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of 1674, feems to level all the obftacles which had hitherto prevented your entering upon a negociation for a final peace. If, in the interim, the propofal made in the faid letter, of a fufpenfion of hoftilities, thould be thought conformable to the interests of the nation, nothing could be more fo to the principles of humanity in general, which actuate the emprefs, and to her private fentiments of benevolence and affection for this ftate; efpecially as fuch a measure has the double advantage of preventing the ufelefs effufion of blood; and from this instant refloring to the republic, the enjoyments of the rights of freedom in trade and navigation, which fall to the fhare of neutral nations, and efpecially thofe that have acceded to the principles of the armed neutrality.

Full of confidence in the dif pofition equally peaceful, and conformable to the real welfare of the ftate, which your High Mightineffes have always manifefted in the most folemn and pofitive manner, the underwritten flatter themfelves that you will not hefitate to make a proper ufe of the letter they have the honour to communi ate, in order to take a quick and decifive refolution, that may tend to restore peace and harmony with your old friend and ally, upon terms as honourable as they are advantageous. (Signed) P. GALLITZIN. MARCOFF.

The following is a Copy of the Letter alluded to in the above Memorial: "HAVING laid before his Majefty an extract of the letter

which you did me the honour, Sir, of communicating from Prince Gallitzin, and Monf. de Marcoff, I have his Majefty's commands to inform you, that the King, defirous of teftifying his intentions towards their High Mightineffes, and of renewing that friendship which has been fo unfortunately interrupted between old allies, who ought to be united in the bonds of mutual intereft, is ready to enter into a negociation, for the purpofe of fetting on foot a treaty of peace, on the terms and conditions of that which was agreed to in 1674, between his Majefty and the republic; and that the better to facilitate the execution of a plan which his Majesty has fo much at heart, the King is willing to give immediate orders for a fufpenfion of hoftilities, if, on their part, the Lords the States General fhould think fuch a meafure fuitable to the object in view.

"I am commanded by his Majefty to explain to you, Sir, his fentiments on fo important a fubject, and defire you will impart the fame to the minifters of her Imperial Majefty to their High Mightineffes, that they may be conveyed, without the least delay, to the minifters of the republic; being of opinion that it is the most convenient step, with the mediation and good offices of her Imperial Majefty, to put an end to the fcourge of that war which unfortunately fubfifts between the two nations.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed)

C. J. Fox,"

The

The following is a Copy of the Earl of the town, of which you are

of Shelburne's Letter to the Lord
Mayor, relative to arming the
People, together with the Heads
of the Plan therein inclofed.

Whitehall, 7th of May, 1782.
(Circular Copy.)

Sir,

H'

IS Majesty has commanded me to exprefs his firm reliance upon the fpirit and loyalty of his people, and his royal confidence, that, during this feafon of difficulty, their utmost endeayours will not be wanting to give unquestionable proofs of their attachment and emulation for his fervice; and forefeeing that by wife, ftrenuous, and timely preparations, he may not only difappoint or defeat any hoftile attempts, but, by appearing ftrong and united at home, he may be enabled to make the more powerful efforts for maintaining his honour and the public interefts a-. broad, and thereby lay the furest foundations for a safe, an honourable, and a lasting peace; and as the populousness of the principal towns and cities of Great Britain naturally offers the greatest facility, as well for forming into corps as for learning the military exercife, without lofs of time, interruption of labour, or any confiderable fatigue, his Majefty has commanded me to tranfmit to you the inclosed propofitions, which have been fubmitted to his Majefty, as at least a temporary plan for augmenting the domeftic force of the nation; which being a dopted or improved, according to the circunftances and fituation

the chief magiftrate, may tend to the immediate formation of a great and refpectable addition to the national force at home, on the most natural and conftitutional principles.

For this purpose, I have his Majefty's commands to fignify to you his defire and recommendation, that you fhould take the fame into immediate confideration, and af ter having confidered it, report to me whatever obfervations may occur to you for the carrying into execution a plan, the purpose of which is to give fecurity to your own perfons and property, and to the general defence of the kingdom. Sir,

I am,

(Signed)

Your moft obedient humble fervant, SHELBURNE.

Heads of a Plan for raifing Corps in the feveral Towns in Great Britain.

Ift. The principal town in Great Britain to furnish one or more battalions each, or a certain number of companies each, in proportion to their size and num ber of inhabitants.

zd. The officers to be appointed from among the gentlemen of the neighbourhood, or the inhabitants of the faid town, either by com miflion from his Majefty, or from the lord lieutenant of the county, upon the recommendation of the chief magiftrate of the town in which the corps are raised.

fome certain estate in land or mo 3d. They are to be poffeffed of. ney, in proportion to their rank.

4th. An adjutant or town mayor

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in each town, to be appointed by his Majesty.

5th. A proper number of ferjeants and corporals from the army, to be appointed for the corps in each town, in proportion to their number.

6th. The faid ferjeants or corporals, as well as the adjutant, or town-major, to be in government pay.

7th. The men, to exercise fre. quently, either in battan or by companies, on Sundays, and on all holidays, and alfo atter their work is over in the evenings.

8th. Arms, accoutrements, and ammunition, to be furnished at the expence of government, if requir

ed.

9th. Proper magazines or ftorehoufes to be chofen or erected in each town for keeping the faid

arms, &c.

10th. The arms and accoutrements to be delivered out at times of exercite only, and to be return ed into the ftores as foon as the exercife is finished.

11th. The adjutant or townmajor to be always prefent at exercife, and to fee that the men afterwards march regularly, and lodge their arms in the ftorehoufes.

12th. Proper penalties to be inflicted on fuch as abfent themselves from exercife, as alfo for difobedience of orders, infolence to their officers, and other diforderly behaviour.

