THE Most Christian King, and the thirteen United States of North America, to wit, New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, willing to fix, in an equitable and permanent manner, the rules which ought to be followed relative to the correspond­ence and commerce which the two parties desire to es­tablish between their respective countries, states, and sub­jects; his Most Christian Majesty, and the said United States, have judged, that the said end could not be better obtained, than by taking for the basis of their agreement, the most perfect equality and reciprocity, and by carefully avoiding all those burdensome preferences, which are usually sources of debate, embarrassment, and discontent —by leaving also each party at liberty to make, respect­ing commerce and navigation, those interior regulations, which it shall find most convenient to itself—and by found­ing the advantage of commerce solely upon reciprocal utility, and the just rules of free intercourse—reserving withal, to each party, the liberty of admitting, at its pleas­ure, other nations to a participation of the same advan­tages. It is in the spirit of this intention, and to fulfil these views, that his said Majesty having named and ap­pointed for his Plenipotentiary, Conrod Alexander Ger­ard, royal syndic of the city of Strasbourg, secretary of his Majesty's council of state—and the United States on their part, having fully empowered Benjamin Franklin, deputy from the state of Pennsylvania to the general [Page 4] Congress, and president to the convention of said state— Silas Deane, late deputy from the state of Connecticut, to the said Congress—and Arthur Lee, counsellor at law: the said respective plenipotentiaries, after exchanging their powers, and after mature deliberation, have concluded and agreed upon the following articles:

ART. I. THERE shall be a firm, inviolable, and universal peace, and a true and sincere friendship, between the Most Christian King, his heirs and successors, and the United States of America, and the subjects of the Most Christian King, and of the said states, and between the countries, islands, cities, and towns, situate under the ju­risdiction of the Most Christian King, and of the said United States, and the people and inhabitants of every degree, without exception of persons or places, and the terms herein after mentioned, shall be perpetual between the Most Christian King, his heirs, and successors, and the said United States.

II. The Most Christian King, and the United States, engage mutually not to grant any particular favour to other nations, in respect of commerce and navigation, which shall not immediately become common to the other party, who shall enjoy the same favour freely, if the con­cession was freely made—or on allowing the same com­pensation, if the concession was conditional.

III. The subjects of the Most Christian King, shall pay in the ports, havens, roads, countries, islands, cities, or towns of the United States, or any of them, no other or greater duties or imposts, of what nature soever they may be, or by what name soever called, than those which the nations most favoured are or shall be obliged to pay: and they shall enjoy all the rights, liberties, privileges, immunities, and exemptions in trade, navigation, and commerce, whether in passing from one port in the said states to another, or in going to and from the same, from and to any part of the world, which the said nations do or shall enjoy.

IV. The subjects, people, and inhabitants of the said United States, and each of them, shall not pay in the ports, havens, roads, isles, cities, and places, under the domination of his Most Christian Majesty in Europe, any other or greater duties or imposts, of what nature soever [Page 5] they may be, or by what name soever called, than those which the most favoured nations are or shall be obliged to pay: and they shall enjoy all the rights, liberties, pri­vileges, immunities, and exemptions in trade, navigation, and commerce, whether in passing from one port in the said dominions in Europe, to another, or in going to and from the same, from and to any part of the world, which the said nations do or shall enjoy.

V. In the above exemption is particularly comprised the imposition of one hundred sols per ton, established in France on foreign ships, unless when the ships of the Uni­ted States shall load with the merchandize of France, for another port of the same dominion: in which case, the said ships shall pay the duty above mentioned, so long as other nations the most favoured shall be obliged to pay it: but it is understood, that the said United States, or any of them, are at liberty, when they shall judge it proper, to establish a duty equivalent in the same case.

VI. The Most Christian King shall endeavour, by all the means in his power, to protect and defend all vessels, and the effects, belonging to the subjects, people, or in­habitants of the said United States, or any of them, be­ing in his ports, havens, or roads, or on the seas near to his countries, islands, cities, or towns; and to recover and restore to the right owners, their agents, or attornies, all such vessels and effects, which shall be taken within his jurisdiction: and the ships of war of his Most Christian Majesty, or any convoy sailing under his authority, shall upon all occasions, take under their protection, all vessels belonging to the subjects, people, or inhabitants of the said United States, or any of them, and holding the same course, or going the same way, and shall defend such ves­sels as long as they hold the same course, or go the same way, against all attacks, force, and violence, in the same manner as they ought to protect and defend the vessels belonging to the subjects of the Most Christian King.

VII. In like manner the said United States, and their ships of war sailing under their authority, shall pro­tect and defend, conformably to the tenor of the preced­ing article, all the vessels and effects belonging to the sub­jects of the Most Christian King, and use all their en­deavours to recover, and cause to be restored, the said [Page 6] vessels and effects that shall have been taken within the jurisdiction of the said United States, or any of them.

VIII. The Most Christian King will employ his good offices and interposition with the King or Emperor of Morocco or Fez—the Regencies of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, or with any of them—and also with every other prince, state, or power, of the coast of Barbary in Africa —and the subjects of the said king, emperor, states, and powers, and each of them, in order to provide, as fully and efficaciously as possible, for the benefit, conveniency, and safety of the United States, and each of them, their subjects, people, and inhabitants, and their vessels and ef­fects, against all violence, insult, attacks, or depredations, on the part of the said princes and states of Barbary, or their subjects.

IX. The subjects, inhabitants, merchants, command­ers of ships, masters, and mariners of the states, provinces, and dominions of each respectively, shall abstain and for­bear to fish in all places possessed, or which shall be pos­sessed by the other party. The Most Christian King's subjects shall not fish in the havens, bays, creeks, roads, coasts, or places, which the said United States hold, or shall hereafter hold: and in like manner, the subjects, people, and inhabitants of the said United States, shall not fish in the havens, bays, creeks, roads, coasts, or places, which the most Christian King possesses, or shall hereafter possess: and if any ship or vessel shall be found fishing, contrary to the tenor of this treaty, the said ship or vessel with its lading (proof being made thereof) shall be con­fiscated: it is, however, understood that the exclusion stipulated in the present article, shall take place only so long and so far, as the Most Christian King or the Uni­ted States shall not, in this respect, have granted an ex­emption to some other nation.

X. The United States, their citizens and inhabitants, shall never disturb the subjects of the Most Christian King, in the enjoyment and exercise of the right of fishing on the banks of Newfoundland—nor [...]n the indefinite and exclusive right which belongs to them on that part of the coast of that island, which is designed by the treaty of Utrecht—nor in the rights relative to all and each of the isles, which belong to his Most Christian Majesty, the [Page 7] whole conformable to the true sense of the treaties of Utrecht and Paris.

XI. The subjects and inhabitants of the said United States, or any of them, shall not be reputed aubains in France; and consequently shall be exempted from the droit d'aubaine, or other similar duty, under what name soever. They may, by testament, donation, or otherwise, dispose of their goods, moveable and immoveable, in fav­our of such persons as to them shall seem good; and their heirs, subjects of the said United States, residing whether in France or elsewhere, may succeed them, ab intestat, without being obliged to obtain letters of naturalization, and without having the effect of this concession contested or impeded, under pretext of any rights or prerogatives of provinces, cities, or private persons. And the said heirs, whether such by particular title, or ab intestat, shall be exempt from all duty called droit de detraction, or other duty of the same kind; saving nevertheless the lo­cal rights or duties, as much and as long as similar ones are not established by the United States, or any of them. The subjects of the Most Christian King shall enjoy on their part, in all the dominions of the said States, an en­tire and perfect reciprocity, relative to the stipulations contained in the present article: but it is at the same time agreed, that its contents shall not affect the laws made, or that may be made hereafter in France, against emigrations, which shall remain in all their force and vig­our: and the United States on their part, or any of them, shall be at liberty to enact such laws, relative to that matter, as to them shall seem proper.

XII. The merchant-ships of either of the parties, which shall be making into a port belonging to the enemy of the other ally, and concerning whose voyage, and the spe­cies of goods on board her, there shall be just grounds of suspicion, shall be obliged to exhibit, as well upon the high seas, as in the ports and havens, not only her pass­ports, but likewise certificates, expressly shewing that her goods are not of the number of those which have been prohibited as contraband.

