CONVENTION between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America. Signed at London, October 20th, 1818.

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IS majesty the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States of America, desirous to cement the good understanding which happily subsists between them, have, for that purpose, named their respective plenipotentiaries, that is to say, his majesty, on his part, has appointed the right hon. Frederic John Robinson, treasurer of his majesty's navy and president of the committee of privy council for trade and plantations; and Henry Goulburn, esq. one of his majesty's under secretaries of state; -And the president of the United States has appointed Albert Gallatin, their envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the court of France; and Richard Rush, their envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the court of his Britannic majesty: who, after having exchanged their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed to and concluded the following articles:

Art. I. Whereas differences have arisen respecting the liberty claimed by the United States, for the inhabitants thereof, to take, dry and cure fish, on certain coasts, bays, harbours and creeks, of his Britannic majesty's dominions in America, it is agreed between the high contracting parties, that the inhabitants of the said United States shall have for ever, in common with the subjects of his Britannic majesty, the liberty to take fish of every kind on that part of the southern coast of Newfoundland which extends from Cape Ray to the Ramcau islands, on the western and northern coast of Newfoundland, from the said Cape Ray to the Quipron islands on the shores of the Magdalen islands, and also on the coasts, bays, harbours and creeks, from Mount Joly, on the southern coast of Labra

dor, to and through the Streights of Belleisle, and thence northwardly indefinitely along the coast, without prejudice however to any of the exclusive rights of the Hudson's Bay Company. And that the American fishermen shall also have liberty, for ever, to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, har

bours,

bours and creeks, of the southern part of the coast of Newfoundland hereabove described, and of the coast of Labrador; but so soon as the same, or any portion thereof, shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such portion so settled, without previous agreement for such purpose, with the inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors of the ground. And the United States hereby renounce for ever, any liberty heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof, to take, dry, or cure fish, on or within three marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, creeks or harbours of his Britannic majesty's dominions in America, not included within the above-mentioned limits : provided, however, that the American fishermen shall be admitted to enter such bays or harbours, for the purpose of shelter and of repairing damages therein, of purchasing wood, and of obtaining water, and for no other purpose whatever. But they shall be under such restrictions as may be necessary to prevent their taking, drying, or curing fish therein, or in any other manner whatever abusing the privileges hereby reserved to them,

Art. 2. It is agreed that a line drawn from the most northwestern point of the lake of the woods, along the forty-ninth pa. rallel of north latitude, or, if the said point shall not be in the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, then that a line drawn from the said point due north or south, as the case may be, until the said line shall intersect the said paral

lel of north latitude, and from the point of such intersection due west along and with the said parallel, shall be the line of demarcation between the territories of his Britannic majesty and those of the United States, and that the said line shall form the southern boundary of the said territories of his Britannic majesty, and the northern boundary of the territories of the United States, from the lake of the woods to the Stony Mountains.

Art. 3. It is agreed, that any country that may be claimed by either party on the north-west coast of America, westward of the Stony Mountains, shall, together with its harbours, bays and creeks, and the navigation of all rivers within the same, be free and open for the term of ten years from the date of the signature of the present convention, to the vessels, citizens and subjects of the two powers: it being well understood, that this agreement is not to be construed to the prejudice of any claim which either of the two high contracting parties may have to any part of the said country, nor shall it be taken to affect the claims of any other power or state to any part of the said country, the only object of the high contracting parties, in that respect, being to prevent disputes and differences amongst themselves.

Art. 4. All the provisions of the convention "to regulate the commerce between the territories of his Britannic majesty and of the United States," concluded at London, on the 3rd day of July, in the year of our Lord 1815, with the exception of the clause

which limited its duration to four years, and excepting also, so far as the same was affected by the declaration of his majesty respecting the island of St. Helena, are hereby extended and continued in force for the term of ten years from the date of the signature of the present convention, in the same manner as if all the provisions of the said convention were herein specially recited.

Art. 5. Whereas it was agreed by the first article of the treaty of Ghent, that "all territory, places and possessions whatsoever, taken by either party from the other during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of this treaty, excepting only the islands hereinafter mentioned, shall be restored without delay, and without causing any destruction, or carrying away any of the artillery or other public property originally captured in the said forts or places, which shall remain therein upon the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, or any slaves or other private property;"-and whereas, under the aforesaid article, the United States claim for their citizens, and as their private property, the restitution of, or full compensation for, all slaves who, at the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the said treaty, were, in any territory, places, or possessions whatsoever, directed by the said treaty to be restored to the United States, but then still occupied by the British forces, whether such slaves were, at the date aforesaid, on shore, or on board any British vessel, lying in waters within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States;

and whereas differences have arisen, whether, by the true intent and meaning of the aforesaid article of the treaty of Ghent, the United States are entitled to the restitution of, or full compensation for all or any slaves, as above described, the high contracting parties hereby agree to refer the said differences to some friendly sovereign or state, to be named for that purpose; and the high contracting parties further engage to consider the decision of such friendly sovereign or state to be final and conclusive on all the matters referred to.

