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.
I reported to them on the propriety of releasing their prisoners. The report is to be considered today, and I doubt not that it will be agreed to. The British Parliament appear to be extremely dissatisfied at the terms of peace; a majority, headed by Lord North, has been obtained against the Administration, so that I think Lord Shelburne has little prospect of continuing in the Administration; but this is of no consequence to us, unless we are bound to like an Administration that has served us against their will. As doubts may arise with respect to the restitution of prizes taken after the epoch fixed by the Proclamation, it may not be improper for me to mention to you, that we conceive, that hostilities ceased in those parts of the Atlantic Ocean, which lay in the same latitude with the Canaries, on the 3d of March.
I am, Sir, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
TO SIR GUY CARLETON.
Philadelphia, April 12th, 1783.