to provide for the restitution of confiscated
estates, and to reconsider and revise all laws of confiscation, that
they may be rendered perfectly consistent, not only with justice and
equity, but with that spirit of conciliation, which on the return of
the blessings of peace should universally prevail.

And I am further to inform you, Sir, that an instrument of accession
to the suspension of hostilities, by the States General of the United
Provinces, having been received in England, a cessation of arms with
those States has been thereupon included in the Proclamation.

Upon this great occasion, Sir, I am to offer my strongest assurances,
that during the short period of my command here, I shall be ready and
earnest to cultivate that spirit of perfect good will, which between
the United States of America, and the King of Great Britain, and the
subjects and the citizens of both countries, will I trust always
remain.

I am, with much consideration, Sir, &c.

GUY CARLETON.

FOOTNOTES:

[28] See this Proclamation in the _Correspondence of the Commissioners
for Peace_, Vol. X. p. 124.

* * * * *

ADMIRAL DIGBY TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Lion, off New York, April 6th, 1783.

Sir,

I have this moment received the enclosed Proclamation from his
Majesty's Secretary of State, and shall immediately despatch one of
the sloops of war to withdraw all my cruisers upon the coast, and
shall also release all the prisoners as quickly as I can dispose of
them in the most convenient way to themselves.

I am, Sir, &c.

ROBERT DIGBY.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Office of Foreign Affairs, April 10th, 1783.

Sir,

I have the honor of laying before Congress two letters, received
yesterday by express from New York, the one from General Carleton and
the other from Rear Admiral Digby. Both covered copies of his
Britannic Majesty's Proclamation for a cessation of hostilities. I
presume Congress will consider this advice as sufficiently authentic
to justify the discharge of their prisoners, who are now a useless
expense, though not so much so as to render it proper to proceed to
the measures directed by the fifth Article of the provisional tre