48 APPENDIX TO BRITISH COUNTER CASE. 



A motion was made by Mr. Witherspoon, seconded by Mr. Mont- 

 gomery, that the report be committed; and on the question for com- 

 mitment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Bland . . . . 



So it was resolved in the affirmative. 



30 No. 12. 1782, January 31: Extract from letter, United States 

 Secretary of State (Mr. Livingston) to General Greene. 



OFFICE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 



Philadelphia, January 31, 1782. 



DEAR SIB: I was this day favored with yours of the 13th ultimo. 

 I need not tell you that the intelligence it conveyed, and the spirit 

 in which it was written, afforded me the most sensible pleasure. The 

 idea it holds forth of an attempt upon Charleston, and the prospect 

 of success in it, is one that we dare not indulge here, more especially 

 as troops have sailed from New York, and, as we presume, to Charles- 

 ton, but you have taught us rather to measure your success by your 

 genius than by your means. 



I wish it were in my power to tell you that our accounts from 

 Europe were proportionate to our expectations. The combined fleets, 

 as you know, have returned and separated without having effected 

 anything. The British are again masters of the ocean. Gibraltar 

 is a rock on which all the exertions of Spain seem to split, and the 

 siege of Fort St. Philip seems to be carried on in the most energetic 

 manner. We have no prospect of forming an alliance either with 

 Spain or Holland, w^o both appear to sigh for peace. Our loan on 

 the guarantee of France with the last is nearly completed. But what 

 is not a little unsatisfactory, it is also nearly expended by advances 

 which France has made us on the credit of it. From Spain we are 

 likely to get nothing. 



The negociations for a peace are entirely at a stand ; the mediating 

 powers have no interest in wishing it, and the belligerent nations are 

 neither of them sufficiently weakened to request their interposition. 

 The Count de Vergennes assures us that Britain will still make the 

 most vigorous exertions. 1 mention these circumstances not only for 

 your information, but that you may make the proper use of them in 

 animating the exertions of the southern States. It is the misfortune 

 of America to presume too much upon each dawning of success, and 

 to believe that peace must tread upon the heels of every little advan- 

 tage, instead of being taught by her own struggles and difficulties 

 that every nation has resources that surpass the expectations of its 

 enemies. 



Would to God that you could be enabled, by the animated exertions 

 of the southern States, to expel the enemy from them without the aid 

 of our allies. This would re-establish our character for activity in 

 Europe, where, I am sorry to say, it has for some time past been upon 

 the decline, and I do sincerelv believe that, co-operating with the bril- 

 liant successes of the last fall, it would incline the enemy to peace, 

 without which I have no expectations of it. But I fear this is rather 

 to be wished for than expected 



a A vote was taken. Ayes 10. Noes 0. 



