the said term of 5 years to commence on the 30th day of April, 1843, aforesaid. III. The payments aforesaid shall be made in the city of Mexico to such person as The United States may authorize to receive them, in gold or silver money. But no circulation, export, nor other duties, shall be charged thereon, and the Mexican Government takes the risk, charges, and expenses of the transportation of the money to the city of Vera Cruz. IV. The Mexican Government hereby solemnly pledges the proceeds of the direct taxes of the Mexican Republic for the payment of the instalments and interest aforesaid; but it is understood that whilst no other fund is thus specifically hypothecated, the Government of The United States, by accepting this pledge does not incur any obligation to look for payment of those instalments and interest to that fund alone. V. As this new arrangement, which is entered into for the accommodation of Mexico, will involve additional charges of freight, commission, &c., the Government of Mexico hereby agrees to add 24 per cent. on each of the aforesaid payments on account of said charges. VI. A new Convention shall be entered into for the settlement of all claims of the Governments and citizens of The United States against the Republic of Mexico, which were not finally decided by the late Commission which met in the city of Washington, and of all claims of the Goverment and citizens of Mexico against The United States. VII. The Ratifications of this Convention shall be exchanged at Washington within 3 months after the date thereof, provided it shall arrive at Washington before the adjournment of the present Session of Congress, and if not, then within 1 month after the meeting of the next Congress of The United States. In faith whereof we, the Plenipotentiaries of the United States of America, and of the Mexican Republic have signed and sealed these presents. Done at the city of Mexico, on the 30th day of January, 1843, and in the 67th year of the Independence of the United States of America, and in the 23rd of that of the Mexican Republic. (L.S.) WADDY THOMPSON. (L.S.) JOSE M. DE BOCANEGRA. (L.S.) MANUEL EDUARDO DE GOROSTIZA. TREATY between Great Britain and Johanna, for the Suppres sion of the Slave Trade.--Signed at Montsamolo, November 8, 1841. [Ratified December 10, 1845.] STATEMENT of the Requisitions made to His Highness the Sultan Selim of the Island of Johanna by Sir Cornwallis Ricketts, Bart., commander of Her Majesty's sloop Helena, acting under the orders of Christopher Wyvill, Esquire, captain of Her Majesty's ship Cleopatra, and senior officer on the East Coast of Africa. 1st. The Sultan to abolish the foreign Slave Trade for ever in his dominions. 2nd. The Sultan to .order the seizure of all vessels belonging to his subjects found carrying on the foreign Slave Traffic, and to seize and punish the captain and crew as pirates. 3rd. The Sultan to punish all persons among his subjects serving on board vessels dealing in slaves who do not give information to the Sultan or his Governors that they have been slave dealing. 4th. Vessels having implements of Slave Trade, such as shackles, bolts, handcuffs, chains, whips, and branding irons, on board, to be considered the same as if actually carrying slaves. STATEMENT of the Agreement made by us, Sultan Selim, son of Sultan Alawi, with our auspicious brother the Captain Sir Cornwallis Ricketts, Bart., commander of Her Majesty's sloop Helena. (Translated from the Arabic, under the hand and seal of the Sultan Selim.). 1st. There shall be no dealing in slaves in our territory, and no slaves shall be imported to be sold in our country. We positively prohibit it, and forbid it absolutely. 2nd. And I declare and command my subjects, that all who carry off slaves and sell them shall be seized, captain and crew; and to be treated in the same manner as they who cut off navi. gation (pirates). 3rd. Every vessel that goes from hence belonging to my subjects for the purpose of trading in slaves, if it be done without the order of the owner, then punishment shall be inflicted upon the commander and crew; if it be done by order of the owner, then he shall be punished. 4th. Every vessel of my people shall be treated as if engaged in Traffic for Slaves on board which shall be found chains and fetters and shackles of irons in greater number than 2 or 3, sufficient for the correction of any of the crew who may be refractory. 5th. The Sultan to authorize British cruizers to seize all vessels belonging to his subjects that may be found with slaves, or with slave implements on board, after the expiration of 4 months from this date. 6th. The Sultan or his Governors to provide all vessels belonging to his subjects with passes (port clearance). Any vessel found without such port clearance to be seized, according to the 5th Requisition, by any British cruizer that may meet them. 7th. All vessels seized by British cruizers to be sent to the nearest or most convenient British Vice-Admiralty Court for adjudication. In the event of being condemned, the vessels and their cargoes to be sold for the profit of the 2 Governments, but the slaves to be set free in a British colony. 8th. The Sultan to at once proclaim a law by which the stipulations of this engagement shall be publicly known to all his people. 5th. I permit that there may be an inspection for the purpose of discovering dealing in slaves after 4 months. 