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article of this treaty fhall take place in favour of the Spanish fubjects, with regard to the islands mentioned in the prefent article. Art. VIII. All the countries and territories, which may have been, or which may be conquered in any part of the world whatfoever, by the arms of his Britannic majefty, as well as by thofe of his Catholic majefty, which are not included in the prefent treaty, neither under the head of ceffions, nor under the head of reftitutions, fhall be restored without difficulty, and without requiring any compenfation.

Art. IX. Immediately after the exchange of the ratifications, the two high contracting parties fhall

name commiffaries to treat concerning new arrangements of commerce between the two nations, on the bafis of reciprocity and mutual convenience; which arrangements fhall be fettled and concluded within the space of two years, to be computed from the firft of January, 1784.

Art. X. As it is neceffary to appoint a certain period for the reftitutions and evacuations to be made by each of the high contracting parties, it is agreed, that the king of Great Britain fhall caufe Eaft Florida to be evacuated three months after the ratification of the prefent treaty, or fooner, if it can be done. The king of Great Britain fhall in like manner enter again into poffeffion of the iflands of Providence, and the Bahamas, without exception, in the space of three months after the ratification of the prefent treaty, or fooner, if it can be done. In confequence whereof, the neceffary orders fhall be fent by each

of the high contracting parties, with reciprocal paffports for the fhips which fhall carry them, immediately after the ratification of the prefent treaty.

Art. XI. Their Britannic and Catholic majefties, promise to obferve fincerely, and bona fide, all the articles contained and established in the prefent treaty; and they will not fuffer the fame to be infringed, directly or indirectly, by their refpective fubjects: and the faid high contracting parties guaranty to each other, generally and reciprocally, all the ftipulations of the prefent treaty.

Art. XII. The folemn ratifications of the prefent treaty, prepared in good and due form, fhall be exchanged in this city of Verfailles, between the high contracting parties, in the space of one month, or fooner, if poffible, to be computed from the day of the fignature of the prefent treaty. In witnefs whereof, we the underwritten ambaffadors extraordinary, and minifters plenipotentiary, have figned with our hands, in their names, and by virtue of our refpective full powers, the prefent definitive treaty, and have caufed the feals of our arms to be affixed thereto.

Done at Verfailles, the third
day of September, one thou-
fand feven hundred and
eighty-three.

Le Compte d'Aranda. (L.S.)
Manchester.
(L.S.)

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other inftruments, during the courfe of the negociation, or in the preamble of the prefent treaty, not being generally acknowledged, it has been agreed that no prejudice should ever refult therefrom to either of the faid contracting parties; and that the titles taken or omitted, on either fide, upon occafion of the faid negociation, and of the present treaty, fhall not be cited, or quoted as a precedent.

Art. II. It has been agreed and determined, that the French language, made ufe of in all the copies of the prefent treaty, fhall not form an example which may be alledged, or quoted as a precedent, or, in any manner, prejudice either of the contracting powers; and that they fhall conform, for the future, to what has been obferved, and ought to be obferved, with regard to, and on the part of powers, who are in the practice and poffeffion of giving and receiving copies of like treaties in a different language from the French; the prefent treaty having, nevertheless, the fame force and virtue as if the aforefaid practice had been therein obferved.

In witness whereof, we the under-written ambaffador extraordinary, and minifters plenipoten tiary, of their Britannic and Catholic majefties, have figned the present separate articles, and have caufed the feals of our arms to be affixed thereto.

Done at Verfailles, the third of
September, one thousand fe-
ven hundred and eighty-three.
Le Compte d'Aranda. (L.S.)
Manchester.

VOL. XXVI.

DECLARATION.

THE new ftate in which commerce may perhaps be found, in all parts of the world, will demand revifions and explanations of the fubfifting treaties; but an entire abrogation of those treaties, in whatever period it might be, would throw commerce into fuch confufion as would be of infinite prejudice to it.

In fome of the treaties of this fort there are not only articles which relate merely to commerce, but many others which enfue reciprocally, to the refpective fub jects, privileges, facilities for conducting their affairs, perfonal protections, and other advantages, which are not, and which ought not to be of a changeable nature, fuch as the regulations relating merely to the value of goods and merchandize, variable from circumftances of every kind.

When therefore the ftate of the trade between the two nations fhall be treated upon, it is requifite to be understood, that the alterations which may be made in the fubfifting treaties are to extend only to arrangements merely commercial; and that the privi leges and advantages, mutual and particular, be not only preferved on each fide, but even augmented, if it can be done.

In this view, his majefty has confented to the appointment of commiffaries, on each fide, who fhall treat folely upon this object.

Done at Versailles, the third of
September, one thousand fe
ven hundred and eighty-three.
Manchester.

(L.S.)

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(L.S.) COUNTER

COUNTER DECLARATION.

THE Catholic king, in propopofing new arrangements of commerce, has had no other design than to remedy, by the rules of reciprocity and mutual convenience, whatever may be defective in preceding treaties of commerce. The king of Great Bri tain may judge from thence, that the intention of his Catholic majefty is not in any manner to cancel all the ftipulations contained in the above-mentioned treaties; he declares, on the contrary, from henceforth, that he is difpofed to maintain all the privileges, facilities and advantages expreffed in the old treaties, as far as they fhall be reciprocal, or compenfated by equivalent advantages. It is to attain this end, defired on each fide, that commiffaries are to be named to treat upon the state of trade between the two nations, and that a confiderable space of time is to be allowed for compleat ing their work. His Catholic majelly hopes that this object will be purfued with the fame good faith, and with the fame fpirit of conciliation, which have prefided over the difcuffion of all the other · points included in the definitive treaty; and his is faid majefty is equally confident, that the refpective commiffaries will employ the utmost diligence for the completion of this important work.

