the dangers and difficulties to which their forefathers were fubjected, before they could free themselves from the yoke in which they were enthrall ed. They knew better than any other the worth of independence,and they knew bet er how to fet a juft value on the greatnefs of your defigns. They applauded your generous enterprizes, which was infpired by a love of your country, conducted with prudence, and fupported with heroic courage; and they rejoiced at the happy fuccefs which crowned your labours. In order to convince you of their affection, and the part they take in whatever regards your republic, my mafters have charged me to congratulate you on the accomplithment of your defire, which had for its object the power of your own abfolute will, and the enjoyment of that ineftimable and natural treafure, which places you in the rank of fovereign and independent powers. How flattering is it to me, to find myfelf this day the organ and interpreter of the fentiments and difpofitions of my mafters, and to have it in my power to affure you on their behalf, that there is nothing which they more ardently with than the happinels of your republic, and the establishment of the union of your ftates! May this union, founded on the principles of true patriotism and a love for the public good, be cemented in fuch a manner, that neither false ambition, jealoufy, or private intereft, may ever be able to do it the leaf injury! May the adminiftration of a wife and prudent government, difpenfe happinefs and plenty among the people, and give them a glory extended from pole to pole, and as lafting as ages. Gentlemen, THEIR High Mightineffes are not content with fending compliments of congratulation, which are in themfelves unfruitful, but being convinced that an intercourfe of commerce and natural good will, are the fareft means of binding clofer the facred bonds of friendship, which already unite you together, they have commanded me to affure you that they have nothing nearer at heart, than to labour effectually to render this friendship fruit ful and profitable, and to contribute as far as poffible to the aggrandizement of an ally, from whom they promife themselves the fame efforts. This is a sketch, but a very feeble and imperfect sketch, of the fentiments of my mafters, whofe fincerity furpasses expreffion, but which is however manifefted in the letters which I fhall have the honor to deliver you. This, Gentlemen, is the purpose of thecommiffion with which they have honored me. May it be in my power worthily to answer their expectation,and at the fame time to gain your affection and confidence, which are fo neceffary for the fuccefs of my undertaking; as to my felf, without guile and without artifice, I fhall always conduct myself with that rectitude, candor and cordiality which form the diftinguishing character of a true republican, and which is at the fame time the beft fecurity for my attaining the point of my ambition, which is that of gaining the approbation of Congrefs, the friendship of its members, and the efteem of the United States of America. To the United States, in Congress affembled. Our Friends, and Allies, WITH very great fatisfa&tion did we, by the reception of the honorable Mr. Adams, your minifter with our flate, acknowledge the independence of your republic; and with equal and much greater delight,have we received the pleasing tidings of the conclufion of the preliminary articles of peace, by which the court of GreatBritain has declared you free and independent States. We have long ardently wished for this happy period, having for feveral years paft with forrow feen the troubles and difficulties, with which you were obliged to fruggle. And we do moft cordially congratulate you on this happy event, fincerely taking a fhare in your prefent agreeable fituation. To give a teftimony of our fentiments in this refpect, and to convince you of our unfeigned efteem, we have thought it proper to fend to you an envoy extraordinary; we have for that purpofe chofen a gentleman of diftinction, whose personal qualifications are in great repute among us-- the the honorable Péter John Van Berek- of confidence and efteem of their el, burgomafter of the city of Rotter High Mightineffes, and their affecti dam, and a deputy in our affembly.onate congratulations on the fuccefs We hope and trufl that you will gra- of our efforts in the facred cause of ciously receive this gentleman in qual-liberty. ity of our Minifter Plenipotentiary, and when he fhall have the honor to deliver you these prefents, and to enter into