TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Philadelphia, December 22d, 1782.
Sir,
I have just received my despatches, which consist of duplicates from Dr Franklin and the enclosed, which have not yet been submitted to Congress, together with a copy of Mr Oswald's commission.
Mr Jay has also written, but his letter is not yet decyphered. A private letter from the Marquis de Lafayette to me, (the whole of which is not yet decyphered) contains much the same account of our negotiations, with that given by Dr Franklin, and the following passage from a letter of Mr Adams to him of the 29th of September;
"We have at length the consent of the Cities, States, and Provinces, and have adjusted and agreed upon every article, word, syllable, letter, and point, in the treaty of commerce, and clerks are employed in making out fair copies for signature, which will be done this week."
By a paper of the 22d of October, I find the treaty was signed by seven deputies, one for each Province, and by Mr Adams on the 4th of October.
The Marquis also mentions, that several accounts, but none official, say, that Madras has been taken by the French troops, that landed at Port Novo, in conjunction with those of Hyder Ally. He adds, that though this account is believed, yet it is not confirmed.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.