of Utrecht; excepting the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon, which are ceded in full right, by the present treaty, to his Most Christian Majesty.

V. His Majesty the Moft Christian King, in order to prevent the quarrels which have hitherto arifen between the two nations of England and France, confents to renounce the right of fishing, which belongs to him in virtue of the aforefaid article of the treaty of Utrecht, from Cape Bonavista to Cape St John, fituated on the eaftern coast of Newfoundland, in fifty degrees north latitude; and his Majesty the King of Great Britain confents, on his part, that the fifhery affigned to the fubjects of his Moft Chriftian Majefty, beginning at the faid Cape St John, paffing to the north, and defcending by the western coaft of the island of Newfoundland, fhall extend to the place called Cape Raye, fituated in forty-feven degrees fifty minutes north lat. The French fishermen fhall enjoy the fishery which is affigned to them by the prefent article, as they had the right to enjoy that which was affigned to them by the treaty of Utrecht.

VI. With regard to the fishery in the gulph of St Laurence, the French fhall continue to exercife it, conformably to the fifth article of the treaty of Paris.

VII. The King of Great Britain reftores to France the island of St Lucia, in the condition it was in when it was conquered by the British arms: And his Britannic Majefty cedes and guarantees to his Most Chriftian Majefty the island of Tobago. The Proteftant inhabitants of the faid ifland, as well as thofe of the fame religion, who fhall have fettled at St Lucia whilft that ifland was occupied by the British arms, fhall not be molefted in the exercise of their worship; and the British inhabitants, or others who may have been fubjects of the King of Great Britain in the aforefaid islands, fhall retain their poffeffions upon the fame titles and conditions by which they have acquired them; or elfe they may retire in full fecurity and liberty, where they fhall think fit, and shall have the power of felling their eftates, provided it be to subjects of his Most Christian Majefty, and of removing their effects, as well as their perfons, without being restrained in their emigration, under any pretence whatfoever, except on account of debts, or of criminal profecutions. The term limited for this emigration is fixed to the space of eighteen months, to be computed from the day of the exchange of the ratifications of the prefent treaty. And for the better fecuring the poffeffions of the inhabitants of the aforefaid island of Tobago, the Moft Chriftian King shall iffue letters patent containing an abolition of the Droit d'Aubaine in the faid island.

VIII. The Moft Chriftian King reftores to Great Britain the islands of Grenada, and the Grenadines, St Vincent's, Dominica, St Chriftopher's, Nevis, and Montferrat; and the fortreffes of these islands shall be delivered up in the condition they were in when the conqueft of them was made. The fame ftipulations inferted in the preceding article shall take place in favour of the French fubjects, with refpect to the islands enumerated in the present article.

IX. The King of Great Britain cedes, in full right, and guaran tees to his Moft Christian Majefty, the river Senegal, and its dependencies, with the forts of St Louis, Podor, Galam, Arguin, and Portendic; and his Britannic Majesty restores to France the island of Goree, which shall be delivered up in the condition it was in when the conqueft of it was made.

X. The Moft Christian King, on his part, guarantees to the King of Great Britain the poffeffion of Fort James, and of the river Gambia.

XI. For preventing all difcuffion in that part of the world, the two high contracting parties fhall, within three months after the exchange of the ratifications of the prefent treaty, name commiffaries, who shall be charged with the fettling and fixing of the boundaries of the refpective poffeffions. As to the gum-trade, the English shall have the liberty of carrying it on, from the mouth of the river St John to the bay and fort of Portendic inclufively: Provided that they fhall not form any permanent fettlement, of what nature foever, in the faid river St John, upon the coaft, or in the bay of Portendic.

XII. As to the refidue of the coaft of Africa, the English and French fubjects fhall continue to refort thereto, according to the ufage which has hitherto prevailed.

XIII. The King of Great Britain reftores to his Moft Christian Majefty all the fettlements which belonged to him at the beginning of the prefent war, upon the coast of Ŏrixa, and in Bengal, with liberty to furround Chandernagore with a ditch for carrying off the waters; and his Britannic Majefty engages to take fuch meafures as fhall be in his power for fecuring to the fubjects of France in that part of India, as well as on the coafts of Orixa, Coromandel, and Malabar, a fafe, free, and independent trade, fuch as was carried on by the French Eaft-India Company, whether they exercise it individually, or united in a company.

XIV. Pondicherry fhall be in like manner delivered up and guaranteed to France, as alfo Karikal; and his Britannic Majesty shall procure for an additional dependency to Pondicherry, the two diftricts of Valanour and Bahour; and to Karikal, the four Magans bordering thereupon.

XV. France shall re-enter into the poffeffion of Mahé, as well as of its factory at Surat; and the French fhall carry on their trade, in this part of India, conformably to the principles established in the thirteenth article of this treaty.

XVI. Orders having been fent to India by the High Contracting Parties, in pursuance of the fixteenth article of the preliminaries, it is further agreed, That if, within the term of four months, the res pective allies of their Britannic and Moft Chriftian Majefties fhall not have acceded to the prefent pacification, or concluded a feparate accommodation, their faid Majefties fhall not give them any affiftance, directly or indirectly, against the British or French poffef

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fions,

fions, or against the ancient poffeffions of their respective allies, such as they were in the year 1776.

XVII. The King of Great Britain being defirous to give to his Moft Christian Majesty a fincere proof of reconciliation and friendship, and to contribute to render folid the peace re-established between their faid Majefties, confents to the abrogation and fuppreffion of all the articles relative to Dunkirk, from the treaty of peace concluded at Utrecht in 1713, inclufive, to this day.