farther negociations with you, that you would give full faith unto him as unto ourselves, being affured that he will not be able to exprefs,in terms too ftrong, the fentiments of esteem and reverence, which we have for a long time poffeffed for that wifdom, courage and perfever ance, by which you have rendered yourselves famous throughout the world. May God grant that your rifing republic may become more and more profperous: That it may increafe in luftre and glory, and fubfift to the end of time. We shall at all times rejoice in your increasing felicity; and we defire nothing more ardently, than that we may maintain the ftri&eft friendship and correfpondence with you, for the good of the fubjects and inhabitants of both countries. This letter being read, the Prefident returned the following anfwer to the Minifier. SIR, IN a conteft for the rights of human nature, the citizens of the United States of America, could not but he impreffed with the glorious example of thofe illuftrious patriots, who triumphing over every difficulty and danger, eftablished the liberty of the United Netherlands, on the moft honourable and permanent bafis. Congrefs, at an early period of the war, fought the friendship of their High Might ineffes; convinced that the fame inviolable regard for liberty, and the fame wifdom, juftice and magnanimity, which led their forefathers to glory, was handed down unimpaired to their pofterity; and cur fatisfaction was great, in accom. plifhing with them a treaty of amity and commerce on terms fo acceptable to both nations. With the fincereft pleasure, fir, we receive the honourable teftimonials We affure you, Sir, that it is our earneft defire to unite with their High Mightineffes in every measure, which can promote the most unreferved confidence and the most friendly, intercourfe between two nations, which have vindicated their freedom, amidft the moft trying fcenes of dan ger and difirefs, and have been equally bleffed by the gracious interpofition of Divine Providence, with that fovereignty and independence fo effential to their fafety and happi-, nefs. Governed by the fame ardent love of freedom, and the fame maxims of policy; cemented by a liberal fyftem of commerce,and earneftly disposed to advance our mutual profperity, by a reciprocity of good offices, we perfuade our felves, that the most friendly, and benefical connexion between the two republicks, will be preserved inviolate to the lateft ages. It adds, fir, greatly to our pleasure, on this interefting occafion, that their High Might ineffes have employed as their minifter, a gentleman fo highly celebrated for rectitude and patriotifm, and from whofe illuftrious family thefe United States have received the most diftinguished proofs of regard and friendship. By Extra&t from the Minutes, CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry. the UNITED STATES in CONGRESS affembled. A PROCLAMATION. Wan arduous and difficult war, the armies of the United States of America have eminently displayed every military and patriotic virtue, and are not lefs to be applauded for their fortitude and magnanimity, in the most trying fcenes of diftrefs, than for a feries of heroic and il luftrious atchievements, which exalt them to a high rank among the zea lous and fuccefsful defenders of the rights and liberties of mankind: And whereas by the bleffing of Divine Providence, on our cause and our arms, the glorious HEREAS in the progrefs of rious period is arrived, when our na fional independence and fovereignty are established, and we enjoy the profpect of a permanent and honorable peace We therefore, the United States in Congrefs affembled, thus, impreffed with a lively fenfe of the diffinguished inerit and good condu& of the faid armies, do give them the thanks of their country for their long,& eminent fervices. And it is our will and pleafure, that fuch part of the fœderal armies as ftands engaged to ferve during the war; and as, by our acts of the twenty-fixth day of May, the eleventh day of June, the ninth day of Auguft, and twenty polis, for the difpatch of public bufinefs. By their EXCELLENCIES SIR GUY CARLETON, K. B. General and Commander in Chief of all his Majefty's forces, within the Colonies lying on the Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to Weft Florida, inclufive, &c. AND ROBERT DIGBY, Efq; Rear-Admiral of the Red and Commander in Chief of all his Majelty's fhips and veffels in North America,&c. A PROCLAMATION. AVING received informati fixth day of September laft, were fur. Hon that an outrage has lately