tters which were the Objects of
the Resolutions, General Washington requested the Sentiments of
General Carleton.

"Sir: Guy then observed that his Expectations of a peace had been
such that he had anticipated the Event by very early commencing
his preparations to withdraw the British Troops from this
Country--and that every preparation which his situation &
circumstances would permit was still continued--That an
additional Number of Transports, and which were expected, were
necessary to remove the Troops & Stores--and as it was impossible
to ascertain the Time when the Transports would arrive, their
passage depending on the casualties of the Seas, he was there
unable to fix a determinate period within which the British
forces would be withdrawn from the City of New York--But that it
was his desire to exceed even our own Wishes in this Respect, &
That he was using every means in his power to effect with all
possible despatch an Evacuation of that & every other post within
the United States, occupied by the British Troops, under his
Direction--That he considered as included in the preparations for
the final Departure of the B. Troops, the previously sending away
those persons, who supposed that, from the part they had taken in
the present War, it would be most eligible for them to leave the
Country--and that upwards of 6,000 persons of this Character had
embarked & sailed--and that in this Embarkation a Number of
Negroes were comprised--General Washington therefore express his
Surprize, that after what appeared to him an express Stipulation
to the contrary in the Treaty, Negroes the property of the
Inhabitants of these States should be sent off.

"To which Sir: Guy Carleton replied, that he wished to be
considered as giving no construction of the Treaty--That by
Property in the Treaty might only be intended Property at the
Time, the Negroes were sent off--That there was a difference in
the Mode of Expression in the Treaty; Archives, Papers, &c., &c.,
were to be restored--Negroes & other property were only not to be
destroyed or carried away. But he principally insisted that he
conceived it could not have been the Intention of the B.
Government by the Treaty of Peace, to reduce themselves to the
necessity of violating their faith to the N