J’ai eu l’honneur de vous addresser Le 31 du mois dernier une lettre pour M Harras dont j’ai eu l’honneur de faire la connoissance à son passage par cette ville.1

Ce jeune homme arriva ici à la fin du mois de novembre accompagné de M Chapmann Capitaine en Second à bord du navire americain La Grace Capitaine George Michel qui a eu la malheur de faire nauffrage sur les côtes de Jutland.2 j’ai crû de mon devoir de rendre à lui et à L’autre comme alliés tous les services qui dependoient de moi; en consequence je n’ai pas balancé à fournir dabord au premier le necessaire pour faire sa route d’ici a Amsterdam en lui avancant une somme de 25 Ducats d’hollande pour la quelle il m’a donné un Billet sur son Capitaine à Tistedt en jutland qui sera probablement payé. Le Second c’est à dire le S. harras s’est arreté en cette ville à peu pres trois semaines se trouvant incommodé de ses fatigues et ne pouvant à cause de cela accompagné son compagnon de Voyage. aprés s’etre retablis il vint me trouver pour me prier de le faire partir aussi. D’aprés des preuves que j’avois eu qu’il etoit le neveu du president Mores à Philadelphie je n’ai pas balancé de payer sa depense à hambourg ainsi que son Voyage d’ici a Amsterdam montant ensemble à 50 Ducats d’hollande pour les quels il m’a donné une Lettre dechange sur vous Monsieur en m’assurant que vous la payeriéz certainement. sa conduite reglée, jointe au zêle que j’avois et que j’ai de rendre service aux alliés du Roy mon maitre me dicterent une pleine confiance en sa parôle. mais quel est mon etonnement aujourd’hui que je reçois sa lettere dechange de retour 263et que j’apprends que le payement en est refusé. Oserois je dans cette circonstance reclamer vos bontés et vous faire envisager combien il seroit injuste que je perde cette somme que je n’ai avancé que pour secourir en païs etranger des americains denués de tout ressource. je compte trop sur votre equité Monsieur pour m’inquieter du payement de mes avances et c’est dans cette ferme confiance que j’ai pris la Liberté de vous faire representer une seconde fois La lettre de change en question en vous suppliant de vouloir bien L’honorer ou m’indinquer Les moyens comment m’y prendre pour recouvrir mon payement.

Permettér que je profite de cette occasion pour vous renouveller L’hommage du profond respect avec le quel j’ai l’honneur detre / Monsieur / Votre trés humble et / trés obeissant Serviteur

By the KING. A PROCLAMATION,

Declaring the Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea as Land, agreed upon between His Majesty, the Most Christian King, the King of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, and enjoining the Observance thereof.

GEORGE R.

WHEREAS Provisional Articles were signed at Paris, on the Thirtieth Day of November last, between Our Commissioner for treating of Peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America and the Commissioners of the said States, to be inserted in and to constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between Us and the said United States, when Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Us and His Most Christian Majesty: And whereas Prelimininaries for restoring Peace between Us and His Most Christian Majesty were signed at Versailles on the Twentieth Day of January last, by the Ministers of Us and the Most Christian King: And whereas Preliminaries for restoring Peace between Us and the King of Spain were also signed at Versailles on the Twentieth Day of January last, between the Ministers of Us and the King of Spain: And whereas, for putting an End to the Calamity of War as soon and as far as may be possible, it hath been agreed between 265Us, His Most Christian Majesty, the King of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, as follows; that is to say,

That such Vessels and Effects as should be taken in the Channel and in the North Seas, after the Space of Twelve Days, to be computed from the Ratification of the said Preliminary Articles, should be restored on all Sides; That the Term should be One Month from the Channel and the North Seas as far as the Canary Islands inclusively, whether in the Ocean or in the Mediterranean; Two Months from the said Canary Islands as far as the Equinoctial Line or Equator; and lastly, Five Months in all other Parts of the World, without any Exception, or any other more particular Description of Time or Place.2

And whereas the Ratifications of the said Preliminary Articles between Us and the Most Christian King, in due Form, were exchanged by the Ministers of Us and of the Most Christian King, on the Third Day of this instant February; and the Ratifications of the said Preliminary Articles between Us and the King of Spain were exchanged between the Ministers of Us and of the King of Spain, on the Ninth Day of this instant February; from which Days respectively the several Terms above-mentioned, of Twelve Days, of One Month, of Two Months, and of Five Months, are to be computed: And whereas it is Our Royal Will and Pleasure that the Cessation of Hostilities between Us and the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, should be agreeable to the Epochs fixed between Us and the Most Christian King:

We have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, to notify the same to all Our loving Subjects; and We do declare, that Our Royal Will and Pleasure is, and We do hereby strictly charge and command all Our Officers, both at Sea and Land, and all other Our Subjects whatsoever, to forbear all Acts of Hostility, either by Sea or Land, against His Most Christian Majesty, the King of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, their Vassals or Subjects, from and after the respective Times above-mentioned, and under the Penalty of incurring Our highest Displeasure.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Fourteenth Day of February, in the Twenty-third Year of Our Reign, and in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.

God save the King.