213 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



treaty was offered, and much urged : And in 

 the event, Haldimand agreed to continue the 

 suspension of hostilities ; and wrote a very 

 friendly letter to governor Chittenden, fully 

 complying with his request of liberating the 

 prisoners, and announcing his pacific disposition 

 towards Vermont, in this unequivocal manner : 

 ■^^ You may rest assured that I shall give such 

 orders, as will effectually prevent hostilities of 

 any kind, being exercised in the district of Ver- 

 mont, until such times as a breach on your part^ 

 or some general event, may make the contrar}-- 

 my duty. And jou have my authority, to pro- 

 mulgate, in such manner, as you shall think fit, 

 this my intention, to the people of the said dis- 

 trict, that they may, without any apprehension, 

 continue to encourage and promote the settle- 

 ment and cultivation of that new country, to the 

 interest and happiness of themselveSj and, t.heit-. 

 posterity «"* 



With this year, the war, and the negocia- 

 tions, came to an end ; leaving favorable im- 

 pressions on the government of Canad^a, towards 

 Vermont. The last letter the British agents 

 wrote upon the business, was on March twenty 

 fifth, 1783 ; before the news of the peace was 

 officially known, or fully believed in Canada. 

 Their views and sentiments, at that period, were 

 thus expressed, ''- I am commanded to acquaint, 

 you, that actuated from the beginning, by asiu; 

 cere desire of serving you, and your people, as 

 well as of promoting the royal cause, b3^re^ 

 imiting you with the mother country, his ex;cel- 



* Haldimand's letter to Governor Cljittendenj dated Qu'ibccj eighth 



