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communicating their acceptance of the article which the undersigned had proposed on the subject of the pacification and rights of the Indian nations.

The undersigned are happy in being thus relieved from the necessity of recurring to several topics, which though they arose in the course of their discussions, have only an incidental connection with the difference remaining to be adjusted between the two countries.

With a view to this adjustment the undersigned prefering in the present state of the negociation a general statement of the formal arrangement of articles, are willing so far to comply with the request of the American Plenipotentiaries contained in their last note, as to wave the advantages to which they think they were fairly entitled, of requiring from them the first project of a treaty.

The undersigned having stated at the first conference the points upon which his majesty's government considered the discussions between the two countries as likely to turn, cannot better satisfy the request of the American Plenipotentiaries than by referring them to that conference for a statement of the points which, in the opinion of his majesty's government yet remains to be adjusted.

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With respect to the forcible seizure of mariners from on board merchant vessels on the high seas, and the right of the king of G. Britain to the allegiance of all his subjects, and with respect to the maritime rights of the British empire the undersigned conceive, that after the pretensions asserted by the government of the U. States, a more satisfactory proof of the conciliatory spirit of his Majesty's government cannot be given than not requiring any stipulation on those subjects, which though most important in themselves, no longer in consequence of the maritime pacification of Europe, produce the same practical results.

On the subject of the fisherics the undersigned expressed with so much frankness at the conference already referred to, the views of their government, that they consider any further observations on that topic as unnecessary at the present time.

On the question of the boundary between the dominions of his majesty and those of the U. States, the undersigned are led to expect from the discussion which this subject has already undergone, that the northwest boundary from the lake of the Woods to the Mississippi, the intended arrangement of 1803, will be admitted without objection,

In regard to other boundaries the American Plenipotentiaries in their note of August 24th, appeared in some measure to object to the propositions then made by the undersigned as the basis of uti possidetis. The undersigned are willing to treat on that basis, subject to such modifications as mutual convenience may be found to require, and they trust that the American Pienipotentiaries will shew by their ready acceptance of this basis, that they duly appreciate the moderation of his majesty's government in so far consulting the honor and fair pretensions of the U. States as in the relative situation of the two countries, to authorise such a proposition.

The undersigned avail themselves of this opportunity to renew to the American Plenipotentiaries, the assurance of their high consideration.

GAMBIER,

H. GOULBURN,
W. ADAMS.

The American to the British Commissioners.

GHENT, Oct. 24, 1814. The undersigned have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note of the British Plenipotentiaries of the

21st inst.

Amongst the general observations which the undersigned, in their note of the 24th Aug. made on the propositions then brought forward on the part of the British government, they remarked that these propositions were founded neither on the basis of uti possidetis, nor on that of status anté bellum. But so far were they from suggesting the uti possidetis as the basis on which they were disposed to treat, that in the same note they expressly stated that they had been instructed to conclude a peace on the principles of both parties restoring whatever territory they might have taken. The undersigned also declared in that note, that they had no authority to cede any part of the territory of the U. States, and that to no stipulation to that effect would they subscribe; and in the note of the 9th Sept. after having shewn that the basis of uti possidetis, such as was known to exist at the commencement of the negociation, give no claim to his Britannic majesty to cession of territory founded upon the right of conquest, they added that even if the chances of war should give to the British arms a momenta

ry possession of other parts of the territory of the U. States, such events would not alter their views with regard to the terms of peace to which they would give their consent.

The undersigned can now only repeat those declarations and decline treating upon the basis of uti possidetis, or upon any other principle involving a cession of any part of the territory of the U. States. As they have uniformly stated, they can treat only upon the principle of mutual restoration of whatever territory may have been taken by either party. From this principle they cannot recede, and the undersigned after the repeated declarations of the British Plenipotentiaries, that G. Britain had no view to acquisition of territory, in this negociation, deem it necessary to add, that the utility of its continuance depends on their adherence to this principle.

