Moft gladly would we caft a veil on every act which fullies the reputation of our country-never fhould the page of history be stained with its difhonour-even from our memo ries fhould the idea be erafed. We lament the oppofition to those falutary measures which the wisdom of the union has planted; measures which alone can recover and fix on a permanent bafis the credit of the States; measures which are effential to the justice, the honour, and intereft of the nation. While fhe was giving the nobleft proofs of magnanimity, with confcious pride we faw her growing fame; and regard lefs of prefent fufferings, we looked forward to the end of our toils and dangers, to brighter fcenes in profpect. There we beheld the genius of our country dignified by fovereignty and independence, fupported by justice, and adorned with every liberal virtue. There we faw patient Husbandry fearlefs extend her cultured fields, and animated Commerce fpread her fails to every wind. There we beheld fair Science lift her head, with all the Arts at tending in her train. There, bleft with freedom, we faw the human mind expand; and throwing alide the restraints which confined it to the narrow bounds of country, it embraced the world. Such were our fond hopes, and with fach delight

Nor are we difappointed. Thofe animating profpects are now chang. ed and changing to realities; and actively to have contributed to their production is our pride, our glory.But juftice alone can give them ftability. In that juftice we still believe. Still we hope that the preju dices of the mifinformed will be removed, and the arts of falfe and felfifh popularity, addreffed to the feelings of avarice, defeated: or in the worst event, the world, we hope, will make the juft diftinction: we trust the difingenuoufnefs of a few will not fully the reputation, the honour, and dignity, of the great and refpectable majority of the States.

We are happy in the opportunity juft prefented of congratulating your excellency on the certain conclufion of the definitive treaty of peace. Relieved at length from long fufpence, our warmest wifh is to return to the bofom of our country, to refume the character of citizens; and it will be our highest ambition to become useful ones. To your excellency this great event must be peculiarly pleating for while at the head of her armies, urged by patriot virtues and magnanimity, you perfevered, under the preffure of every poffible difficulty and difcouragement, in the purfuit of the great objects of the war-the freedom and fafety of your countr;-your heart panted for the tranquil enjoyments of peace. We cordially rejoice with you that the period of indulging them has arrived fo foon. In contemplating the bleffings of liberty and independence, the rich prize of eight years hardy adventure, paft fufferings will be forgotten; or if remembered, the recollection will ferve to heighten the relish of prefent happinefs. We fincerely pray

God

God this happiness may long be your's; and that when you quit the ftage of human life, you may receive from the unerring Judge, the rewards of valour exerted to fave the oppreffed, of patriotifm and difinterefted virtue.

West Point,

15th November, 1783.

By his Excellency George Clinton, Efq.

drawn as aforefaid, and all others whom it may concern, to yield due obedience to the laws of this state, and to be vigilant in preferving the public peace and good order.

Given under my hand and the privy feal of the said state, at Poughkeepsie, this 15th day of November, in the eighth year of the independence of the faid ftate, 1783.

GEORGE CLINTON.

(L. S.)

WH

HEREAS, I have received authentic information, that his Britannic majefty's forces will be withdrawn from certain parts of the fouthern diftrict of this ftate, on Friday the twenty-first, and from the remaining part of the faid diftrict (Staten Island, and the poft at Dennys's, on Naffau Ifland, excepted) on the twenty-fecund inft. I do therefore, by thefe prefents, require the council, conftituted by the act, entitled, "An act to provide for the temporary government of the fouthern parts of this ftate, whenever the enemy fhall abandon or be difpoffeffed of the fame, and until the legislature can be conned," paffed the twenty-third day of Dctober 1779; to meet at Guion's tavern, at Eaft Chefter, in the county of Weft Chefter, on the faid twenty-firft inftant; of which the feveral members, compofing the faid council, will take notice, and give their attendance accordingly and I do hereby strictly enjoin and require the inhabitants within fuch parts of the faid fouthern district, from which the faid forces fhall be with

ROBERT BENSON, Sécretary,

The following order was iffued at Weft Point on the 16th instant: GARRISON ORDERS,

November 16, 1783,

THE definitive treaty being concluded, and the city of New York to be evacuated on the 22d instant, his excellency the commander in chief propofes to celebrate the peace at that place, on Monday the first day of December next, by a difplay of fire-works and illuminations, which were intended to have been exhibited at this poft, or fuch of them as have not been injured by time, and can be removed.

