opinion that Peace would not take place before that epocha. That it would depend upon the strength of the contending Parties, and their influence on the Nation, whether it would then happen or not; and that the intermediate space would be employed in

Intriguing; In an investigation of powers, In hearing propositions, and in probing the intentions of one another to the bottom. These I suppose, would have been pretty well understood on all sides by the 26th of Novr. (as the Ground on which Lord Shelburne is placed, also would); it followed then, in my judgment, that the Ministry wd. communicate to and take the sense of Parliament on the terms upon which Peace could be obtained; and leave it with the nation to accept them, or furnish the means of prosecuting the War vigorously. The Power given to Mr. Oswald to treat with any Commission or Commissioners properly authorised from the United States of America, is more than I expected wd. have happened before the Meeting of Paliament; but as the Gentlemen on the part of America could not treat with Him unless such powers were given, it became an Act of necessity to cede them to effect their other purposes. Thus I account for the indirect acknowledgmt. of our Independence by the King; who I dare say, felt some severe pangs at the time he put his hand to the Letters Patent. it is not however less efficacious or pleasing on that acct., and breaking the Ice is a great point gained.

There can be very little doubt I believe of the conclusn. of the Commercial treaty with Holland but I have apprehensions that that Power will be the most difficult to satisfy at the general Treaty of Peace.

It is with great pain I hear of the repeal of the Impost Law in Virginia; what could induce it? what Office is Mr. Jefferson appointed to, that he has, you say, lately accepted? If it is that of Commissioner of Peace, I hope he will arrive too late to have any hand in it. My best respects to him when he arrives and compliments in which Mrs. Washington joins to Mrs. Livingston. I have the honor etc.