I was honored with your letter of the 18th, and have delivered the one enclosed to Mr Jefferson, who is detained by order of Congress, till they receive more certain advices as to the issue of the negotiation. I should also acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 8th of January, which I found here on my return from the country. I think, with you, that the British administration will choose to take the advice of Parliament on the terms of peace, before they agree to them. Yet they have gone every length with respect to us. In this, however, they are perfectly safe, as the opposition have all along dictated that measure, so that on this quarter they are secured from their attack. More circumspection will be necessary in adjusting the articles with the other belligerent powers. To this cause, we may probably attribute the delays that this business still seems to struggle with.
Be pleased to accept my compliments, and those of my family, who join me in returning our best respects to Mrs Washington.
I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Philadelphia, March 12th, 1783.
Dear Sir,
The Washington packet arrived this morning. I have not yet had leisure to read all my letters, but as an express is ready to go early tomorrow, I rather choose to rely upon your goodness to excuse a letter written in extreme haste, than to hold myself inexcusable, by not informing you of what we yet know of the state of our negotiations. None of my letters is of a later date than the 25th of December. All difficulties had then been removed with respect to us, and the preliminaries were signed; they consist of nine articles.
The first acknowledges our Independence.
The second describes our boundaries, which are as extensive as we could wish.