13th. The above corps not to be obliged on any account, or by any authority whatever, to move from their refpective towns, except in times of actual invafion or rebellion.

have power to order the faid corps to march to any part of Great Britain, as his fervice may require.

15th. They are on fuch oceafions to act either feparately or in conjunction with his Majesty's regular forces, and be under the command of fuch general officers as his Majesty fhall think proper to appoint.

16th. Both officers and men to receive full pay as his Majefty's other regiments of foot, from the day of their march, and as long as they fhall continue in fervice out of their towns.

17th. They are to be fubject to military difcipline in the fame manner as his Majefty's regular forces, during the faid time of their being fo called out, and receiving government pay.

18th. All officers who may be disabled in actual service, to be entitled to half-pay; and all noncommiffioned officers and private men difabled, to receive the benefit of Chelsea Hofpital.

19th. The widows of officers killed in the fervice, to have a penfion for life.

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UST as I am closing these difpatches, a letter from

14th. His Majefty fhall then Sir Guy Carleton is handed me,

covering

covering fundry printed papers, a copy of which, with the papers, I have now the honour to enclofe to your excellency, together with a copy of my answer to him; and I flatter myself my conduct herein will be agreeable to the wifes of Congrefs."

Head-Quarters, New-York, SIR, May 7, 1782. HAVING been appointed by his Majesty to the command of the forces on the Atlantic Ocean, and joined with Admiral Digby in the commiffion of peace, I find it proper in this manner to apprize your excellency of my arrival at New York.

The occafion, Sir, feems to render this communication proper, but the circumftances of the prefent time render it alfo indifpenf able, as I find it just to tranfmit herewith to your excellency certain papers, from the perufal of which your excellency will per ceive what difpofitions prevail in the government and people of England towards thofe of America, and what further effects are likely to follow. If the like pacific difpofitions fhould prevail in this country, both my inclination and duty will lead me to meet it with the most zealous concurrence. In all events, Sir, it is with me to declare, that, if war must prevail, I fhall endeavour to render its miferies as light to the people of this continent as the circumstances of fuch a condition will poffibly permit.

I am much concerned to find that private and unauthorised perfons have on both fides given way

most effectual controul, and which have begot acts of retaliation, which, without proper prevention, may have an extent equally calamitous and dishonourable to both parties, though, as it should feem, more extenfively pernicious to the natives and fettlers of this country.

How much foever, Sir, we may differ in other refpects, upon this one point we must perfectly concur, being alike interested to preferve the name of Englishmen from reproach, and individuals from experiencing fuch unneceffary evils as can have no effect upon a general decifion. Every proper measure which may tend to prevent thefe criminal exceffes in individuals, I fhall be ever ready to embrace; and as an advantage on my part, I have, as the first act of my command, enlarged Mr. Livington, and have written to his father upon the fubject of fuch exceffes as have paffed in New Jerley, defiring his concurrence in fuch meafures as, even under the conditions of war, the common interefts of humanity require.

I am further to acquaint you, Sir, that it was my intention to have fent this day a fimilar letter of compliment to Congrefs, but am informed it is previously neceffary to obtain a paffport from your excellency, which I therefore hope to receive, if you have no objection for the paffage of Mr. Morgan to Philadelphia, for the above purpose.

'I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)

GUY CARLETON.

to thofe paffions which ought to His Excellency Gen. Washington.

have received the frohgeit and

Sir,

Head Quarters, May 10, 1782.

I HAD the honour laft evening to receive your excellency's letter of the 7th, with the feveral papers enclosed.

Ever fince the commencement of this unnatural war, my conduct has borne invariable teftimony against thofe inhuman exceffes which in too many inftances have marked its various progreís.

With respect to a late tranfaction, to which I prefume your excellency alludes, I have already exprefled my fixed refolution: a refolution formed on the most mature deliberation, and from which I fhall not recede.

I have to inform your excellency, that your requeit of a paffport for Mr. Morgan to go to Philadelphia, will be conveyed to Congrefs by the earliest opportunity; and you may reft affured that I will embrace the first moment to communicate to you their determination thereon.

Many inconveniences and diforders having arifen from an improper admition of flags at various pofts of the two armies, which have given rife to complaints on both fides. To prevent abufes in future, and for the convenience of communication, I have con cluded to receive all flags from within your lines at the poft of Dobb's Ferry, and nowhere elfe, fo long as the head quarters of the two armies remain as at prefent.

I have the honour to be, &c. G. WASHINGTON. His Excellency Sir Guy Carleton.

By the United States in Congress, affembled May 14, 1782.

THE letter of the roth, from the commander in chief, being

read, inclofing a copy of a letter to him from Sir Guy Carleton, dated head-quarters, New York, May 2, 1782,

Refolved, That the commander in chief be, and hereby is directed to refufe the request of Sir Guy Carleton, of a paffport for Mr. Morgan, to bring difpatches to Philadelphia.

Published by order of the Congrefs.
CHA. THOMPSON, Sec.

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS.

By the United States in Congress, affembled Oober 4, 1782.

WHE

THEREAS by the articles. of confederation and perpetual union, the fole and exclufive right of making peace is veft. ed in the United States in Congrefs affembled; and by the treaty of alliance between his Moft Chriftian Majefty and thefe United States, it is declared, that nei ther of the contracting parties fhall conclude peace nor truce with Great Britain, without the confent of the other; and the minifters plenipotentiaries of thefe United States in Europe, are vefted with full power and authority, in their behalf, and in concert with their allies, to negociate and conclude a general peace: neverthelefs, it appears, the Britifh court ftill flatters itself with the vain hope of prevailing on the United States to agree to some terms of dependence on Great Bri tain, at leaf to a feparate peace.; and there is reafon to believe that commiffioners may be fent to America to offer propofitions of

that

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