A country rescued by their arms from impending ruin, will never leave unpaid the debt of gratitude.
"Should any intemperate and improper warmth have mingled itself among the foregoing observations, I must entreat your excellency and congress that it may be attributed to the effusions of an honest zeal in the best of causes, and that my peculiar situation may be my apology; and I hope I need not, on this momentous occasion, make any new protestations of disinterestedness, having ever renounced for myself the idea of pecuniary reward.

The consciousness of having attempted faithfully to discharge my duty, and the approbation of my country, will be a sufficient recompense for my services." {March 24.} [Sidenote: Peace concluded.] {April 19.} These proceedings of the army produced a concurrence of nine states in favour of a resolution commuting the half pay into a sum in gross equal to five years full pay; immediately after the passage of which, the fears still entertained in America that the war might continue, were dissipated by a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette, announcing a general peace.

This intelligence, though not official, was certain; and orders were immediately issued, recalling all armed vessels cruising under the authority of the United States.

Early in April, the copy of a declaration published in Paris, and signed by the American commissioners, announcing the exchange of ratifications of the preliminary articles between Great Britain and France, was received; and on the 19th of that month, the cessation[15] of hostilities was proclaimed.
[Footnote 15: See note, No.

I.at the end of the volume.] [Sidenote: Measures for disbanding the army.] The attention of congress might now be safely turned to the reduction of the army.