The undersigned having declared in their note of the 21st of Aug. that although instructed and prepared to enter into an amicable discussion of all the points, on which differences or uncertainty had existed, and which might hereafter tend to interrupt the harmony of the two countries, they would not make the conclusion of the peace at all depend upon a successful result of the discussion, and having since agreed to the preliminary article proposed by the British government, had believed that the negociation already so long protracted, could not be brought to an early conclusion, otherwise than by the communication of a project embracing all the other specific propositions which G. Britain intended to offer. They repeat their request in that respect and will have no objection to a simultaneous exchange of the projects of both parties. This course will bring fairly into discussion the other topics embraced in the last note of the British Plenipotentiaries, to which the undersigned have thought it necessary to advert at the present time. The undersigned renew to the British Plenipotentiaries the assurance of their high consideration...

J. Q. ADAMS,

J. A. BAYARD,

H. CLAY,

JONA. RUSSELL,
A. GALLATIN

The British to the American Commissioners.

GHENT, October 31st, 1814.

The undersigned have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note addressed to them by the American Pienipotentiaries on the 24th inst. in which they object to the

basis of uti possidetis proposed by the undersigned as that on which they are willing to treat in regard to part of the boundaries between the dominions of his Majesty and those of the U. States.

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The American Plenipotentiaries in their note of the 13th inst. requested the undersigned to communicate to them the project of a treaty embracing all the points insisted on by G. Britain, engaging on their part to deliver immediately after a countre project as to all the articles to which they might not agree, and as to all the subjects deemed material by the U. States, and omitted in the project of the undersigned.

The undersigned were accordingly instructed to wave the question of etiquette and the advantage which might result from receiving the first communication, and, confiding in the engagement of the American Plenipotentiaries, communicated in their note of the 21st inst. all the points upon which they are instructed to insist.

The American Plenipotentiaries have objected to one essential part of the project thus communicated: but before the undersigned can enter into the discussion on this objection, they must require from the American Plenipotentiaries that, pursuant to their engagement, they will deliver a countre project containing all their objections to the points submitted by the undersigned together with a statement of such further points as the government of the U. States consider to be material.

The undersigned are authorised to state distinctly, that the article as to the pacification and rights of the Indian nations having been accepted, they have brought forward in their note of the 21st inst. all the propositions they have to offer. They have no farther demands to make, no other stipulations on which they are instructed to insist, and they are empowered to sign a treaty of peace forthwith in conformity with those stated in their former note.

The undersigned trust, therefore, that the American Plenipotentiaries will no longer hesitate to bring forward in the form of articles or otherwise, as they may prefer, those specific propositions upon which they are empowered to sign a treaty of peace between the two countries.

GAMBIER,

HENRY GOULBURN,
W. ADAMS..

TREATY OF PEACE.

JAMES MADISON,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. To all and singular to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: WHEREAS a treaty of peace and amity between the U. States of America, and his Britannic majesty was signed at Ghent, on the twenty fourth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, by the Plenipotentiaries respectively appointed for that purpose; and the said treaty having been, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the U. States, duly accepted, ratified, and confirmed, on the seventeenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen; and ralified copies thereof having been exchanged agreeably to the tenor of the said treaty, which is in the words following, to wit: Treaty of peace and amity between his Britannic Ma

jesty and the United States of America.

His Britannic majesty and the U. States of America, desirous of terminating the war which has unhappily subsisted between the two countries, and of restoring, upon principles of perfect reciprocity, peace, friendship, and good understanding between them, have, for that purpose, appointed their respective Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: his Britannic majesty, on his part, has appointed the right honorable James lord Gambier, late Admiral of the white, now Admiral of the red squadron of his majesty's fleet, Henry Goulburn, Esquire, a member of the imperial parliament and under secretary of state, and William Adams, Esquire, doctor of civil laws:-and the President of the U. States, by and with the advice and consent of the senate thereof, has appointed John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell, and Albert Gallatin, citizens of the U. States, who after a reciprocal communication of their respective full powers, have agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE THE FIRST.

There shall be a firm and universal peace between his Britannic majesty and the United States, and between their respective countries, territories, cities, towns, and people of every degree, without exception of places or persons. All hostilities, both by sea and land, shall cease as soon as this treaty shall have been ratified by both parties, as here

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