Given at our Court at St James, the fourteenth day of February, in the twentythird year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightythree.
God save the King.
ALLEYNE FITZHERBERT TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Paris, February 18th, 1783.
Gentlemen,
I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a packet, containing one hundred passports for American vessels, which I have this moment received by a courier from England.
I take this opportunity of acquainting you, that a proclamation was issued out in the King's name on the 14th instant, making known the cessation of hostilities, which has been agreed upon between the several belligerent powers; and declaring further, that the several epochas, at which the said armistice is to commence, between his Majesty and the United States of North America, are to be computed from the third day of this instant February, being the day on which the ratifications of the preliminaries were exchanged between his Majesty and the Most Christian King. I must add, that his Majesty was induced to take this step, under the firm expectation, that you, Gentlemen, will correspond to it on your parts, by adopting the same measure reciprocally, in the name of the States, your masters.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ALLEYNE FITZHERBERT.