XIII. If, by the exhibiting of the above-said certificates, the other party discover there are any of those sorts of goods which are prohibited and declared contraband, and [Page 8] consigned for [...] port under the obedience of its enemies, it shall not be lawful to break up the hatches of such ship, or to open any chests, coffers, packs, casks, or any other vessele found therein, or to remove the smallest parcels of her goods, whether such ship belongs to the subjects of France, or the inhabitants of the said United States, un­less the lading be brought on shore, [...] the presence of the officers of the court of admiralty, and an inventory thereof made: but there shall be no allowance to sell, exchange, or alienate the same in any manner, until after that due and lawful process shall have been had against such pro­hibited goods, and the court of admiralty shall, by a sen­tence pronounced, have confiscated the same; saving al­ways as well the ship itself, as any other goods found therein, which by this Treaty are to be esteemed free: neither may they be detained on pretence of their being as it were infected by the prohibited goods; much less shall they be confiscated as lawful prize; but if not the whole cargo, but only part thereof shall consist of pro­hibited or contraband goods, and the commander of the ship shall be ready and willing to deliver them to the cap­tor, who has discovered them, in such case the captor having received those goods, shall forthwith discharge the ship, and not hinder her by any means freely to prose­cute the voyage on which she was bound: but in case the contraband merchandizes cannot be all received on board the vessel of the captor, then the captor may, not­withstanding the offer of delivering him the contraband goods, carry the vessel into the nearest port, agreeable to what is above directed.

XIV. On the contrary, it is agreed, that whatever shall be found to be laden by the subjects and inhabitants of either party on any ship belonging to the enemies of the other, or to their subjects, the whole, although it be not of the sort of prohibited goods, may be confiscated in the same manner as if it belonged to the enemy, ex­cept such goods and merchandizes as were put on board such ship before the declaration of war, or even after such declaration if so be it were done without knowledge of such declaration: so that the goods of the subjects and people of either party, whether they be of the nature of such as are prohibited or otherwise, which, as is afore­said, [Page] said, were put on board any ship belonging to an enemy before the war, or after the declaration of the same, with­out the knowledge of it, shall no ways be liable to con­fiscation, but shall well and truly be restored without de­lay to the proprietors demanding the same; but so as that if the said merchandizes be contraband, it shall not be any-ways lawful to carry them afterwards to any ports belonging to the enemy. The two contracting parties agree, that the term of two months being passed after the declaration of war, their respective subjects, from what­ever part of the world they come, shall not plead the ig­norance mentioned in this article.

XV. And that more effectual care may be taken for the security of the subjects and inhabitants of both par­ties, that they suffer no injury by the men of war or pri­vateers of the other party, all the commanders of the ships of his Most Christian Majesty and of the said United States, and all their subjects and inhabitants, shall be for­bidden doing any injury or damage to the other side; and if they act to the contrary, they shall be punished: and shall moreover be bound to make satisfaction for all matter of damage, and the interest thereof, by reparation, under the pain and obligation of their person and goods.

XVI. All ships and merchandizes, of what nature soever, which shall be rescued out of the hands of any pi­rates or robbers on the high seas, shall be brought into some port of either state, and shall be delivered to the custody of the officers of that port, in order to be restored entire to the true proprietor, as soon as due and sufficient proof shall be made concerning the property thereof.

XVII. It shall be lawful for the ships of war of either party, and privateers, freely to carry, whitherso­ever they please, the ships and goods taken from their enemies, without being obliged to pay any duty to the officers of the admiralty, or any other judges: nor shall such prizes be arrested or seized, when they come to, and enter the ports of either party: nor shall the searchers or other officers of those places search the same, or make examination concerning the lawfulness of the prizes: but they may hoist sail at any time, and depart, and carry their prizes to the places expressed in their commissions, which the commanders of such ships of war shall be [Page 10] obliged to [...]: on the contrary, no shelter or refuge shall be given in their ports to such as shall have made prize of the subjects, people, or property of either of the parties; but if such shall come in, being forced by stress of weather, or the danger of the sea, all proper means shall be vigorously used, that they go out and retire from thence as soon as possible.

XVIII. If any ship, belonging to either of the par­ties, their people, or subjects, shall, within the coasts or dominions of the other, stick upon the sands, or be wrecked, or suffer any other damage—all friendly assist­ance and relief shall be given to the persons ship-wrecked, or such as shall be in danger thereof. And letters of safe-conduct shall likewise be given to them, for their free and quiet passage from thence, and the return of every one to his own country.

XIX. In case the subjects and inhabitants of either party, with their shipping, whether public and of war, or private and of merchants, be forced through stress of weather, pursuit of pirates, or enemies, or any other ur­gent necessity for seeking of shelter and harbour, to re­treat and enter into any of the rivers, bays, roads, or ports belonging to the other party, they shall be received and treated with all humanity and kindness, and enjoy all friendly protection and help: and they shall be per­mitted to refresh and provide themselves, at reasonable rates, with victuals, and all things needful for the suste­nance of their persons, or reparation of their ships, and conveniency of their voyage: and they shall no ways be detained or hindered from returning out of the said ports or roads, but may remove and depart, when, and whither they please, without any let or hindrance.

XX. For the better promoting of commerce on both sides, it is agreed, that if a war shall break out between the said two nations, six months after the proclamation of war, shall be allowed to the merchants, in the cities and towns where they live, for selling and transporting their goods and merchandizes: and, if any thing be tak­en from them, or any injury be done them within that term, by either party, or the people or subjects of either, full satisfaction shall be made for the same.

XXI. No subjects of the Most Christian King shall [Page 11] apply for, or take any commission or letters of marque, for arming any ship or ships to act as privateers against the said United States, or any of them, or against the subjects, people, or inhabitants of the said United States, or any of them, or against the property of any of the in­habitants of any of them, from any prince or state with which the said United States shall be at war: nor shall any citizen, subject, or inhabitant of the said United States, or any of them, apply for, or take any commis­sion or letters of marque, for arming any ship or ships, to act as privateers against the subjects of the Most Chris­tian King, or any of them, or the property of any of them, from any prince or state with which the said king shall be at war: and if any person of either nation shall take such commissions or letters of marque, he shall be punished as a pirate.

XXII. It shall not be lawful for any foreign priva­teers, not belonging to subjects of the Most Christian King, nor citizens of the said United States, who have commissions from any other prince or state in enmity with either nation, to fit their ships in the ports of either the one or the other of the aforesaid parties, to sell what they have taken, or in any other manner whatsoever, to ex­change their ships, merchandizes, or any other lading: neither shall they be allowed even to purchase victuals, except such as shall be necessary for their going to the next port of that prince or state from which they have commissions.

XXIII. It shall be lawful for all and singular the subjects of the Most Christian King, and the citizens, people, and inhabitants of the said United States, to sail with their ships with all manner of liberty and security, no distinction being made who are the proprietors of the merchandizes laden thereon, from any port, to the pla­ces of those who now are or hereafter shall be at enmity with the Most Christian King or the United States. It shall likewise be lawful for the subjects and inhabitants aforesaid, to sail with the ships and merchandizes afore­mentioned, and to trade with the same liberty and secu­rity from the places, ports and havens of those who are enemies of both or either party, without any opposition [...] disturbance whatsoever, not only directly from the [Page 12] places of the enemy aforementioned, to neutral places; but also from one place belonging to an enemy, to another place belonging to an enemy, whether they be under the jurisdiction of the same prince, or under several. And it is hereby stipulated, that free ships shall also give a freedom to goods; and that every thing shall be deem­ed to be free and exempt, which shall be found on board the ships belonging to the subjects of either of the con­federates, although the whole lading or any part thereof should appertain to the enemies of either, contraband goods being always excepted. It is also agreed in like manner, that the same liberty be extended to persons who are on board a free ship, with this effect, that although they be enemies to both or either party, they are not to be taken out of that free ship, unless they are soldiers and in actual service of the enemy.

