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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Guy Carleton, Baron Dorchester to Robert R. Livingston
Dorchester, Guy Carleton, Baron, 1724-1808
April 06, 1783
Volume 16, Pages 868-869

SIR GUY CARLTON TO HON. ROBT. R. LIVINGSTON.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

No. 1.


New York, April the 6th, 1783.

Sir:

A packet from England arrived in this port last night by which I have dispatches from Mr. Townshend, one of his principal Secretaries of State, communicating official intelligence, that preliminary articles of Peace with Spain and France were signed at Paris on the

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20th January last and that the ratifications have been since exchanged at the same place.

The King, Sir, has been pleased in consequence of these events, to order proclamation to be published declaring a cessation of arms, as well by sea as land, and his Majesty’s pleasure signified that I should cause the same to be published in all places under my command in order that his Majesty’s subjects may pay immediate and due obedience thereto and such proclamation I shall accordingly cause to be made on Tuesday next the 8th Instant.

In consequence thereof and in conformity to the articles of Peace, all our prisoners of War are to be set at Liberty & restored with all convenient dispatch entertaining no doubt but that similar measures will be taken on the part of the United States of America; in like manner no doubt can be entertained but that Congress in Conformity to the fifth Article of the provisional Treaty, will lose no time in earnestly recommending to the Legislatures of the respective States, to provide for the restitution of confiscated estates, & 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 these 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 & the Subjects and the Citizens of both Countries, will I trust always remain.

I am Sir, &c., &c.,
GUY CARLTON.
Robt. R. Livingston.