The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 48

WILLIAM PACA TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

In Council, Annapolis, April 4th, 1783.

Sir,

We have been honored with your favor of the 18th ultimo.

The requisitions made in your former letters have been regularly laid before the Legislature of this State, (Maryland) and we are very sorry to find that the early attention which their importance merited has not been paid to them.

The a.s.sembly at their last session, pa.s.sed an act directing persons to be appointed in each county to ascertain upon oath the damages done by the enemy within their respective counties, and to report the same to this Board. As soon as we are furnished with their returns, you may rest a.s.sured, Sir, that no time shall be lost in transmitting to you, properly authenticated, the information you have been solicitous to obtain.

With great regard and respect, &c.

WILLIAM PACA.

SIR GUY CARLETON TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

New York, April 6th, 1783.

Sir,

A packet from England arrived at this port last night, by which I have despatches from Mr Townshend, one of his Majesty's princ.i.p.al Secretaries of State, communicating official intelligence, that Preliminary Articles of Peace with France and Spain were signed at Paris, on the 20th of January last, and that the ratifications have been since exchanged at the same place.

The King, Sir, has been pleased, in consequence of these events, to order a Proclamation to be published, declaring a cessation of arms,[28] as well by sea as land, and his Majesty's pleasure signified, that I should cause the same to be published in all places under my command, in order, that His Majesty's subjects may pay immediate and due obedience thereto, and such Proclamation I shall accordingly cause to be made on Tuesday next, the 8th instant.

In consequence thereof, and in conformity to the Articles of peace, all our prisoners of war are to be set at liberty and restored, with all convenient despatch; entertaining no doubt, but that similar measures will be taken on the part of the United States of America. In like manner no doubt can be entertained, but that Congress, in conformity to the fifth Article of the provisional treaty, will lose no time in earnestly recommending to the Legislatures of the respective States, to provide for the rest.i.tution of confiscated estates, and to reconsider and revise all laws of confiscation, that they may be rendered perfectly consistent, not only with justice and equity, but with that spirit of conciliation, which on the return of the blessings of peace should universally prevail.

And I am further to inform you, Sir, that an instrument of accession to the suspension of hostilities, by the States General of the United Provinces, having been received in England, a cessation of arms with those States has been thereupon included in the Proclamation.

Upon this great occasion, Sir, I am to offer my strongest a.s.surances, that during the short period of my command here, I shall be ready and earnest to cultivate that spirit of perfect good will, which between the United States of America, and the King of Great Britain, and the subjects and the citizens of both countries, will I trust always remain.

I am, with much consideration, Sir, &c.

GUY CARLETON.

FOOTNOTES:

[28] See this Proclamation in the _Correspondence of the Commissioners for Peace_, Vol. X. p. 124.

ADMIRAL DIGBY TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Lion, off New York, April 6th, 1783.

Sir,

I have this moment received the enclosed Proclamation from his Majesty's Secretary of State, and shall immediately despatch one of the sloops of war to withdraw all my cruisers upon the coast, and shall also release all the prisoners as quickly as I can dispose of them in the most convenient way to themselves.

I am, Sir, &c.

ROBERT DIGBY.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Office of Foreign Affairs, April 10th, 1783.

Sir,

I have the honor of laying before Congress two letters, received yesterday by express from New York, the one from General Carleton and the other from Rear Admiral Digby. Both covered copies of his Britannic Majesty's Proclamation for a cessation of hostilities. I presume Congress will consider this advice as sufficiently authentic to justify the discharge of their prisoners, who are now a useless expense, though not so much so as to render it proper to proceed to the measures directed by the fifth Article of the provisional treaty, till that treaty is officially communicated and ratifications exchanged.

I am at a loss to determine when hostilities are of right to cease between the United States and Great Britain. If, as the Proclamation a.s.serts, the times therein mentioned were agreed between the Ministers of the several powers at war, to take effect upon their respective ratifications, then hostilities have not yet ceased between us and Great Britain, except so far as the King of Great Britain has thought proper to shorten the term by his special act. If no such ratification was necessary on our part, then hostilities ceased immediately after ratifications were exchanged between France and England. If the same term has been fixed for the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and the United States, as that agreed upon between France and Great Britain, then it becomes a question, what is meant by "_as far as the Western Islands_?" If it refers to the lat.i.tude, then all prizes made after the 3d of March, on the greater part of our coast, must be restored. As much property may depend upon the decision of these questions, I presume Congress will do no act, which shall lead to a determination of it, till we receive further advices from our own Ministers.

I shall be pardoned when I take the liberty to request, that the enclosed letters may not find their way into the papers, unless Congress shall determine, that this publication may answer some useful purposes.

I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, April 10th, 1783.

Sir,

I do myself the honor to enclose the draft of a Proclamation for the suspension of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, and the resolution for the discharge of prisoners, together with one for referring a part of Mr Adams's letters, which is all that it is necessary to report upon the letters referred to me.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

TO GENERAL GREENE.

Philadelphia, April 12th, 1783.

Dear Sir,

I am now to congratulate you on the return of peace, and a cessation from your labor. I some time since sent you the Provisional Treaty between Great Britain and the United States. On Wednesday last, Sir Guy Carleton sent me the enclosed Proclamation of his Britannic Majesty, and informed me, that he had directed a similar Proclamation to issue at New York, and proposed to discharge all our prisoners. I had a letter from Admiral Digby to the same effect; the next day I received advices of the agreement of the cessation of hostilities, from our Ministers. Congress, in consequence of these advices, yesterday issued the enclosed Proclamation.