XXIV. This liberty of navigation and commerce shall extend to all kinds of merchandizes, excepting those only which are distinguished by the name of contraband, and under this name of contraband or prohibited goods shall be comprehended arms, great guns, bombs, with the fusees and other things belonging to them, cannon-ball, gun-powder, match, pikes, swords, lances, spears, halberds, mortars, petards, grenades, saltpetre, muskets, musket ball, bucklers, helmets, breast-plates, coats of mail, and the like kinds of arms, proper for arming sol­diers, musket-rests, belts, horses with their furniture, and all other warlike instruments whatever. These merchan­dizes that follow, shall not be reckoned among contra­band or prohibited goods; that is to say, all sorts of cloths, and all other manufactures woven of any wool, flax, silk, cotton, or any other materials whatever; all kinds of wearing apparel, together with the species where­of they are used to be made; gold and silver, as well coined as uncoined, tin, iron, latten, copper, brass, coals; as also wheat and barley, and any other kind of corn, and pulse, tobacco, and likewise all manner of spices, salted and smoaked flesh, salted fish, cheese and butter, beer, oils, wines, sugars, and all sorts of salts, and in general all provisions which serve for the nourishment of man­kind and the sustenance of life; furthermore, all kinds of cotton, hemp, flax, tar, pitch, ropes, cables, sails, sail-cloths, [Page 13] anchors, and any parts of anchor, also ships, masts, planks, boards, and beams of what trees soever: and all other things proper either for building or repairing ships, and all other goods whatever which have not been work­ed into the form of any instrument or thing prepared for war by land or by sea, shall not be reputed contraband, much less such as have been already wrought and made up for any other use; all which shall be wholly reckon­ed among free goods; as likewise all other merchandises and things which are not comprehended and particularly mentioned in the foregoing enumeration of contraband goods, so that they may be transported and carried in the freest manner by the subjects of both confederates, even to places belonging to an enemy—such towns or places being only excepted, as are at that time besieged, blocked up, or invested.

XXV. To the end that all manner of dissentions and quarrels may be avoided and prevented, on one side and the other, it is agreed, that in case either of the parties hereto should be engaged in war, the ships and vessels be­longing to the subjects or people of the other ally, must be furnished with sea letters or passports, expressing the name, property, and bulk of the ship, as also the name and place of habitation of the commander of the said ship, that it may appear thereby that the ship really and truly belongs to the subjects of one of the parties, which passport shall be made out and granted according to the form annexed to this treaty. They shall likewise be re­called every year, that is, if the ship happens to return home within the space of a year; it is likewise agreed, that such ships, being laden, are to be provided not only with passports as above mentioned, but also with certifi­cates, containing the several particulars of the cargo, the place whence the ship sailed, and whither she is bound; that so it may be known whether any forbidden or con­traband goods be on board the same; which certificates shall be made out by the officers of the place whence the ship set sail, in the accustomed form: and if any one shall think it fit or adviseable to express in the said certificates the person to whom the goods on board belong, he may freely do so.

XXVI. The ships of the subjects and inhabitants of [Page 14] either of the parties coming upon any coasts belonging to either of the said allies, but not willing to enter into port, or being entered into port, and not willing to unload their cargoes or break bulk, they shall be treated accord­ing to the general rules prescribed or to be prescribed re­lative to the object in question.

XXVII. If the ships of the said subjects, people, or inhabitants of either of the parties, shall be met with, either sailing along the coasts, or on the high seas, by any ships of war of the other, or by any privateers, the said ships of war or privateers for the avoiding of any dis­order, shall remain out of cannon shot, and may send their boats on board the merchant ship, which they shall so meet with; and may enter her to the number of two or three men only: to whom the master or commander of such ship or vessel shall exhibit his passport, concerning the property of the ship, made out according to the form inserted in this present Treaty: and the ship, when she shall have shewed such passport, shall be free and at liberty to pursue her voyage, so as it shall not be lawful to mo­lest or search her in any manner, or to give her chase, or force her to quit her intended course.

XXVIII. It is also agreed, that all goods, when once put on board the ships or vessels of either of the two contracting parties, shall be subject to no further visita­tion; but all visitation or search shall be made before­hand; and all prohibited goods shall be stopped on the spot before the same be put on board, unless there be manifest tokens or proofs of fraudulent practice: nor shall either the persons or goods of the subjects of his Most Christian Majesty, or the United States, be put un­der any arrest, or molested by any other kind of embar­go for that cause: and only the subject of that state to whom the said goods have been or shall be prohibited, and who shall presume to sell or alienate such sort of goods, shall be duly punished for the offence.

XXIX. The two contracting parties grant mutually the liberty of having each in the ports of the other, con­suls, vice-consuls, agents and commissaries, whose func­tions shall be regulated by a particular agreement.

XXX. And the more to favour and facilitate the commerce which the subjects of the United States may [Page 15] have with France, the Most Christian King will grant them in Europe, one or more free ports, where they may bring and dispose of all the produce and merchandise of the thirteen United States: and his Majesty will also con­tinue to the subjects of the said States, the free ports which have been and are open in the French islands of America; of all which free ports the said subjects of the United States shall enjoy the use, agreeably to the regu­lations which relate to them.

XXXI. The present Treaty shall be ratified on both sides, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in the space of six months, or sooner, if possible.

In faith whereof the respective plenipotentiarics have sign­ed the above articles, both in the French and English languages; declaring nevertheless, that the present Treaty was originally composed and concluded in the French language; and they have hereto affixed their seals.

THE Most Christian King, and the United States of North-America, to wit, New-Hampshire, Massa­chusetts-bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, having this day concluded a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, for the reciprocal advantage of their subjects and citizens, have thought it necessary to take into consideration the means of strengthening those engagements, and of render­ing them useful to the safety and tranquillity of the two parties; particularly in case Great-Britain, in resentment of that connexion, and of the good correspondence which is the object of the said treaty, should break the peace with France, either by direct hostilities, or by hindering her commerce and navigation in a manner contrary to the rights of nations, and the peace subsisting between the two crowns. And his Majesty and the said United States, having resolved in that case, to join their councils and efforts against the enterprises of their common enemy—

The respective Plenipotentiaries, empowered to concert the clauses and conditions proper to fulfil the said inten­tions, have, after the most mature deliberation, concluded and determined on the following articles.

I. If war should break out between France and Great-Britain, during the continuance of the present war be­tween the United States and England, his Majesty and the said United States shall make it a common cause, and aid each other mutually with their good offices, their counsels, and their forces, according to the exigence of conjunctures, as becomes good and faithful allies.

[Page 17]II. The essential and direct end of the present defen­sive alliance is, to maintain effectually the liberty, sover­eignty, and independence, absolute and unlimited, of the said United States, as well in matters of government, as of commerce.

III. The two contracting parties shall, each on its own part, and in the manner it may judge most proper, make all the efforts in its power against their common enemy, in order to attain the end proposed.

IV. The contracting parties agree, that in case either of them should form any particular enterprise, in which the concurrence of the other may be desired, the party, whose concurrence is desired, shall readily and with good faith join to act in concert for that purpose, as far as cir­cumstances and its own particular situation will permit. And in that case, they shall regulate by a particular con­vention, the quantity and kind of succour to be furnished, and the time and manner of its being brought into action, as well as the advantages which are to be its com­pensation.

V. If the United States should think fit to attempt the reduction of the British power, remaining in the north­ern parts of America, or the islands of Bermudas, those countries or islands, in case of success, shall be confede­rated with, or dependent upon the said United States.

VI. The Most Christian King renounces forever, the possession of the islands of Bermudas, as well as of any part of the continent of North-America, which before the Treaty of Paris, in 1763, or in virtue of that Treaty, were acknowledged to belong to the crown of Great-Britain, or to the United States, heretofore called British colonies, or which are at this time, or have lately been under the power of the king and crown of Great-Britain.

VII. If his Most Christian Majesty shall think proper to attack any of the islands situated in the gulf of Mexico, or near that gulf, which are at present under the power of Great-Britain, all the said isles, in case of success, shall appertain to the crown of France.

VIII. Neither of the two parties shall conclude either trace or peace with Great-Britain, without the formal consent of the other first obtained: and they mutually engage not to lay down their arms, until the independ­ence [Page 18] of the United States shall have been formally or tacitly assured, by the treaty or treaties that shall termin­ate the war.

IX. The contracting parties declare, that being re­solved to fulfil each on its own part, the clauses and con­ditions of the present Treaty of Alliance, according to its own power and circumstances, there shall be no after-claim of compensation, on one side or the other, whatever may be the event of the war.

X. The Most Christian King and the United States, agree to invite or admit other powers, who may have received injuries from England, to make a common cause with them, and to accede to the present alliance, under such conditions as shall be freely agreed to, and settled between all the parties.

XI. The two parties guarantee mutually from the present time and forever, against all other powers, to wit, the United States to his Most Christian Majesty, the pres­ent possessions of the crown of France in America, as well as those which it may acquire by the future Treaty of Peace: and his Most Christian Majesty guarantees on his part to the United States, their liberty, sovereignty, and independence, absolute and unlimited, as well in matters of government, as commerce—and also their possessions, and the additions or conquests that their con­federation may obtain during the war, from any of the dominions now or heretofore possessed by Great-Britain in North-America, conformable to the fifth and sixth articles above-written; the whole, as their possessions, shall be fixed and assured to the said states, at the moment of the cessation of their present war with England.

