I have the honor of laying before Congress two letters, received yesterday by express from New York, the one from General Carleton and the other from Rear Admiral Digby. Both covered copies of his Britannic Majesty's Proclamation for a cessation of hostilities. I presume Congress will consider this advice as sufficiently authentic to justify the discharge of their prisoners, who are now a useless expense, though not so much so as to render it proper to proceed to the measures directed by the fifth Article of the provisional treaty, till that treaty is officially communicated and ratifications exchanged. I am at a loss to determine when hostilities are of right to cease between the United States and Great Britain. If, as the Proclamation asserts, the times therein mentioned were agreed between the Ministers of the several powers at war, to take effect upon their respective ratifications, then hostilities have not yet ceased between us and Great Britain, except so far as the King of Great Britain has thought proper to shorten the term by his special act. If no such ratification was necessary on our part, then hostilities ceased immediately after ratifications were exchanged between France and England. If the same term has been fixed for the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and the United States, as that agreed upon between France and Great Britain, then it becomes a question, what is meant by "_as far as the Western Islands_?" If it refers to the latitude, then all prizes made after the 3d of March, on the greater part of our coast, must be restored. As much property may depend upon the decision of these questions, I presume Congress will do no act, which shall lead to a determination of it, till we receive further advices from our own Ministers. I shall be pardoned when I take the liberty to request, that the enclosed letters may not find their way into the papers, unless Congress shall determine, that this publication may answer some useful purposes. I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. * * * * * TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Philadelphia, April 10th, 1783. Sir, I do myself the honor to enclose the draft of a Proclamation for the suspension of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, and the resolution for the discharge of prisoners, together with one for referring a part of Mr Adams's letters, which is all that it is necessary to report upon the letters referred to me. I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. * * * * * TO GENERAL GREENE. Philadelphia, April 12th, 1783. Dear Sir,