The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

416 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [.,CT. 51.
joyful annunciation of your having received official accounts of the conclusion of a general peace, and a cessation of hostilities.* Without official authority from
Congress, but perfectly relying on your communication,
I can at this time only issue my orders to the American
out-posts, to suspend all acts of hostilities until further
orders. This shall be instantly done; and I shall be
happy in the momentary expectation of having it in
my power to publish to the American army a general
cessation of all hostilities between Great Britain and
America.
To your observations respecting particular articles
of.the peace I am obliged to reply, that it rests with
Congress to direct measures for the observance of all
the articles contained in the provisional treaty. You
may be assured, that, as soon as I receive my instructions from the sovereign power of the United States,
I shall rejoice in giving every facility in my l*ower to
carry into complete execution that article of Ie treaty,
which respects the restitution of all prisoners of war,
being perfectly disposed to contribute to diffusing, as
much as possible, the happy effects of this great event.
I thank your Excellency for the assurances you are
pleased to express, of your readiness to cultivate that
spirit of perfect good will and conciliation, which you
wish would take place between the King of Great
Britain and the United States, and the citizens and
subjects of both countries; and I beg, Sir, that you
will please to accept a tender from me of reciprocal
good will and attention, accompanied with sincere congratulations on this joyful restoration of peace and general tranquillity, with an earnest wish, that, resting on
* See Sir Guy Carleton's letter, dated April 6th, in the APPENDIX, No. IX..