XII. In order to fix more precisely the sense and ap­plication of the preceding article, the contracting parties declare, that in case of a rupture between France and England, the reciprocal guarantee declared in the said article, shall have its full force and effect, the moment such war shall break out: and if such [...] shall not take place, the mutual obligations of the said guarantee shall not commence until the momen [...] of th [...] [...]tion of the present war, between the United State [...] and England, shall have ascertained their possession.

XIII. The present Treaty shall be ratified on both [Page 19] sides, and the ratification shall be exchanged in the space of six months, or sooner, if possible.

In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries, to wit, on the part of the Most Christian King, Conrad Alexan­der Gerard, royal syndic of the city of Strasbourg, and secretary of his Majesty's council of state—and on the part of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, deputy to the general Congress from the state of Pennsylvania, and president of the Convention of said state—Silas Deane, heretofore deputy from the state of Connecticut—and Arthur Lee, counsellor at law, have signed the above articles both in the French and English languages; de­claring, nevertheless, that the present Treaty was origin­ally composed and concluded in the French language; and they have hereunto affixed their seals.

IT having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most serene and most potent prince George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great-Britain, 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 past misunderstandings and dif­ferences, that have unhappily interrupted the good cor­respondence and friendship which they mutually wish to restore—and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse between the two countries, upon the ground of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience, as may promote and secure to both perpetual peace and har­mony—and having for this desireable end already laid the foundation of peace and reconciliation, by the provi­sional articles, signed at Paris, on the 30th of November, 1782, by the commissioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inserted in, and to con­stitute the treaty of peace proposed to be concluded be­tween the crown of Great-Britain, and the said United States, but which treaty was not to be concluded until terms of peace [...]uld be agreed upon between Great-Britain and France, and his Britannic majesty should be ready to conclude such treaty accordingly—and the treaty between Great-Britain and France having since been concluded, his Britannic majesty and the United States of America, in order to carry into full effect the provisional articles above mentioned, according to the tenor thereof, have constituted and appointed, that is to say, his Britannic majesty on his part, David Hartley, Esq. member of the parliament of Great-Britain; and the said United States on their part, John Adams, [Page 21] Esq. late a commissioner of the United States of Ameri­ca, at the court of Versailles, late delegate in Congress from the state of Massachusetts, and chief justice of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary of the said United States, to their high mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Esq. late delegate in Congress, from the state of Pennsylvania, president of the convention of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, at the court of Versailles; and John Jay, Esq. late president of Congress, chief justice of the state of New-York, and minister plenipotentiary from the said United States, at the court of Madrid—to be the plenipotentiaries for con­cluding and signing the present definitive treaty; who, after having reciprocally communicated their respective full powers, have agreed upon and confirmed the follow­ing articles.

ART. I. His Britannic majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz. New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode-Island and Providence plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary­land, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Geor­gia, to be free, sovereign, and independent states; that he treats with them as such, and for himself, his heirs and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, pro­priety, and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof.

II. And that all disputes, which might arise in future, on the subject of the boundaries of the said United States, may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall 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 source of St. Croix river to the highlands, along the said highlands, which divide those rivers that empty them­selves into the river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean, to the north-westernmost 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 west on said latitude, until it strikes the river Iriquois or Cataraquy; thence along the mid­dle of said river into Lake Ontario; through the middle [Page 22] of said lake until it strikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie; thence along the mid­dle of said communication into Lake Erie; through the middle of said lake until it arrives at the water commu­nication between that lake and Lake Huron; thence along the middle of said water communication into the Lake Huron; thence through the middle of said lake to the water communication between that lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior northward of the isles Royal and Philipeaux to the Long Lake; thence thro' the middle of said Long Lake and the water commu­nication between it and the Lake of the Woods, to the said Lake of the Woods; thence through the said lake to the most north-western point thereof, and from thence on a due west course to the river Mississippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of the said river Mississippi until it shall intersect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude. South, by a [...]e to be drawn due east from the determination of the line last mentioned in the latitude of thirty-one degrees north of the equator, to the middle of the river Apalachicola, or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junc­tion with the Flint river; thence strait 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 source; and from its source directly north to the aforesaid highlands, which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic ocean, from those which fall into the river St. Lawrence, comprehend­ing all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due east from the points where the aforesaid bound­aries between Nova-Scotia on the one part, and Fast-Flo­rida on the other, shall respectively touch the bay of Fun­dy, and the Atlantic ocean, excepting such islands as now are, or heretofore have been within the limits of the said province of Nova-Scotia.

III. It is agreed, that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy, unmolested, the right to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all the other banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of St. [Page 23] Lawrence, and at all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries used at any time heretofore to fish. And also, that the inhabitants of the United States shall have liberty to take fish of every kind on such part of the coast of Newfoundland, as British fishermen shall use (but not to dry or cure the same on that island) and also on the coasts, bays and creeks of all other of his Britannic majesty's dominions in America; and that the American fishermen shall have liberty to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbours and creeks of Nova-Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled; but so soon as the same or either of them shall be settled, it shall not be law­ful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such set­tlement, without a previous agreement for that purpose, with the inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors of the ground.

IV. It is agreed, that creditors on either side, shall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value, in sterling money, of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted.

V. It is agreed, that the Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the legislatures of the respective states, to provide for the restitution of all estates, rights, and properties, which have been confiscated, belonging to real British subjects: and also of the estates, rights, and properties of persons resident in dis­tricts in the possession of his majesty's arms, and who have not borne arms against the said U. States; and that persons of any other discription, shall have free liberty to go to any part or parts of any of the thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve months unmolested in their endeavours to ob­tain the restitution of such of their estates, rights, and proper­ties, as may have been confiscated; and that Congress shall al­so earnestly recommend to the several states, a re-consideration and revision of all acts or laws regarding the premises, so as to render the said laws or acts perfectly consistent, not only with justice and equity, but with that spirit of conciliation, which, on the return of the blessings of peace, should universally pre­vail: and that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several sta [...]es, that the estates, rights, and properties of such last mentioned persons shall be restored to them, they refunding to any persons who may be now in possession, the bona fide price (where any has been given) which such persons may have paid, on purchasing any of the said lands, rights, or proper­ties since the confiscation. And it is agreed, that all persons, who have any interest in confiscated lands, either by debts, marriage settlement [...], or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful imp [...]l [...]nt at in the prosec [...]tion of their just rights.

[Page 24]VI. That there shall be no future confiscations made, nor any prosecutions commenced against any person or persons for, or by reason of the part which he or they may have taken in the present war: and that no person shall, on that account, suffer any future loss or damage, either in his person, liberty, or property: and that those, who may be in confinement on such charges, at the time of the ratification of the treaty in America, shall be immediately set at liberty, and the prosecu­tion, so commenced, be discontinued.

VII. There shall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannic majesty and the said states, and between the subjects of the one, and the citizens of the other: wherefore, all hos­tilities, both by sea and land, shall from henceforth cease: all prisoners, on both sides, shall be set at liberty: and his Britan­nic majesty shall, with all convenient speed, and without caus­ing any destruction, or carrying away any negroes, or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrisons, and sleets from the said United States, and from every post, place, and harbour within the same, leaving in all fortifi­cations the American artillery that may be therein; and shall also order and cause all archives, records, deeds, and papers belonging to any of the said states, or their citizens, which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands of his officers, to be forthwith restored, and delivered to the proper states and persons to whom they belong.

VIII. The navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great-Britain, and the citizens of the United States.

IX. In case it should so happen, that any place or territo­ry belonging to Great-Britain, or to the United States, should have been conquered by the arms of either from the other, before the arrival of the said provisional articles in America, it is agreed, that the same shall be restored without difficult, and without requiring any compensation.

X. The solemn ratifications of the present treaty, expedit­ed in good and due form, shall be exchanged between the con­tracting parties in the space of six months, or sooner, if possi­ble, to be computed from the day of the signature of the pre­sent treaty. In witness whereof, we the undersigned, their ministers plenipotentiary, have, in their name, and in virtue of our full powers, signed with our hands, the present definitive treaty, and caused the seals of our arms to be affixed thereto.

