of France should impart
to Congress the opinion of his Court, and the desires of his Majesty.

That though if their towns were evacuated the Americans could not
take an active part, yet they can compel the enemy to wish for peace,
by excluding them from all connexion with them and prohibiting under
very severe penalties, the consumption or importation of British
manufactures. That a considerable party among the British wish to form
commercial connexion with the United States. That when they shall be
convinced, that they can reap no benefit therefrom, but by a solid
definitive peace, conformable to the treaty already agreed upon, they
will become more tractable, and conclude the definitive treaty, which
will give force and vigor to the provisional articles, and set the
seal to the independence of America. That it would also be proper to
state to Congress the necessity of providing means to prevent the
sending provisions into New York, by which the British armaments are
amply supplied with fresh provisions of every kind.

That the King persuades himself, that the Legislatures of the
respective States will concur in measures for this salutary purpose,
when they shall be informed of the injury occasioned to their ally by
the want of the necessary precautions on this subject. That these
precautions will not be unnecessary if the enemy are about to abandon
New York, without which the enemy will carry with them the means of
supplying the places to which they transport their troops.

That he persuades himself, that Congress will perceive, that they are
indebted to the harmony, that has subsisted between the King and them
for the present happy state of their affairs. But that nothing being
yet concluded, the present moment is precisely that in which it is of
most importance to preserve the same system.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

* * * * *

GEORGE WASHINGTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Head Quarters, March 29th, 1783.

Sir,

The news of a general peace, which your Excellency has been so good as
to announce to me, has filled my mind with inexpressible satisfaction;
and permit me to add, that the joy I feel on this great event is
doubly enhanced, by the very obliging manner in which you have been
pleased to express your congratulations to me and the army on this
happy occasion.

The part your E