Done at Versailles, the third of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. Le Compte D'Aranda. (L.S.) WE, ambaffador plenipotentiary of his Imperial and royal

apoftolic majefty, having acted as mediator in the work of pacification, declare that the treaty of peace figned this day at Verfailles, between his Britannic majefty and his Catholic majefty, with the two feparate articles thereto annexed, and of which they form a part, as alfo with all the claufes, conditions, and ftipulations which are therein contained, was concluded by the mediation of his Imperial and royal apoftolic majesty.

In witnefs whereof, we have hand, and have caufed the feal of figned thefe prefents with our our arms to be affixed thereto. Done at Versailles, this third of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. Le Compte de Mercy Argenteau. (L.S.)

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WE, minifters plenipotentiary of her Imperial majefty of all the in the work of pacification, deRuffias, having acted as mediators clare that the treaty of peace, figned this day at Verfailles, between his Britannic majefty and his Catholic majefty, with the two feparate articles thereto annexed, and of which they form a part, as alfo with all the claufes, conditions, and ftipulations which are therein contained, was concluded by the mediation of her Imperial majefty of all the Ruffias.

In witnefs whereof, we have

figned thefe prefents with our hands, and have caufed the feals of our arms to be affixed thereto.

Done at Versailles, the third of September, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-three. Prince Iwan Bariatinskoy. (L.S.) A. Marcoff. (L.S.)

The

The definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship, between his Britannic Majefty, and the United States of America, figned at Paris the 3d Day of September, 1783.

to conclude fuch treaty accordingly; and the treaty between Great Britain and France having fince been concluded, his Britannic majefty and the United States of America, in order to carry into

In the Name of the Moft Holy and full effect the provifional articles. Undivided Trinity.

T having pleafed the divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most ferene and most potent prince George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great Bri tain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, arch-treasurer and prince elector of the holy Roman empire, &c. and of the United States of America, to forget all paft misunderstandings and differences that have unhappily interrupted the good correfpondence and friendship which they mutually wish to reftore, and to eftablifh fuch a beneficial and fatisfactory intercourfe between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience as may promote and fecure to both perpetual peace and harmony; and having for this defirable end already laid the foundation of peace and reconciliation by the provifional articles figned at Paris on the 30th of November, 1782, by the commiffioners em. powered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inferted in and to conftitute the treaty of peace propofed to be concluded between the crown of Great Britain and the faid United States, but which treaty was not to be concluded until terms of peace fhould be agreed upon between Great Britain and France, and his Britannic majefty fhould be ready;

above-mentioned, according to the tenor thereof, have conftituted and appointed, that is to fay, his Britannic majefty on his part, David Hartley, Efq. member of the parliament of Great Britain; and the faid United States on their part, John Adams, Efq. late a commiffioner of the United States of America at the court of Verfailles, late delegate in congrefs from the state of Maffachusetts, and chief juftice of the faid ftate, and minifter plenipotentiary of the faid United States to their high mightineffes the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Efq. late delegate in congrefs froin the ftate of Pennfylvania, prefident of the convention of the faid ftate, and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the court of Verfailles; and John Jay, Efq. late prefident of congrefs, and chief juftice of the state of New York, and minifter plenipotentiary from the faid United States at the court of Madrid; to be the plenipotentiaries for the concluding and figning the prefent definitive treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their refpective full powers, have agreed upon and confirmed the following articles:

Art. I. His Britannic majefty acknowledges the faid United States, viz. New Hampshire, Maffachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, [r] 2

and

and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jerfey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, fovereign and independent ftates; that he treats with them as fuch, and for himfelf, his heirs and fucceffors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the fame, and every part thereof.

II. And that all difputes which might arife in future on the fubject of the boundaries of the faid United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and fhall be their boundaries, viz. From the north-west angle of Nova Scotia, viz. that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the fource of St. Croix river to the Highlands, along the faid Highlands, which divide thofe rivers that empty themfelves into the river St. Laurence, from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean, to the north-western moft head of Connecticut river; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due weft on faid latitude, until it ftrikes the river Irroquois or Caatraquy; thence along the middle of faid river into Lake Ontario; through the middle of faid lake until it ftrikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie; thence along the middle of the faid communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of faid lake, until it arrives at the water communication between that lake and Lake Huron; thence through the middle of faid lake

to the water communication between that lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior northward of the Ifles Royal and Philapeaux to the Long Lake; thence through the middle of faid Long Lake and the water commu. nication between it and the Lake of the Woods, to the faid Lake of the Woods; thence through the faid lake to the most northwesternmost point thereof, and

from thence on a due weft course to the river Miffiffippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of the faid river Miffiffippi until it fhall interfect the northernmoft part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude. South, by a line to be drawn due eaft from the determination of the line laft mentioned in the latitude of thirtyone degrees north of the equator, to the middle of the river Apalachiola or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River; thence ftraight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along the middle of St. Mary's River to the Atlantic ocean. East, by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river St. Croix from its mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its fource, and from its fource directly north to the aforefaid Highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic ocean from those which fall into the river St. Laurence, comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due eaft from the points where the aforefaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part, and Eaft Florida on the other, fhall refpec

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