I congratulate your Excellency most sincerely upon the cessation of hostilities which you will learn from the enclosed proclamation—You have doubtless heard directly from Genl Carleton on this subject, so that it will not be necessary to trouble you with the substance of his letter to me—Congress will this day on my report take into consideration the propriety of discharging the prisoners & the manner in which it is to be done[.] Carleton presses hard in his letter to me for the execution of the 5 of the preliminary articles, I have replied that it can not be executed till the treaty is ratifid, & indeavoured to convince him that the recommendation of Congress will be recd with much more respect when the persons who compose our Legislatures shall have returned to their respective homes & the asperities occasioned by the war shall be a little worn down by the enjoyment of peace—It is unfortunate that no time has been fixed by our treaty for the evacuation of New York—It were to be wished that Carletons intention on this head could be sounded by yr Excellency. I have the honor to be Dr Sir with great esteem & respect Your Most obt Hum: Servt