Art. 6. This convention, when the same shall have been duly ratified by his Britannic majesty and the president of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of their senate, and the respective ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding and obligatory on his majesty and on the said United States; and the ratifications shall be exchanged in six months from this date, or sooner if possible.

In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have thereunto affixed the seal of their arms. Done at London, this 20th day of October, 1818. (L. S.) FRED. JOHN ROBIN

Darling, commanding in the island of Mauritius, &c.

The major-general command ing had encouraged the hope, from the anxiety he had manifested for the prosperity of the colony and the welfare of its inhabitants, that he should have found a corresponding disposition on the part of every class of his majesty's subjects to promote the laudable and beneficent views of government.

The major-general regrets his disappointment in this just and reasonable expectation, certain individuals having carried their disobedience of the laws to an extent which calls for the prompt interference of the government, in order to prevent, by legal but severe measures, those daily violations, which, though public and notorious, no one will assist in bringing to justice, and but too many are ready to protect and conceal. The inhabitants, therefore, who, as good subjects, should unite in putting a stop to the slave-trade, which is carrying on at this moment with a vigour ás peculiar to this island as it is disgraceful to the station which it fills in the civilized world, cannot be surprised that the adoption of any measure, which may hold out a prospect of efficiency for the object it has in view, can no longer be influenced by any consideration of inconvenience to the community at large. The restraint which was lately removed from the fishery, out of consideration to the inhabitants, will be again immediately enforced.

New negroes in considerable numbers have lately been smug

gled into the island, through the means of the fishermen. These men, on the major-general's arrival, implored the government to remove the restrictions which had been imposed on the exercise of their occupation. Naturally relying that an indulgence thus anxiously solicited would not be abused, the major-general, as a proof of his confidence, at once complied with their wishes, and restored to them the full and unrestrained exercise of their employment.

It could hardly be supposed that this indulgence would have been perverted to the worst purposes. The fact, however, is indisputable; and those who have acted thus must take the consequences.

Every one of these men, who, through the indulgence of the government, has been permitted to establish himself on the "Pas Geometrique," shall be removed, as that situation affords facilities to the slave trade which their cupidity cannot withstand.

There are others in the enjoyment of still more extensive indulgencies, who, there is reason to apprehend, lend themselves to this traffic. They may be assured, that no consideration shall screen them from the just indignation of government, and that its favour shall be instantly withdrawn from those who shall be found, even in the most remote degree, encouraging or countenancing it.

The major-general, to convince them how hopeless and ruinous their cause is, and as a means of bringing them to a sense of their

duty,

Port Louis, island of Mauritius, this 16th day of July, 1819. R. DARLING, MajorGen. Commanding.

The major-general would be glad if this warning shall have the effect of awakening the deluded to a sense of their situation; the example of Philibert, Tregrósse and Clerensac, who were sent to England last year, and have been sentenced to three years' confinement and hard labour, should be sufficient to deter even the most determined. Those who still persevere cannot long escape its justice, as government will never relax in its exertions, until they have been brought to that punishment which the law has attached to their crimes, and which will be ensured by the transmission of every culprit in England.

The major-general commanding has in consequence been pleased to order, and it is hereby ordered accordingly

Art. 1. The proclamation of the 25th February, 1819, is repealed; and the proclamation of the 1st May, 1818, is declared to be again in full force from this date.

Art. 2. The present proclamation shall he read and entered on the records of the courts and tribunals of this island; and an official copy shall be addressed to his honour the chief judge and commissary of justice.

Sec. to Government.

By his royal highness the Prince of Wales, regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the name and on the behalf of his majesty.

A PROCLAMATION.

George, P. R. Whereas, in diverse parts of Great Britain, meetings of large numbers of his majesty's subjects have been held upon the requisition of persons who, or some of whom, have, together with others, by seditious and treasonable speeches addressed to the persons assembled, endeavoured to bring into hatred and contempt the government and constitution established in this realm, and particularly the Commons House of Parliament, and to excite disobedience to the laws, and insurrection against his majesty's authority.

And whereas it hath been represented unto us, that at one of such meetings the persons there assembled, in gross violation of the law, did attempt to constitute and appoint, and did as much as in them lay constitute and appoint, a person, then nominated, to sit in their name and on their behalf in the Commons House of Parliament; and there is reason to believe that other meetings are about to be held for the like unlawful purpose.

And whereas many wicked and seditious