New York, Nov. 22. Laft Wednefday evening arrived here, the Pacquet Le Courier de L'Europe, captain Cornick, with the mail from Port L'Orient in this ship came paffenger,

Thatcher, esq. fecretary to John Adams, efq. am baffador from the United States of America to the States General of Holland, charged by the American commiffioners with the definitive treaty, figned by them, on the 3d of September, and on the part of Great Britain, by Mr. Hartley; with which he, on Thurfday morn ing, fet off to deliver to the hon. general Mifflin, prefident of the con

grefs.

grefs.-Hector St. John, efq. ap. pointed by the court of France to be conful and fuperintendant of the packets, now eftablished between this city and Port L'Orient, with feveral other French gentlemen, were also paffengers.

Head Quarters, New York, November 20, 1783.

ORDER S. ALL perfons, civil as well as mili. tary, who have public claims upon the deputy paymaster-general, by virtue of warrants granted by the commander in chief, are to prefent them for, and to receive payment, on or before this prefent Saturday, being the 22d of November, at four o'clock, at which hour the pay-office books will be closed, and no farther bufinefs tranfacted.

Weft Point, Nov. 15, 1783. SIR,

THE officers of the part of the army who agreed on the inclofed addrefs, having committed to us the honour of prefenting it-with great pleasure we now offer to your excellency this teftimony of their affectionate attachment and respect. We have the honour to be, with perfect confideration, SIR, Your exceliency's moft obedient,

and most humble fervants,

A. M'DOUGALL, Major general. H. KNOX, Major general. T. PICKERING, Qr. Mr. General. His Excellency General Wallington. Extract of a Letter from General Sir Guy Carleton, K. B. Sc. New-York, June 20, 1783. My Lord,

I

dated

Tranfmit for your lordship's information a copy of colonel Deveaux's letter conveying an account of the recapture of the Bahama

iflands, together with a copy of the capitulation.

I am, my lord,
Your lordship's most obedient,
and most humble servant,
GUY CARLETON.

Right Hon. Lord North.

Extra of a Letter from Colonel De veaux, to Sir Guy Carleton, dated New Providence, June 6, 1783.

I HAVE the pleasure to inform your excellency, that on the 1ft of April laft, not having heard that peace was concluded, I formed from St. Auguftine an expedition against New Providence, to restore its inhabitants, with thofe of the adjacent iflands, to the bleffings of a free government, I undertook this expedition at my own expence, and embarked my men, which did not exceed fixty-five, and failed for Harbour Island, where I recruited for four or five days; from thence I fet fail for my object, which was the eastern fort on the island of Providence, and which I carried about day-light, with three of their formidable gallies, on the 14th. I immediately fummoned the grand fortress to furrender, which was 2bout a mile from the fort I had taken his excellency the governor evaded the purport of my flag, by giving me fome trifling informations,

:

which I took in their true lightOn the 16th I took poffeffion of two commanding hills, and erected a battery on each of them of twelve

Pounders. At day light on the 18th, my batteries being complete, the English colours were hoisted on each of them, which were within muf quet hot of their grand fortress. His excellency, finding his fhot and fhells of no effect, thought proper to capitulate, as you will fee by the inclofed articles. My force never

at

at any time confifted of more than 220 men, and not above 150 of them had mufquets, not having it in my power to procure them at St. Auguftine.

I took on this occafion one fort, confifting of thirteen pieces of cannon, three gallies carrying twenty. four pounders, and about fifty men. His excellency furrendered four batteries, with about feventy pieces of cannon, and four large gallies (brigs and fnows) which I have fent to the Havannah with the troops as flags; I therefore ftand in need of your excellency's advice and directions in my prefent fituation, and fhall be exceedingly happy to receive them as foon as poffible.

I had letters written for your excellency on this occafion, fince the middle of the last month; but the veffel by which they were to have been conveyed, went off and left them; therefore hope your excellency will not think it my neglect, in not having the accounts before this.

