By the public prints we learn, that the following are the principal articles of peace between the other. powers. France is to retain Tobago and Senegal: but is to reftore to Great Britain, fort James on the river Gambia, Grenada, the Grenadines, St. Vincent's, Dominica, St. Christopher's, Nevis and Montferrat. Great Britain is to restore to France, Goree, St. Lucie, St. Pierre and Miquelon. The fishery of France and Great Britain on the coast of Newfoundland, to remain on the fame footing on which they were by the treaty of 1763, except that part of the coast of Bonavifta, at Cape St. John's, which is to belong to the British. France is to be re-established in the Eaft Indies, as well in Bengal, as on the east and west coast of the Peninsula, as regulated lated by the treaty of 1763. The articles of all pre- 1783. 19. At 12 o'clock on the 19th of April, the day which April completed the eighth year of the war, the ceffation of hoftilities between the United States and Great Britain was proclaimed in the American army by order of gen. Washington. Though it is ftipulated by the 7th article of the provifional treaty, that "his Britannic majefty fhall, without carrying away any negroes, or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrifons and fleets from the United States;" yet a confiderable number of negroes belonging to the citizens of these flates were carried off. This produced a conference between general Washington and Sir Guy Carleton on the fubject, at Taapan on the 6th of May. Sir Guy principally infifted, that he conceived it could not have been the intention of the British government, by the treaty of peace, to reduce themselves to the necessity of violating their faith to the negroes, who came into the British lines under the proclamations of his predeceffors. He forbore to exprefs his fentiments on the propriety of these proclamations; but urged that delivering up the negroes to their former mafters, would be delivering them up, fome poffibly to executions, and others to I fevere May 6. 1783. fevere punishments, which in his opinion would be a dishonorable violation of the public faith pledged to the negroes in the proclamations. He obferved, that if the fending away of the negroes fhould hereafter be declared an infraction of the treaty, compensation must be made to the owners by the crown of Great Britain; and that he had taken measures to provide for this, by directing a register to be kept of all the negroes who were fent off, specifying the name, age and occupation of the flave, and the name and place of refidence of his former master. He remarked, that he was not by the treaty held to deliver up any property, but was only restrained from carrying it away. He concluded the conversation on the subject by saying, he imagined that the mode of compenfating, as well as the accounts and other points with respect to which there was no exprefs provifion made by the treaty, must be adjudged by commiffioners to be hereafter appointed by the two 26. nations. On the 26th of May congrefs refolved, that the American minifters plenipotentiary for negotiating the peace fhould be directed to remonftrate on the fubject to the court of Great Britain, and to take proper measures for obtaining fuch reparation as the nature of the cafe would admit. The fame day they refolved, that gen. Washington should be inftructed to grant furloughs to the non-commiffioned officers and foldiers who had inlifted for the war, together with a proportionable number of commiffioned officers of the different grades ; and that the general and fecretary at war fhould take the proper measures for conducting those troops home, in fuch a manner as might be most convenient to themfelves and to the ftates through which they might pafs; May and and that the men thus furloughed should be allowed to 1783, take their arms with them. Something of a similar refolution was taken refpecting the North Carolina troops under gen. Greene. You may think it worth recording, that Greene wrote on the 2d of February from Charlestown-" Ever fince the enemy have been gone, we have been obliged to fubfift the troops at the point of the bayonet. The state agents dropped the business the moment Charlestown was evacuated, nor could the authority or influence of government induce them to continue a moment longer." More than three weeks before the foldiers were ordered to be furloughed, congrefs called upon the respective states to forward the collection of their taxes, that fo the financier might have wherewith to advance them a part of their pay before they left the field; and he at the same time was directed to make the neceffary arrangements for carrying the views of congrefs into execution. The refolve of congrefs for furloughing the foldiers inlifted for the war, and a proportionate number of officers, and the order of the commander in chief founded upon it on the 2d of June, excited aftonishment and chagrin in the generals and officers commanding regiments and corps in the cantonment on Hudfon's river. They addressed their commander upon the occafion on the 5th; folicited his further aid on their behalf; and entreated that his order might be fo far varied, as that no officer or foldier should be obliged to receive a furlough, until congress could be apprized of the wretched fituation into which the army must be plunged by a conformity to it. The next day general Washington returned them a fatisfactory anfwer. He expreffed his hope, VOL. IV. B b that June 5. 1783. that the financier's notes for three months pay to the 18. army would foon arrive, and that the fettlement of accounts might be completed in a very few days; by which the two fubjects of the army's complaint would be removed. Affairs were fo regulated, that by the middle of June the foldiers were daily returning home, with fuch good June order as did them great honor. On the 18th of the month, generál Washington addreffed a circular letter to the feveral governors and prefidents of the United States, announcing his intended refignation of the command of the army, and expreffing his thoughts as to those wife and falutary measures, which he thought could alone make the ftates a great and flourishing people. "There are four things (he faid) which, I humbly conceive, are effential to the well-being, I may venture to fay, to the existence of the United States as an independent power. ft. An indiffoluble union of the states under one fœderal head. 2dly, A facred regard to public juftice. 3dly, The adoption of a proper peace establishment. And 4thly, The prevalence of that pacific and friendly difpofition among the people of the United States, which will induce them to forget their local prejudices and politics; to make thofe mutual conceffions which are requifite to the general prosperity; and, in some instances, to facrifice their individual advantages to the intereft of the community. Thefe are the pillars on which the glorious fabric of our independency and national character must be fupported." Toward the clofe his words were-" It remains then, to be my final and only requeft, that your excellency will communicate thefe fentiments to your legislature, at their |