The Court of enquiry held at the Barracks of Philadelphia 11 May 1782. by order of the honorable Major General Lincoln secretary at War to enquire into the cause of a complaint exhibited by the Citizens of the State of Pennsylvania against the Officer and soldiers belonging to a Guard boat going to a flagg of truce in the Delaware by special orders from the Minister—Whereof Brigadier Genl Williams was president, are of Opinion that Lieutenant Hubbert could not consistently with the orders which he had received have permitted the said Boat to have passed without examination and therefore think his conduct Justifiable—The Commander in Chief approves and accepts the report of the Court.

The Commander in Chief having at the United sollicitation of the Officers of this Army presented the following Congratulatory Address to his Excellency the Minister of France.

To His Excellency the Minister of France:

The Address of the Commander in Chief—the Generals and other Officers of the American Army on the Banks of the Hudson.

Sir

Amid the general expression of Joy on the auspicious birth of a Dauphin, permit us the Officers of the American Army to offer more than a silent approbation of those sentiments and Congratulations which have been presented by Congress the Representative body and sovereign Power of the United States, through you to our great and Illustrious Ally on this happy event.

There are circumstances sir which render that which in a great degree is pleasing to all, peculiarly so to some—the Harmony and Friendship which subsisted between the Troops of your August sovereign and us during the last Campaign (when the only contention lay in endeavours to exceed each other in acts of emulation and brotherly kindness) give us this pre-eminence. The blood freely offer’d on both sides and which was spilt in the same trench and often mixt in a common stream for the support of those Rights which are interesting to the feelings of humanity and the preveleges of freemen, is such a cement to the Friend ship of the two Nations as nothing but a departure from the principles of the Union (which heaven avert) can ever dissolve. Not to participate then in the general satisfactions Occasioned by an event which adds to the felicity of a Monark who may be viewed in the same moments as the father of his own Nation and Protector of the Liberties of others; and which contributes so much to the happiness of a people to whom we are Allied in interest and affection; wou’d be an argument of great insensibility on our part—That Divine Providence may shed it’s choicest blessings upon the King of France and his Royal Consort and favor them with a long, happy and glorious reign—that the Dauphin may live to inherit the virtues and the Crown of his Illustrious progenitors—that he may Reign over the hearts of a happy and generous people, and be among the happiest in his kingdom is our sincere and fervent wish. In behalf of the Army