6th. Any vessel that may be met with at sea which has not a written document (a pass), and is without a seal such as furnishes a proper explanation (of her purposes), may be seized as a dealer in slaves. 7th. When any vessel laden with slaves, or that has carried off slaves, has been seized according to law, and the slaves with her, and it is proved that she is engaged in the Slave Trade, she may be sent to an English port, to be there disposed of, both with respect to the slaves and to the value (of the ship and other cargo). The slaves shall depart free. The property shall be partitioned, and one part shall go to the English Sultan, the other to the Sultan, that is to say, Sultan Selim. 8th. If it be the will of God, these orders will be promulgated, so that the command may be publicly known and obeyed. Done at Montsamolo, Island of Johanna, in duplicate originals, November the 8th, 1844 (the 26th of the month of Shawal of the Hijree). (L.S.) CORNWALLIS RICKETTS, (L.S.) SULTAN SELIM. Commander of H. M. Sloop Helena. Ratification. We, the Undersigned, Sultan Selim, King of Johanna, and Christopher Wyvill, Esquire, captain of Her Britannic Majesty's ship Cleopatra, and senior officer on the East Coast of Africa, being duly authorized by Her Britannic Majesty's Government, having read over and explained to each other the different Articles of the above Treaty for the suppression of the Slave Trade, do ratify the above agreement, and in witness thereof we have this day signed our names and affixed our seals. Be it known that Captain Wyvill, of Her Majesty's ship Cleopatra, despatched to the Kingdom of Africa to communicate with Sultan Selim, has held a communication with the Sultan; and we have signed these writings, and we have both explained and declared, and testified and mutually read and explained the stipulations which are specified as above, for the purpose of prohibiting all dealings in the selling and buying of slaves. This agreement is definitively sealed, and orders issued for the punishment of offenders, without contradiction or qualification; and we have ratified the agreement by our signature and seal to the stipulations which the writing contains. Done at Montsamolo, Island of Johanna, in duplicate originals, December the 10th, 1845 (on the day of the Eid, the 10th of the month of Zelhage, of the Hijree of the Prophet, upon whom be peace). (L.S.) SULTAN SELIM. (L.S.) CHRISTOPHER WYVILL, Captain of H. B. M. Ship Cleopatra. Witnesses: GEOFFREY T. B. HORNBY, Lieutenant. Son of SULTAN ALAWI. Son of SULTAN HOSAIN. SPEECH of the Emperor of Austria, on the Opening of the Hungarian Diet.-Presburgh, May 20, 1843. (Translation.) THE ninth year of our reign, exclusively devoted to the happiness of the people whom God has committed to our charge, forms on this occasion a new and happy epoch, for we see once more united around us the faithful representatives of our well-beloved kingdom of Hungary and the countries which are annexed to it. Animated by paternal sentiments and by a lively solicitude for the welfare of our children, we have no other thought than that of continually augmenting their happiness. In order that this object of our endeavours may be obtained, we offer to you with pleasure the opportunity of deliberating in full liberty upon the means of advancing the prosperity of the country, and of giving an increased development to the national riches. Act in such a manner that the sanction of the laws published by our common efforts may really contribute to the public good. None of you are ignorant how much we have it at heart to maintain the foundations of the ancient Constitution, to preserve to the legal powers all their efficacy within the limits which have been fixed by law, and finally in as much as it may depend upon us to cause the decisions of the law to be put into execution; but our sincerity imposes upon us the duty of stating to you that the public good of which we have just spoken renders it not only advisable but necessary that you should deliberate upon the means of supporting the authority of the laws, inasmuch as this has in many cases not been respected, and of securing the general good by law. In consequence, we expect of you, faithful representatives of the kingdom, that in your zeal for the welfare of the country you will use all your efforts for the attainment of this object in order that a grateful posterity may acknowledge in this work a proof of your active solicitude in its behalf. In the course of your arduous but glorious labours you will find us ready to listen to every wish of yours which is in conformity with this object, for there is no one among yourselves who is more penetrated with the desire of seeing Hungary flourishing and happy. Animated by this spirit, so well fitted for advancing the prosperity and happiness of the kingdom of Hungary which is so dear to us, we lay before you, faithful Representatives of the kingdom, our most gracious Royal propositions, which are so many proofs of our paternal love towards you, and we assure you, as on former occasions of our Imperial and Royal good will and favour. Royal Propositions, presented to the Hugarian Diet. May 20, 1843. (Translation.) I. THE illustrious States and Orders, after examining the reports of the Regnicolar Deputations, appointed according to, and for the purpose mentioned in Articles III, IV, and V of the last Diet, will, guided by these documents, propose, in due time, to His Most Sacred Majesty, measures conducive to the public welfare and utility. |