HIS Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, being desirous, by a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, to terminate their differences in such a manner, as, without reference to the merits of their respective complaints and pretensions, may be the best calculated to produce mutual satisfaction and good understanding: and also to regulate the Commerce and Navigation between their respective countries, territories and people, in such a manner as to render the same re­ciprocally beneficial and satisfactory; they have, respec­tively, named their Plenipotentiaries, and given them full power to treat of, and conclude, the said Treaty, that is to say: his Britannic Majesty has named for his Plenipo­tentiary, the Right Honorable William Windham, Baron Grenville, of Wotton, one of his Majesty's Privy Coun­cil, and his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Fo­reign Affairs; and the President of the said United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, hath appointed for their Plenipotentiary, the Honorable John Jay, Chief Justice of the said United States, and their Envoy Extraordinary to his Majesty, who have agreed and concluded the following articles:

It is further agreed between the said contracting par­ties, that the operation of so much of the twelfth article of the said treaty as respect the trade which his said Ma­jesty thereby consents may be carried on between the Uni­ted States and his Islands in the West-Indies, in the man­ner and on the terms and conditions therein specified, shall be suspended.

Whereas by the third article of the Treaty of Amity, Com­merce, and Navigation, concluded at London on the 19th day of November, 1794, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, it was agreed, that it should at all times be free to his Majesty's subjects and to the citizens of the United States, and also to the Indians dwelling on either side of the boundary line assigned by the Treaty of Peace to the United States, freely to pass and repass, by land or inland navigation, into the respective territories and countries of the two contract­ing parties on the continent of America (the bay company only excepted) and to navigate all the lakes, rivers, and waters there­of, and freely to carry on trade and commerce with each other, subject to the provisions and limitations contained in the first article [...] and whereas by the 8th article of the treaty of peace and friendship concluded at Gr [...]ville, on the 3d day of August. 1795, between the United States and the nations or tribes of Indians called the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanees, Ottawas, Ch [...]ppewas, Pattawatunies, Miamies, [...]lkias, it was stipulated, that no person should be permitted to reside at any of the towns or having camps of the said Indian tribes as a trader, who is [...] [...]r [...]i [...]hed with a [...] for that purpose, [...] the authori­ty [Page 48] of the United States, which latter stipulation has excited doubts whether in its operation it may not interfere with the due execution of the said article of the Treaty of Amity, Com­merce, and Navigation; and it being the sincere desire of his Britannic Majesty, and of the United States, that this point should be so explained as to remove all doubts, and to promote mutual satisfaction and friendship; and for this purpose his Britannic Majesty having named for his Commissioner, PHINEAS BOND, Esq. his Majesty's consul general for the middle and southern states of America (and his Majesty's charge d'affairs to the United States) and the President of the United States having named for their Commissioner, TIMOTHY PICKERING, Esq. Secretary of State for the United States, to whom, agreeably to the laws of the United States, he has intrusted this negociation.

They the said Commissioners, having communicated to each other their full powers, have, in virtue of the same, and conform­ably to the spirit of the last article of the said Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, entered into this explanatory arti­cle, and now, by these presents, explicitly agree and declare, that no stipulations in any treaty subsequently concluded by either of the contracting parties within any other state or nation, or with any Indian tribe, can be understood to derogate in any manner from the rights and free intercourse and commerce se­cured by the aforesaid third article of the treaty to the subjects of his Majesty, and to the citizens of the United States, and Indians dwelling on either side of the boundary line aforesaid; but that all the said persons shall remain at full liberty freely to pass and repass, by land or inland navigation, into the respective territories and countries of the contracting parties, on either side of the said boundary line, and freely to carry on trade and commerce with each other, according to the stipulations of the said third article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navi­gation. This explanatory article, when the same shall have been ratified by his Majesty, and by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and the respective ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be added to make a part of the said Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, and shall be permanently binding upon his Majesty and the United States.

In witness whereof, we the said Commissioners of his Majesty the King of Great-Britain and the United States of America, have signed this explanatory article, and thereto affixed our seals.

HIS Catholic Majesty and the United States of A­merica, desiring to consolidate, on a permanent basis, the friendship and good correspondence, which hap­pily prevails between the two parties, have determined to establish, by a convention, several points, the settle­ment whereof will be productive of general advantage and reciprocal utility to both nations.

With this intention, his Catholic Majesty has appoint­ed the most excellent Lord, don Manuel de Godoy, and Alvarez de Faria, Rios, Sanchez, Zarzosa, Prince de la Paz, duke de la Alcudia, lord of the Soto de Roma and of the state of Albala, Grandee of Spain of the first class, perpetual regidor of the city of Santiago, knight of the illustrious order of the Golden Fleece, and Great Cross of the Royal and distinguished Spanish order of Charles the IIId. commander of Valencia, del Ventoso, Rivera, and Acenchal in that of Santiago; Knight and Great Cross of the religious order of St. John; Counsel­lor of state; first Secretary of state and despacho; Sec­retary to the Queen; Superintendant General of the posts and highways; Protector of the royal Academy of the noble arts, and of the royal societies of natural his­tory, botany, chemistry, and astronomy; Gentleman of the King's chamber in employment; Captain General of his armies; Inspector and Major of the royal corps of body guards, &c. &c. &c. and the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of their Senate, has appointed Thomas Pinckney, a citizen of the United States, and their Envoy Extraordinary to his Catholic Majesty. And the said Plenipotentiaries have agreed upon and con­cluded the following articles:

ARTICLE I. There shall be a firm and inviolable peace and sincere friendship between his Catholic Majesty, his successors and [Page 50] subjects, and the United States, and their citizens, with­out exception of persons or places.

ART. II. To prevent all disputes on the subject of the boundaries which separate the territories of the two high contracting parties, it is hereby declared and agreed as follows, to wit. The southern boundary of the United States, which divides their territory from the Spanish colonies of East and West Florida, shall be designated by a line beginning on the river Missisippi, at the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of latitude north of the equa­tor, which from thence shall be drawn due east to the middle of the river Apalachicola, or Catahouche, thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint: thence strait to the head of St. Mary's river, and thence down the middle thereof to the Atlantic ocean. And it is agreed, that if there should be any troops, garrisons, or settlements of either party, in the territory of the other, according to the abovementioned boundaries, they shall be withdrawn from the said territory within the term of six months after the ratification of this treaty, or sooner if it be possible; and that they shall be permitted to take with them all the goods and effects which they possess.

ART. III. In order to carry the preceding article into effect, one commissioner and one surveyor shall be ap­pointed by each of the contracting parties, who shall meet at the Natchez, on the left side of the river Missisippi, be­fore the expiration of six months from the ratification of this convention, and they shall proceed to run and mark this boundary according to the stipulations of the said article. They shall make plats and keep journals of their proceedings, which shall be considered as part of this convention, and shall have the same force as if they were inserted therein. And if on any account it should be found necessary that the said commissioners and survey­ors should be accompanied by guards, they shall be fur­nished in equal proportions by the commanding officer of his Majesty's troops in the two Floridas, and the com­manding officer of the troops of the United States in their southwestern territory, who shall act by common consent, and amicably, as well with respect to this point as to the furnishing of provisions and instruments, and making every other arrangement which may be necessary or useful for the execution of this article.

[Page 51]ART. IV. It is likewise agreed that the western boun­dary of the United States which separates them from the Spanish colony of Louisiana, is in the middle of the chan­nel or bed of the river Missisippi, from the northern boun­dary of the said states to the completion of the thirty-first degree of latitude north of the equator. And his Catholic Majesty has likewise agreed that the navigation of the said river, in its whole breadth from its source to the ocean, shall be free only to his subjects and the citi­zens of the United States, unless he should extend this privilege to the subjects of other powers by special con­vention.

ART. V. The two high contracting parties shall, by all the means in their power, maintain peace and har­mony among the several Indian nations who inhabit the country adjacent to the lines and rivers, which, by the preceding articles, form the boundaries of the two Flori­das. And the better to obtain this effect, both parties oblige themselves expressly to restrain by force all hostil­ities on the part of the Indian nations living within their boundary: so that Spain will not suffer her Indians to attack the citizens of the United States, nor the Indians inhabiting their territory; nor will the United States permit these last-mentioned Indians to commence hos­tilities against the subjects of his Catholic Majesty or his Indians, in any manner whatever.

And whereas several treaties of friendship exist between the two contracting parties and the said nations of Indians, it is hereby agreed that in future no treaty of alliance or other whatever (except treaties of peace) shall be made by either party with the Indians living within the boun­dary of the other, but both parties will endeavour to make the advantages of the Indian trade common and mutually beneficial to their respective subjects and citizens, observing in all things the most complete reciprocity, so that both parties may obtain the advantages arising from a good understanding with the said nations, without be­ing subject to the expence which they have hitherto occa­sioned.