XVIII. Immediately after the exchange of the ratifications, the two High Contracting Parties shall name commiffaries to treat concerning new arrangements of commerce between the two nations, on the bafis of reciprocity and mutual convenience; which arrangements shall be fettled and concluded within the space of two years, to be computed from the 1st of January in the year 1784.

XIX. All the countries and territories which may have been, or which may be, conquered in any part of the world whatsoever, by the arms of his Britannic Majefty, as well as by those of his Most Christian Majefty, which are not included in the present treaty, neither under the head of ceffions, nor under the head of restitutions, fhall be restored without difficulty, and without requiring any compenfation.

XX. As it is neceffary to appoint a certain period for the restitutions and evacuations to be made by each of the High Contracting Parties, it is agreed, that the King of Great Britain fhall cause to be evacuated the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon, three months after the ratification of the prefent treaty, or fooner if it can be done; St Lucia, (one of the Caribbee islands), and Goree in Africa, three months after the ratification of the present treaty, or fooner if it can be done. The King of Great Britain fhall, in like manner, at the end of three months after the ratification of the prefent treaty, or fooner if it can be done, enter again into the poffeffion of the islands of Grenada, and the Grenadines, St Vincent's, Dominica, St Chriftopher's, Nevis, and Montferrat. France fhall be put in poffeffion of the towns and factories which are reftored to her in the East Indies, and of the territories which are procured for her, to ferve as additional dependencies to Pondicherry, and to Karikal, fix months after the ratification of the present treaty, or fooner if it can be done. France fhall deliver up, at the end of the like term of fix months, the towns and territories which her arms may have taken from the English, or their allies, in the East Indies. 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.

XXI. The decifion of the prizes and feizures made prior to the hoftilities fhall be referred to the respective courts of juftice; fo that the legality of the faid prizes and feizures fhall be decided according to the law of nations, and to treaties, in the courts of juftice of the nation which shall have made the capture, or ordered the feizures. XXII. For preventing the revival of the law fuits which have

been

been ended in the islands conquered by either of the High Contracting Parties, it is agreed, that the judgements pronounced in the last refort, and which have acquired the force of matters determined, fhall be confirmed and executed according to their form and tenor.

XXIII. Their Britannic and Moft Chriftian 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 respective subjects: and the faid High Contracting Parties, guaranty to each other, generally and reciprocally, all the ftipulations of the prefent treaty.

XXIV. The folemn ratifications of the prefent treaty, prepared in good and due form, shall be exchanged in this city of Verfailles, between the two High Contracting Parties, in the space of a month, or fooner, if poffible, to be computed from the day of the fignature of the prefent treaty.

In witness whereof, we the underwritten ambaffador extraordinary, and ministers plenipotentiary, have figned with our hands, in their names, and in virtue of our refpective full powers, the prefent definitive treaty, and have caused the seals of our arms to be fixed thereto. Done at Versailles, the 3d day of September 1783.

Gravier de Vergennes. (L. S.)
Manchefter.

Separate Articles.

(L. S.)

I. Some of the titles made use of by the Contracting Parties, whether in the full powers, and other inftruments, during the courfe of the negociation, or in the preamble of the present treaty, not being generally acknowledged, it has been agreed that no prejudice fhould 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, shall not be cited, or quoted as a precedent.

II. It has been agreed and determined, that the French language, made use of in all the copies of the present treaty, shall 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 observed, 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 plenipotentiary, of their Britannic and most Christian Majesties, have figned the prefent Separate Articles, and have caused the feals of our arms to be affixed thereto.

Done at Verfailles, the 3d of September, 1783.

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Gravier de Vergennes.
Manchefter.

(L. S.) (L. S.)

Decla

Declaration.

The King having entirely agreed with his Moft Chriftian Majesty upon the Articles of the Definitive Treaty, will feek every means which shall not only enfure the execution thereof, with his accustomed good faith and punctuality, but will befides give, on his part, all poffible efficacy to the principles which shall prevent even the leaft foundation of difpute for the future.

To this end, and in order that the fishermen of the two nations may not give caúfe for daily quarrels, his Britannic Majefty will take the most pofitive measures for preventing his fubjects from interrupting, in any manner, by their competition, the fishery of the French, during the temporary exercise of it which is granted to them, upon the coafts of the island of Newfoundland; and he will, for this purpose, cause the fixed fettlements, which fhall be formed there, to be removed. His Britannic Majefty will give orders, that the French fishermen be not incommoded, in cutting the wood neceffary for the repair of their scaffolds, huts, and fishing veffels.

The thirteenth article of the treaty of Utrecht, and the method of carrying on the fishery, which has at all times been acknowledged, fhall be the plan upon which the fishery shall be carried on there it shall not be deviated from by either party; the French fishermen building only their fcaffolds, confining themfelves to the repair of their fifhing veffels, and not wintering there; the fubjects of his Britannic Majefty, on their part, not molefting, in any manner, the French fishermen, during their fishing, nor injuring their scaffolds during their abfence.

The King of Great Britain, in ceding the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon to France, regards them as ceded for the purpose of ferving as a real shelter to the French fishermen, and in full confidence that these poffeffions will not become an object of jealoufy between the two nations; and that the fishery between the faid islands, and that of Newfoundland, shall be limited to the middle of the Channel.

With regard to India, Great Britain having granted to France every thing that can ascertain and confirm the trade which the latter requires to carry on there, his Majefty relies with confidence on the repeated affurances of the Court of Versailles, that the power of furrounding Chandernagore with a ditch for carrying off the waters, fhall not be exercifed in fuch a manner as to make it become an object of umbrage.

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