ARTICLE 4. The King, his master, after this explicit step, relies with the highest confidence upon the candor and faithfulness of Congress, in understanding as well as in executing the treaty, and in rejecting every arbitrary and unnatural interposition or construction, which false, subtle, or designing men can contrive. Congress by their own feelings must be sensible, that such interpretations and constructions are always hurtful, against common decency and dignity, and may oftentimes endanger mutual confidence, and of course the very existence of a treaty. But the sense Congress has manifested in this particular affair gives his Court the greatest hopes, that there will be no further motive for the painful reflections, which that affair gave rise to. ARTICLE 5. He begged leave to add, that this publication interfered with the situation of affairs in Europe, and was in a certain degree disadvantageous to the common cause, because it gave the common enemy a full knowledge of our system, and our mutual engagements, without procuring us any reason to guess at their views and resolutions. Happily these inconveniences have not been felt, and ample compensation has been obtained by convincing the people of America, not only that the treaty was just and equal, but that the heavy task which France had taken upon her was magnanimous, gratuitous and without reward. The whole world was at the same time convinced, that war, conquest, and ambition, were not the objects of the alliance, nor of any of the allies, but only the peaceable enjoyment of the sovereignty, liberty, security, and independence of these United States. And this conviction gave much honor, credit, and consideration to the alliance. ARTICLE 6. On this he observed, that he had endeavored since last fall, by order of his Court, to impress upon every mind, that England will never evacuate New York willingly, and could only be brought by proper exertions on the part of America to think seriously of granting independence. He believed that Congress had adopted a system so conformable to their engagements and to the situation of affairs, his Court was better informed than he was. But without reflecting on past events, the King hopes, that his amicable apprehensions will be overcome by the success of the campaign; that henceforth the United States will follow the example set them by his Majesty, and that they will exert themselves in their own cause, as his Majesty exerts himself for their sakes and in their cause, which he has adopted.