ART. VI. Each party shall endeavour, by all means in their power, to protect and defend all vessels and other effects belonging to the citizens or subjects of the other, [Page 52] which shall be within the extent of their jurisdiction by sea or by land, and shall use all their efforts to recover and cause to be restored to the right owners, their vessels and effects which may have been taken from them within the extent of their said jurisdiction, whether they are at war or not with the power whose subjects have taken posses­sion of the said effects.

ART. VII. And it is agreed that the subjects or citi­zens of each of the contracting parties, their vessels or effects, shall not be liable to any embargo or detention on the part of the other, for any military expedition or other public or private purpose whatever: And in all cases of seizure, detention, or arrest for debts contracted, or offences committed by any citizen or subject of the one party within the jurisdiction of the other, the same shall be made and prosecuted by order and authority of law only, and according to the regular course of proceedings usual in such cases. The citizens and subjects of both parties shall be allowed to employ such advocates, solicitors, no­taries, agents and factors, as they may judge proper, in all their affairs, and in all their trials at law, in which they may be concerned, before the tribunals of the other party; and such agents shall have free access to be pre­sent at the proceedings in such causes, and at the taking of all examinations and evidence which may be exhibited in the said trials.

ART. VIII. In case the subjects and inhabitants of either party, with their shipping, whether public and of war, or private and of merchants, be forced, through stress of weather, pursuit of pirates or enemies, or any other urgent necessity, for seeking of shelter and harbour, to retreat and enter into any of the rivers, bays, roads or ports belonging to the other party, they shall be received and treated with all humanity, and enjoy all favour, pro­tection and help, and they shall be permitted to refresh and provide themselves, at reasonable rates, with victuals and all things needful for the sustenance of their persons, or reparation of their ships and prosecution of their voyage; and they shall no ways be hindered from returning out of the said ports or roads, but may remove and de­part when and whither they please, without any let or hindrance.

[Page 53]ART. IX. All ships and merchandize, of what nature soever, which shall be rescued out of the hands of any pirates or robbers on the high seas, shall be brought into some port of either state, and shall be delivered to the custody of the officers of that port, in order to be taken care of, and restored entire to the true proprietor, as soon as due and sufficient proof shall be made concerning the property thereof.

ART. X. When any vessel of either party shall be wrecked, foundered, or otherwise damaged, on the coasts or within the dominion of the other, their respective sub­jects or citizens shall receive, as well for themselves as for their vessels and effects, the same assistance which would be due to the inhabitants of the country where the dam­age happens, and shall pay the same charges and dues only as the said inhabitants would be subject to pay in a like case: And if the operations of repair should require that the whole or any part of the cargo be unladen, they shall pay no duties, charges or fees on the part which they shall relade and cary away.

ART. XI. The citizens and subjects of each party shall have power to dispose of their personal goods with­in the jurisdiction of the other, by testament, donation or otherwise, and their representatives being subjects or citi­zens of the other party, shall succeed to their said personal goods whether by testament or ab intestato, and they may take possession thereof, either by themselves or others act­ing for them, and dispose of the same at their will, pay­ing such dues as the inhabitants of the country wherein the said goods are, shall be subject to pay in like cases.

And in case of the absence of the representatives, such care shall be taken of the said goods, as would be taken of the goods of a native in like case, until the lawful own­er may take measures for receiving them. And if ques­tions shall arise among several claimants to which of them the said goods belong, the same shall be decided finally by the laws and judges of the land wherein the said goods are. And where, on the death of any person holding real estate within the territories of the one party, such real estate would by the laws of the land descend on a citizen or subject of the other, were he not disqualified by being an alien, such subject shall be allowed a reason­able [Page 54] time to sell the same, and to withdraw the proceed, without molestation, and exempt from all rights of de­traction on the part of the government of the respective states.

ART. XII. The merchant-ships of either of the parties which shall be making into a port belonging to the enemy of the other party, and concerning whose voyage, and the species of goods on board her, there shall be just grounds of suspicion, shall be obliged to exhibit as well upon the high seas as in the ports and havens, not only her passports, but likewise certificates, expressly shewing that her goods are not of the number of those which have been prohibited as contraband.

ART. XIII. For the better promoting of commerce on both sides, it is agreed, that if a war shall break out between the said two nations, one year after the procla­mation of war shall be allowed to the merchants, in the cities and towns where they shall live, for collecting and transporting their goods and merchandizes: And if any thing be taken from them or any injury be done them within that term, by either party, or the people or sub­jects of either, full satisfaction shall be made for the same by the government.

ART. XIV. No subject of his Catholic Majesty shall apply for, or take any commission or letters of marque, for arming any ship or ships to act as privateers against the said United States, or against the citizens, people or inhabitants of the said United States, or against the pro­perty of any of the inhabitants of any of them, from any prince or state with which the said United States shall be at war.

Nor shall any citizen, subject or inhabitant of the said United States apply for or take any commission or let­ters of marque for arming any ship or ships to act as pri­vateers against the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, or the property of any of them, from any prince or state with which the said king shall be at war. And if any person of either nation shall take such commissions or let­ters of marque, he shall be punished as a pirate.

ART. XV. It shall be lawful for all and singular the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, and the citizens, people and inhabitants of the said United States, to sail with [Page 55] their ships, with all manner of liberty and security, no distinction being made who are the proprietors of the merchandizes laden thereon, from any port to the places of those who now are, or hereafter shall be at enmity with his Catholic Majesty or the United States. It shall be likewise lawful for the subjects and inhabitants afore­said, to sail with the ships and merchandizes aforemen­tioned, and to trade with the same liberty and security from the places, ports and havens of those who are ene­mies of both or either party, without any opposition or disturbance whatsoever, not only directly from the places of the enemy aforementioned, to neutral places, but also from one place belonging to an enemy, to another place belonging to an enemy, whether they be under the juris­diction of the same prince or under several; and it is hereby stipulated, that free ships shall also give freedom to goods, and that every thing shall be deemed free and exempt which shall be found on board the ships belong­ing to the subjects of either of the contracting parties, although the whole lading, or any part thereof, should appertain to the enemies of either: Contraband goods being always excepted. It is also agreed, that the same liberty be extended to persons who are on board a free ship, so that although they be enemies to either party, they shall not be made prisoners or taken out of that free ship, unless they are soldiers and in actual service of the enemies.

ART. XVI. This liberty of navigation and commerce shall extend to all kinds of merchandizes, excepting those only, which are distinguished by the name of contraband: And under this name of contraband or prohibited goods, shall be comprehended arms, great guns, bombs, with the fusees, and the other things belonging to them, can­non-ball, gunpowder, match, pikes, swords, lances, spears, halberds, mortars, petards, grenades, saltpetre, mus­quets, musquet-ball, bucklers, helmets, breast-plates, coats of mail, and the like kinds of arms, proper for arming soldiers, musquet rests, belts, horses with their furniture, and all other warlike instruments whatever. These mer­chandizes which follow, shall not be reckoned among contraband or prohibited goods: That is to say, all sorts of cloths, and all other manufactures woven of any wool, [Page 56] flax, silk, cotton, or any other materials whatever; all kinds of wearing apparel, together with all species where­of they are used to be made; gold and silver, as well coined as uncoined, tin, iron, latten, copper, brass, coals; as also wheat, barley and oats, and any other kind of corn and pulse; tobacco, and likewise all manner of spices, salted and smoked flesh, salted fish, cheese and but­ter, beer, oils, wines, sugars, and all sorts of salts: And in general, all provisions which serve for the sustenance of life: Furthermore, all kinds of cotton, hemp, flax, tar, pitch, ropes, cables, sails, sail-cloths, anchors, and any parts of anchors, also ships' masts, planks and wood of all kind, and all other things proper either for building or repairing ships, and all other goods whatever, which have not been worked into the form of any instrument prepared for war, by land or by sea, shall not be reputed contraband, much less, such as have been already wrought and made up for any other use; all which shall be wholly reckoned among free goods: As likewise all oth­er merchandizes and things which are not comprehended and particularly mentioned in the foregoing enumeration of contraband goods: So that they may be transported and carried in the freest manner by the subjects of both parties, even to places belonging to an enemy, such towns or places being only excepted, as are at that time besieg­ed, blocked up, or invested. And except the cases in which any ship of war, or squadron shall, in consequence of storms or other accidents at sea, be under the necessity of taking the cargo of any trading vessel or vessels, in which case they may stop the said vessel or vessels, and furnish themselves with necessaries, giving a receipt, in order that the power to whom the said ship of war be­longs, may pay for the articles so taken, according to the price thereof, at the port to which they may appear to have been destined by the ship's papers; and the two contracting parties engage, that the vessels shall not be detained longer than may be absolutely necessary for their said ships to supply themselves with necessaries: That they will immediately pay the value of the receipts, and indemnify the proprietor for all losses which he may have sustained in consequence of such transaction.

