sure to hope that it will be worthy of the struggles by Letter from which we became a nation. I have the honor to be, With great respect and esteem, Your excellency's most obedient, humble servant. His excellency the gov ROB. R. LIVINGSTON.. Secretary of foreign affairs ernor of Virginia. declaring ces By the United States of America in congress assembled. A proclamation proclamation declaring the cessation of arms, as of congress, well by sea as by land, agreed upon sation of arms between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty; and enjoining the observance thereof. WHEREAS provisional articles were signed at Paris on the thirtieth day of November last, between the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States of America for treating of peace, and the minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty, to be inserted in, and to constitute the treaty of peace proposed to be concluded between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty, when terms of peace should be agreed upon between their most Christian and Britannic majesties: And whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between their most Christian and Britannic majesties were signed at Versailles on the twentieth day of January last, by the ministers of their most Christian and Britannic majessies: And whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between the said king of Great-Britain and the king of Spain were also signed at Versailles on the same twentieth day of January last: By which said preliminary articles it hath been agreed, that as soon as the same were ratified, hostilities between the said kings, their kingdoms, states and subjects, should cease in all parts of the world; and it was Proclamation farther agreed, that all vessels and effects that might be of congress. taken in the channel and in the North seas, after the space of twelve days, from the ratification of the said preliminary articles, should be restored; that the term should be one month from the channel and North seas as far as the Canary islands, inclusively, whether in the ocean or 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 more particular description of time or place: And whereas it was declared by the minister plenipotentiary of the king of Great-Britain, in the name and by the express order of the king his master, on the said twentieth day of January last, that the said United States of America, their subjects, and their possessions shall be comprised in the above mentioned suspension of arms, at the same epochs, and in the same manner, as the three crowns above mentioned, their subjects and possessions respectively; upon condition that on the part and in the name of the United States of America, a similar declaration shall be deliv ered, expressly declaring their assent to the said suspension of arms, and containing an assurance of the most perfect reciprocity on their part: And whereas the ministers plenipotentiary of these United States, did, on the same twentieth day of January, in the name and by the authority of the said United States, accept the said declaration, and declare, that the said states, should cause all hostilities to cease against his Britannic mamajesty, his subjects and his possessions, at the terms and epochs agreed upon between his said majesty the king of Great Britain, his majesty the king of France, and his majesty the king of Spain, so, and in the same manner, as had been agreed upon between those three crowns, and to produce the same effects: And whereas the ratifications of the said preliminary articles between their most Christian and Britannic majesties were exchanged by their ministers on the third day of February last, and between his Britannic majesty and the king of Spain on the ninth day of February last: And whereas it is our will and pleasure that the cessation of hostilities between the United States of America and his Britannic majesty, should be conformable to the epochs fixed between their most Christian and Britannic majesties. We have thought fit to make known the same to the Proclamation citizens of these states, and we hereby strictly charge of congress. and command all our officers both by sea and land, and others, subjects of these United States, to forbear all acts of hostility, either by sea or by land, against his Britannic majesty or his subjects, from and after the respective times agreed upon between their most Christian and Britannic majesties as aforesoid. And we do further require all governors and others, the executive powers of these United States respectively, to cause this our proclamation to be made public, to the end that the same be duly observed within their several jurisdictions. Done in congress, at Philadelphia, this eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, and of our sovereignty and independence the seventh. (Attest.) ELIAS BOUDINOT, President. SON, CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry. By his excellency Benjamin Harri- Proclamation son, esquire, governor of the com- of governor monwealth of Virgina. A procla- declaring ses mation. WHEREAS the honorable the continental congress have published their proclamation, announcing the signature and ratification of the preliminary articles of peace between the several powers at war; and commanding the citizens of these United States to cease from any farther hostilities against his Britannic majesty and his subjects, both by sea and land: I have therefore thought fit, by and with the advice of the council of state, to issue this my proclamation, hereby enjoining all officers, both civil and military, together with all and every other person, of every rank and denomination, within this commonwealth, to pay due obediance to the said proclamation of congress. of Virginia sation of arms Proclamation of governor of Virginia. Given under my hand, and the seal of the commonwealth, at Richmond, in the council chamber, this twenty first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightythree, and seventh of the commonwealth. (Attest.) BENJAMIN HARRISON ARCH. BLAIR, Clk. of the Council. Resolution Resolution for procuring a Statue of for procuring a statue of Gen. Washington. General Washington. IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, Tuesday, the 22d of June, 1784. Resolved that the executive be requested to take measures for procuring a statue of General Washington, to be of the finest marble and best workmanship, with the following inscription on its pedestal, viz: "The general assembly of the commonwealth of VirInscription, ginia have caused this statue to be erected as a monument of affection and gratitude to George Washington, who uniting to the endowments of the Hero the virtues of the Patriot, and exerting both in establishing the liberties of his country, has rendered his name dear to his fellow citizens and given the world an immortal example of true glory. Done in the year of Christ, and in the year of the commonwealth Teste, 1784, June 24th. JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D. Agreed to by the senate unanimously. WILL. DREW, C. S. Resolution for procuring Resolution requesting the executive to have two busts of the marquis De two busts of La Fayette made in Paris. IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, the 1st of December, 1784. Whereas, it was unanimously resolved, on the 17th day of December, 1781, that a bust of the marquis De La Fayette be directed to be made in Paris of the best marble employed for such purposes, with the following inscription: "This bust was voted on the 17th day of December, 1781, by the general assembly of the state of Virginia, to the honorable the marquis De La Fayette (major general in the service of the United States of America, and late commander in chief of the army of the United States in Virginia) as a lasting monument of his merit and their gratitude." Resolved, unanimously, that the governor with the advice of the council, be authorized and desired to defray the expence of carrying the said vote into execution out of the fund allotted for the contingencies of government; that he cause the said bust to be presented in the name of this commonwealth, to the city of Paris, with a request that the same may be accepted and preserved in some public place of the said city. Resolved, unanimously, that as a further mark of the lasting esteem of this commonwealth for the illustrious qualities and services of the marquis De La Fayette, the governor, with the advice of the council, be authorized and desired to cause another bust of him with a similar inscription, to be procured by draught on the said fund, and that the same, when procured, be fixed in such public place at the seat of government as may hereafter be appointed for the erection of the statue voted by the general assembly to general Washington. Teste, JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D. 1784, Dec. 13th. WILL. DREW, C. S.. the marquis De la Fayette Inscription: |