Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Circular letter from Robert R. Livingston to the state governors
Livingston, Robert R., 1746-1813
December 23, 1782
Volume 16, Pages 466-467

HON. ROB’T R. LIVINGSTON TO GOV, ALEX. MARTIN.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

[Circular.]


Philadelphia, 23rd December, 1782.

Sir:

The steps that may lead to so important an event as Peace upon safe and honorable terms, are too interesting to be withheld from you. I have the honor, therefore, to enclose a Copy of Mr. Oswald’s Commission to treat with the thirteen United States of America, which will certainly smoothe the way to it, tho’ the variety of interests to be adjusted at a general Congress (and, perhaps, too, the success of the British arms at Gibraltar) may place it further off than our wishes should otherwise lead us to imagine. Your Excellency will see the propriety of not suffering Copies to be taken of this Commission for the press, and of accompanying the communications you shall think proper to make of it with such recommendations to exertion and vigilence as prudence and the critical situation of our affairs may require; since, on a review of the conduct of the enemy, it will not appear extraordinary to suppose that this may be another of those artifices so often practiced to deceive and put us off our guard. Tho’ we have no Official

-------------------- page 467 --------------------
Accounts, yet we have every reason to believe that the Treaty of commerce with the United Provinces was signed the seventh of October.

I have the honor to be, &c.,
ROB’T R. LIVINGSTON.