ART. XVII. To the end, that all manner of dissen­tions [Page 57] and quarrels may be avoided and prevented on one side and the other, it is agreed, that in case either of the parties hereto, should be engaged in a war, the ships and vessels belonging to the subjects or people of the other party must be furnished with sea-letters or passports, ex­pressing the name, property, and bulk of the ship, as also the name and place of habitation of the master or com­mander of the said ship, that it may appear thereby, that the ship really and truly belongs to the subjects of one of the parties, which passport shall be made out and granted according to the form annexed to this treaty. They shall likewise be recalled every year, that is, if the ship hap­pens to return home within the space of a year.

It is likewise agreed, that such ships being laden, are to be provided not only with passports as above-mention­ed, but also with certificates, containing the several par­ticulars of the cargo, the place whence the ship sailed, that so it may be known whether any forbidden or con­traband goods be on board the same: which certificates shall be made out by the officers of the place whence the ship sailed in the accustomed form: And if any one shall think it fit or advisable to express in the said certificates, the person to whom the goods on board belong, he may freely do so: Without which requisites they may be sent to one of the ports of the other contracting party, and adjudged by the competent tribunal, according to what is above set forth, that all the circumstances of this omis­sion having been well examined, they shall be adjudged to be legal prizes, unless they shall give legal satisfaction of their property by testimony entirely equivalent.

ART. XVIII. If the ships of the said subjects, people, or inhabitants of either of the parties, shall be met with, either sailing along the coasts or on the high seas, by any ship of war of the other, or by any privateer, the said ship of war or privateer for the avoiding of any disorder, shall remain out of cannon shot, and may send their boats a-board the merchant ship, which they shall so meet with, and may enter her to the number of two or three men only, to whom the master or commander of such ship or vessel shall exhibit his passports, concerning the property of the ship, made out according to the form inserted in this present treaty, and the ship when she shall have shewed [Page 58] such passport, shall be free and at liberty to pursue her voy­age, so as it shall not be lawful to molest or give her chace in any manner, or force her to quit her intended course.

ART. XIX. Consuls shall be reciprocally established, with the privileges and powers which those of the most favoured nations enjoy, in the ports where their consuls reside or are permitted to be.

ART. XX. It is also agreed that the inhabitants of the territories of each party shall respectively have free access to the courts of justice of the other, and they shall be permitted to prosecute suits for the recovery of their properties, the payment of their debts, and for obtaining satisfaction for the damages which they may have sustain­ed, whether the persons whom they may sue be subjects or citizens of the country in which they may be found, or any other persons whatsoever, who may have taken refuge therein; and the proceedings and sentences of the said courts shall be the same as if the contending parties had been subjects or citizens of the said country.

ART. XXI. In order to terminate all differences on account of the losses sustained by the citizens of the Uni­ted States in consequence of their vessels and cargoes having been taken by the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, during the late war between Spain and France, it is agreed that all such cases shall be referred to the final de­cision of commissioners to be appointed in the following manner. His Catholic Majesty shall name one commis­sioner, and the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of their Senate, shall appoint another, and the said two commissioners shall agree on the choice of a third, or if they cannot agree so, they shall each propose one person, and of the two names so proposed, one shall be drawn by lot in the presence of the two original commissioners, and the person whose name shall be so drawn, shall be the third commissioner: And the three commissioners so appointed, shall be sworn impartially to examine and decide the claims in question, according to the merits of the several cases, and to jus­tice, equity, and the laws of nations. The said commis­sioners shall meet and sit at Philadelphia: And in the case of the death, sickness, or necessary absence of any such commissioner, his place shall be supplied in the same [Page 59] manner as he was first appointed, and the new commis­sioner shall take the same oaths, and do the same duties. They shall receive all complaints and applications author­ized by this article, during eighteen months from the day on which they shall assemble. They shall have pow­er to examine all such persons as come before them on oath or affirmation, touching the complaints in question, and also to receive in evidence all written testimony, au­thenticated in such manner as they shall think proper to require or admit. The award of the said commissioners, or any two of them, shall be final and conclusive, both as to the justice of the claim and the amount of the sum to be paid to the claimants; and his Catholic Majesty un­dertakes to cause the same to be paid in specie, without deduction, at such times and places, and under such con­ditions as shall be awarded by the said commissioners.

ART. XXII. The two high contracting parties, hop­ing that the good correspondence and friendship which happily reigns between them, will be further encreased by this treaty, and that it will contribute to augment their prosperity and opulence, will in future give to their mutual commerce all the extension and favour which the advantages of both countries may require.

And in consequence of the stipulations contained in the 4th article, his Catholic Majesty will permit the citizens of the U­nited States, for the space of three years from this time, to de­posit their merchandizes and effects in the port of New-Orleans, and to export them from thence without paying any other duty than a fair price for the hire of the stores, and his Majesty pro­mises either to continue this permission, if he finds during that time that it is not prejudicial to the interests of Spain, or if he should not agree to continue it there, he will assign to them, on another part of the banks of the Missisippi, an equivalent establishment.

ART. XXIII. The present treaty shall not be in force un­til ratified by the contracting parties, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in six months from this time, or sooner if possible.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we, the underwritten plenipotentiaries of his Catholic Majesty and of the United States of Ame­rica, have signed this present treaty of friendship, limits and navigation, and have thereunto affixed our seals respectively.

ARTICLE I. FROM the date of the present treaty, there shall sub­sist a firm and sincere peace and amity between the President and citizens of the United States of North-America, and Hassan Bashaw, Dey of Algiers, his Divan and subjects; the vessels and subjects of both nations re­ciprocally treating each other with civility, honor and respect.

ART. II. All vessels belonging to the citizens of the United States of North-America, shall be permitted to enter the different ports of the Regency, to trade with our subjects, or any other persons residing within our ju­risdiction, on paying the usual duties at our custom-house that is paid by all nations at peace with this Regency; observing that all goods disembarked and not sold here shall be permitted to be reimbarked without paying any [Page 62] duty whatever, either for disembarking or embarking. All naval and military stores, such as gunpowder, lead, iron, plank, sulphur, timber for building, tar, pitch, rosin, turpentine, and any other goods denominated naval and military stores, shall be permitted to be sold in this Re­gency, without paying any duties whatever at the custom­house of this Regency.

ART. III. The vessels of both nations shall pass each other without any impediment or molestation; and all goods, monies or passengers, of whatsoever nation, that may be on board of the vessels belonging to either party, shall be considered as inviolable, and shall be allowed to pass unmolested.

ART. IV. All ships of war belonging to this Regen­cy, on meeting with merchant vessels belonging to citi­zens of the United States, shall be allowed to visit them with two persons only beside the rowers; these two only permitted to go on board said vessel, without obtaining express leave from the commander of said vessel, who shall compare the passport, and immediately pe [...]it said vessel to proceed on her voyage unmolested. All ships of war belonging to the United States of North-America, on meeting with an Algerine cruiser, and shall have seen her passport and certificate from the Consul of the Uni­ted States of North-America, resident in this Regency, shall be permitted to proceed on her cruise unmolested: No passport to be issued to any ships but such as are abso­lutely the property of citizens of the United States: and eighteen months shall be the term allowed for furnishing the ships of the United States with passports.

ART. V. No commander of any cruiser belonging to this Regency, shall be allowed to take any person, of whatever nation or denomination, out of any vessel be­longing to the United States of North-America, in order to examine them, or under pretence of making them confess any thing desired; neither shall they inflict any corporal punishment, or any way else molest them.

ART. VI. If any vessel belonging to the United States of North-America, shall be stranded on the coast of this Regency, they shall receive every possible assistance from the subjects of this Regency: all goods saved from the wreck shall be permitted to be reimbarked on board of [Page 63] any other vessel, without paying any duties at the cus­tom-house.

ART. VII. The Algerines are not, on any pretence whatever, to give or fell any vessel of war to any nation at war with the United States of North-America, or any vessel capable of cruising to the detriment of the com­merce of the United States.

ART. VIII. Any citizen of the United States of North-America, having bought any prize condemned by the Algerines, shall not be again captured by the cruisers of the Regency then at sea, although they have not a passport; a certificate from the consul resident being deemed sufficient, until such time as they can procure such passport.