loughed, fhall, from and after the third day of November next, be abfolutely difcharged, by virtue of this our proclamation, from faid fervice. And we do further declare that the further fervices in the field, of the officers who are deranged and on fur lough, in confequence of our aforefaid acts, can now be difpenfed with; and they have our full permiffion to retire from fervice, without being longer liable, from their prefent engigements, to be called into command, and of fuch difcharge and permiffion to retire from fervice refpectively, all our officers, civil and military, and all others whom it may concern, are required to take notice, and to govern themselves according ly. been committed upon an American veffel, in the harbour of this city, by feizing and destroying her colours, in a riotous and diforderly manner, which behavior is not only a breach of the peace of the city, but has a mifchievous tendency to prolong the animofities, which it is the defign of the provifional articles to affuage and extinguish. Given under the feal of the United ELIAS BOUDINOT, Prefident. HARTFORD, November 18. General THOMAS MIFFLIN, is shofen Prefident of Congrefs, or the enfuing year, in the room of Elias Boudinot, Efquire, whofe time of de legation is expired; and this honourable Body ftands adjourned to the 26th in ftaut, then to meet at Anna This is therefore to warn all perfons whatever, from offering any infult to the colours of any foreign nation within this harbour, under penalty of being feverely punished. And as the perfons concerned in this outrage,have not yet been discovered, the officers of the police, and of his Majefty's navy and army, are hereby ftrictly charged to caufe all perfons, who have been guilty of this offence, to be apprehended, that they may be brought to trial, and upon conviction be punished with the feverity due to the offence. Given under our hands and feals, GUY CARLETON. By command of their Excellencies, SALEM, November 27. On Tuesday laft paft through this town, on their way to Bofton, a Captain, Lieutenant, and about 40 men, of the Dutch navy. They related, as we are informed, that they failed from Holland in the month of June laft, in a fhip of fifty guns, one of the fquadron bound to Philadelphia, with his Excellency Van Berekel, the Dutch Minifter: That in September, in lat. 37 and half, and in the longitude of Nantucket, the fhip was dif mafted in a violent gale of wind That for the want of water, &c. and the ship's leaking to fuch a degree as to require the greateft exertions of the whole crew to keep her from sink D. I 2 ing, they were reduced to the greateft diftrefs: That a few days fince, not far from Cape Ann, they defcried a brig at about three leagues diftance, when the Captain, the Lieutenant,and the 40 men abovementioned, left the ship in two boats, and made for the brig; and that in about three minutes after they left the ship, she went down,having then on board 303 men, among whom were two Lieutenants, and two other officers, all of whom were drowned. Thofe in the boats were taken on board the brig, and afterwards put on board a floop from Cape Ann, which was fent out for their relief; at which place they were all landed. Meteorological Oolervations, November, 1783. Barometer. 29. 17 29.37 29.67 72 76 30.10 3 30.33 30.28 14 31 37 40 4 29.94 29.85 29.99 39 47 51 S.2 S W.3: N3 5 30-30 30.30 30.29 39 41 42 18 10 29.94 37 46 49 N.W.2: W. 1: S. W. I. S. W. hazy, fair. fair. do. 40 40 36 46 45 43 N. 1. N.W.1: rain, cloudy, 37 39 38 N W. 1: 3: 18 33 342 35 W. 2: fair.(rain,fair. cloudy, fair, 35 36 W. 2: fair,(hardfroft 28 20 W.: N. E. 2: cloudy, fnow 17 22 36 39 W 1: fair. (ftorm. 36 38 40 35 39 40 W.1: do. 361 38 38 16 68 N. W.1: do. hard froft. N. WI: 24 28 34 20 29.69 29.59 29.68 do. N.W. E.SE1: cloudy, rain. S.E.4:S4:NW: stormy,cloud. 21 86 86 N. W.': fair (fair 36 32 23 30.19 30.16 N. W. 1: cloudy, fair, fair.(hardfroft 2.4 29.90 29.80 29.65 25 66 69 23 29 31 S. W. : cloudy, fair. 26 60 31 33 36 35 8 28.72 28.73 28.97 29 29.30 29.46 29.70 30 S W. W: fnow, fair. W.:N.W. 1: fair. N.W.,:E. 6: N.6: NW.2:W1:ftormy,cloudy 28 33 3%. 85 83 70 29 fair. cloudy, rain. The Obfervations are taken at 8 o'clock, at one, and at 9 in the evening. The Themometer; Farenheits Scale, is fufpended in a Stair cafe by the fide of a North Window. The Figures, annexed to the Wind, denote the force; 4 a ftrong gale, 5 a ftorm. For the above Obfervations we are indebted to a gentleman of the University of Harvard---and we requeft the continuance of his favours. cloudy,flormy. 35 34 |