oth to
ourselves and to our allies, you may depend upon me to exert every
measure in my power to prevent it.

I am at all times happy in receiving any intelligence from your
Excellency, and should it be in your power to announce a general
peace, you cannot make a more pleasing communication to me.

Persuaded of the pure and benevolent intentions, which animate the
breast of his Most Christian Majesty, I am assured, if that happy
event should not result from the present negotiations, that the
failure will not rest on his part.

I have the honor to be, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

* * * * *

MINUTES OF A VERBAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE MINISTER OF FRANCE.

Office of Foreign Affairs, March 22d, 1783.

The Minister of France, waiting upon Mr Livingston at 12 o'clock
agreeable to appointment, communicated to him a letter from the Count
de Vergennes, dated the 19th of November.

This was wholly confined to matters of finance, and contained in
substance nothing more than Congress have already seen in the letter,
written by the Minister of France to Mr Morris. He then read to Mr
Livingston a letter of the 22d of November, which related to the
satisfaction the King, his master, had received in the testimony the
United States had given of their friendship, in presenting to him the
ship America. The substance of this letter has been inserted in the
note sent to Congress the 28th instant.

The Minister also read to Mr Livingston, a letter of the 19th of
December, from the Count de Vergennes, in which he informs him, that
their treaty was not so forward as that of the Americans. Though if
his Majesty had wished it, he could have signed before the American
Plenipotentiaries, as no essential difference existed between France
and Great Britain. But that the King's delicacy induced him to wish,
that all his allies should be first satisfied, and he had accordingly
resolved to continue the war, whatever advantages might be offered
him, if Great Britain should bear hard upon any of them. That it still
remained to reconcile the interest of Spain, and those of Holland.
That he had reason to believe with relation to the first, that they
would soon be fully settled. That the foundation was already laid, and
that nothing now remained but to settle forms. That he was of opinion,
that it was for the interest of the United States