I have the honour to be,
Your excellency's moft obedient
and very humble fervant,
(Signed)

A. DEVEAUX,

Colonel and commanding Royal

non and two fhots per day, in or der to hoift his Catholic majesty's flag. Provisions for the troops,

failors, and fick in the hofpital, to be made at his Britannic majesty's expence, as alfo veffels prepared to carry them to the Havannah, particularly a veffel to carry the gover nor to Europe.

III. All the officers and troops of the garrifon belonging to his Catholic majefty are to remain in poffeffion of their baggage and other effects.

IV. All the veffels in the harbour, belonging to his Catholic majefty, are to be given up, with every thing on board the faid veffels, to his Britannic majesty.

V. All effects appertaining to Spaniards to remain their property, and the Spanish merchants to have two months to fettle their accounts. (Signed)

ANTONIO CLARACO Y SANZ. A. DEVEAUX. d New Providence, April 18, 1783.

June 6, 1783.

26th of December, 1783,

PRESENT,

in Council.

and Commander in Chief of the Expedition, &c.

I. THE government houfe and public ftores to be delivered to his Britannic majefty.

II. The governor and garrifon under his command to march to the eastern fort, with all the honours of war; remaining with a piece of can

parliament, entituled, "An act for in the last feffion of preventing certain inftruments from being required from fhips belonging to the United States of Ame rica, and to give to his majesty, for a limited tine, certain pow. ers for the better carrying on trade and commerce between the fubjects of his majefty's dominions

and

:

and the inhabitants of the United States," feveral orders have been if fued by his majesty at this board, for regulating and carrying on the trade and commerce between the fubjects of his majesty's dominions, and the inhabitants of the United States of America, which orders did expire on the 20th day of this inftant, December and whereas by an act paffed in the prefent feffion of par liament, to continue, for a limited time, the faid above recited act, it is enacted, that the faid act, and all the matters and things therein contained, fhall continue and be in force until the 20th day of April, 1784: his majefty doth thereupon, by and with the advice of his privy council, hereby order and declare, that any unmanufactured goods or merchandizes, the importation of which into this kingdom is not prohibited by law (except oil), and any pitch, tar, turpentine, indigo, mafts, yards, and bowfprits, being the growth or production of any of the United States of America, may (until farther order) be imported directly from thence into any of the ports of this kingdom, either in British or American fhips, by British fubjects, or by any of the people inhabiting in, and belonging to the faid United States, or any of them, and may be entered and landed in any port in this kingdom, upon payment of the fame duties as the like fort of goods or merchandize are or may be fubject and liable to, if imported by British fubjects, in Britifh fhips, from any British ifland or plantation in America, and no other, notwithstanding fuch goods or merchandize, or the fhips in which the fame may be brought, may not be accompanied with the certificates or other documents heretofore required by law.

And it is hereby further ordered, that there fhall be the fame drawbacks, exemptions, and bounties, on merchandizes and goods exported from Great Britain, into the territories of the said United States of America, or any of them, as are or may be allowed by law, upon the exportation of the like goods or merchandize to any of the lands, plantations, or colonies, belonging to the crown of Great Britain in America.

And his majesty is hereby far. ther pleafed to order, that any tobacco, being the growth or production of any of the territories of the faid United States of America, may (until farther order) be im ported directly from thence, in manner above mentioned, and may be landed in this kingdom; and, upon the importer paying down in ready money the duty commonly called the Old Subfidy (except as herein-after excepted) fuch tobacco may be warehoufed under his majefty's locks, upon the importer's own bond for payment of all the farther duties due for fuch tobacco, within the time limited by law, according to the net weight and quan tity of fuch tobacco, at the time it fhall be fo landed, with the fame allowances for the payment of such farther duties, and under the like reftrictions and regulations in all other refpects, not altered by this order, as fuch tobacco is and may be warehoufed by virtue of any act or acts of parliament in force; but it is his majefty's pleasure neverthelefs that upon the importation of any fuch tobacco into the ports of London, Bristol, Liverpool, Cowes, Whitehaven, Greenock, and Port Glafgow, or either of them, in the manner herein before expreffed, fhall be at liberty, until farther order,

to