ART. IX. If any of the Barbary states at war with the United States of North-America, shall capture any American vessel and bring her into any of the ports of this Regency, they shall not be permitted to sell her, but shall depart the port on procuring the requisite supplies of provision.

ART. X. Any vessel belonging to the United States of North-America, when at war with any other nation, shall be permitted to send their prizes into the ports of the Regency, have leave to dispose of them, without pay­ing any duties on sale thereof. All vessels wanting pro­visions or refreshments, shall be permitted to buy them at market price.

ART. XI. All ships of war belonging to the United States of North-America, on anchoring in the ports of the Regency, shall receive the usual presents of provisions and refreshments, gratis. Should any of the slaves of this Regency make their escape on board said vessels, they shall he immediately returned: No excuse shall be made that they have hid themselves amongst the people and cannot be found, or any other equivocation.

ART. XII. No citizen of the United States of North-America, shall be obliged to to redeem any slave against his will, even should he be his brother: neither shall the owner of a slave be forced to sell him against his will: but all such agreements must be made by consent of par­ties. Should any American citizen be taken on board an enemy-ship, by the cruisers of this Regency, having a [Page 64] regular passport, specifying they are citizens of the Uni­ted States, they shall be immediately set at liberty. On the contrary, they having no passport, they and their pro­perty shall be considered lawful prize; as this Regency know their friends by their passports.

ART. XIII. Should any of the citizens of the Uni­ted States of North-America, die within the limits of this Regency, the Dey and his subjects shall not interfere with the property of the deceased; but it shall be under the immediate direction of the consul: unless otherwise disposed of by will. Should there be no consul, the effects shall be deposited in the hands of some person worthy of trust, until the party shall appear who has a right to demand them; when they shall render an account of the property. Neither shall the Dey or Divan give hindrance in the execution of any will that may appear.

ART. XIV. No citizen of the United States of North-America, shall be obliged to purchase any goods against his will; but, on the contrary, shall be allowed to pur­chase whatever it pleaseth him. The consul of the United States of North-America, or any other citizen, shall not be amenable for debts contracted by any one of their own nation; unless previously they have given a written obli­gation so to do. Should the Dey want to freight any American vessel that may be in the Regency, or Turkey, said vessel not being engaged, in consequence of the friendship subsisting between the two nations, he expects to have the preference given him, on his paying the same freight offered by any other nation.

ART. XV. Any disputes or suits at law, that may take place between the subjects of the Regency and the citizens of the United States of North-America, shall be decided by the Dey in person, and no other. Any dis­putes that may arise between the citizens of the United States, shall be decided by the consul; as they are in such cases not subject to the laws of this Regency.

ART. XVI. Should any citizen of the United States of North-America, kill, wound, or strike a subject of this Regency, he shall be punished in the same manner as a Turk, and not with more severity. Should any citizen of the United States of North-America, in the above predicament, escape prison, the consul shall not become answerable for him.

[Page 65]ART. XVII. The consul of the United States of North-America, shall have every personal security given him and his houshold: he shall have liberty to exercise his religion in his own house: all slaves of the same re­ligion, shall not be impeded in going to said consul's house, at hours of prayer. The consul shall have liber­ty and personal security given him to travel whenever he pleases, within the Regency: he shall have free license to go on board any vessel lying in our roads, whenever he shall think fit. The consul shall have leave to appoint his own drogaman and broker.

ART. XVIII. Should a war break out between the two nations, the consul of the United States of North-Ame­rica, and all citizens of said states, shall have leave to embark themselves and property unmolested, on board of what vessel or vessels they shall think proper.

ART. XIX Should the cruisers of Algiers capture any vessel having citizens of the United States of North-America on board, they having papers to prove they are really so, they and their property shall be immediately discharged. And should the vessels of the United States capture any vessels of nations at war with them, having subjects of this Regency on board, they shall be treated in like manner.

ART. XX. On a vessel of war belonging to the Unit­ed States of North-America anchoring in our ports, the Consul is to inform the Dey of her arrival; and she shall be saluted with twenty-one guns; which she is to return in the same quantity or number. And the Dey will send fresh provisions on board, as is customary, gratis.

ART. XXI. The Consul of the United States of North-America shall not be required to pay duty for any thing he brings from a foreign country for the use of his house and family.

ART. XXII. Should any disturbance take place be­tween the citizens of the United States and the subjects of this Regency, or break any article of this treaty, war shall not be declared immediately; but every thing shall be searched into regularly: the party injured shall be made reparation.

On the 21st of the Luna of Safer, 1210, corresponding with the 5th September, 1795, Joseph Donaldson, jun. on the [Page 66] part of the United States of North-America, agreed with Hassan Bashaw, Dey of Algiers, to keep the articles con­tained in this treaty sacred and inviolable; which we the Dey and Divan promise to observe, on consideration of the United States paying annually the value of twelve thousand Algerine sequins in maritime stores. Should the United States forward a larger quantity, the over­plus shall be paid for in money, by the Dey and Regen­cy. Any vessel that may be captured from the date of this treaty of peace and amity, shall immediately be de­livered up on her arrival in Algiers.

WHEREAS the under-written David Humphreys, hath been duly appointed Commissioner Plenipotentiary, by letters patent under the signature of the President, and seal of the United States of America, dated the 30th of March 1795, for negotiating and concluding a treaty of peace with the Dey and Governors of Algiers; where­as by instructions given to him on the part of the Execu­tive, dated the 28th of March and 4th of April, 1795, he hath been further authorized to employ Joseph Donald­son, junior, on an agency in the said business; whereas, by a writing under his hand and seal, dated 21st May 1795, he did constitute and appoint Joseph Donaldson, junior, agent in the business aforesaid; and the said Jo­seph [Page 67] Donaldson, jun. did, on the 5th of September, 1795. agree with Hassan Bashaw, Dey of Algiers, to keep the articles of the preceding treaty sacred and inviolable:

Now know ye, That I, David Humphreys, Commission­er Plenipotentiary aforesaid, do approve and conclude the said treaty, and every article and clause therein con­tained; reserving the same nevertheless for the final rati­fication of the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the said United States.

ARTICLE I. THERE is a firm and perpetual peace and friend­ship between the United States of America and the Bey and subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, made by the free consent of both parties, and guarantied by the Most Potent Dey and Regency of Algiers.

ART. II. If any goods belonging to any nation with which either of the parties is at war, shall be loaded on board of vessels belonging to the other party, they shall pass free, and no attempt shall be made to take or de­tain them.

ART. III. If any citizens, subjects or effects belong­ing to either party, shall be found on board a prize vessel taken from an enemy by the other party, such citizens or subjects shall be set at liberty, and the effects restored to the owners.

ART. IV. Proper passports are to be given to all ves­sels of both parties, by which they are to be known. And considering the distance between the two countries, eighteen months from the date of this treaty shall be allow­ed for procuring such passports. During this interval the other papers belonging to such vessels shall be sufficient for their protection.

ART. V. A citizen or subject of either party having bought a prize condemned by the party or by any other nation, the certificate of condemnation and bill of sale shall be a sufficient passport for such vessels for one year: this being a reasonable time for her to procure a proper passport.

ART. VI. Vessels of either party putting into the ports of the other, and having need of provisions or oth­er [Page 70] supplies, they shall be furnished at the market price. And if any such vessel shall so put in from a disaster at sea, and have occasion to repair, she shall be at liberty to land and re-embark her cargo, without paying any duties. But in no case shall she be compelled to land her cargo.

ART. VII. Should a vessel of either party be cast on the shore of the other, all proper assistance shall be given to her and her people; no pillage shall be allowed, the property shall remain at the disposition of the owners, and the crew protected and succoured till they can be sent to their country.

ART. VIII. If a vessel of either party should be attacked by an enemy within gun shot of the sorts of the other, she shall be defended as much as pos­sible. If she be in port, she shall not be seized or attack­ed when it is in the power of the other party to protect her; and when she proceeds to sea no enemy shall be al­lowed to pursue her from the same port within twenty-four hours after her departure.

ART. IX. The commerce between the United States and Tripoli—the protection to be given to merchants, masters of vessels and seamen—the reciprocal right of es­tablishing consuls in each country, and the privileges, im­munities and jurisdictions to be enjoyed by such consuls, are declared to be on the same footing with those of the most favoured nations respectively.

ART. X. The money and presents demanded by the Bey of Tripoli as a full and satisfactory consideration on his part, and on the part of his subjects, for this treaty of perpetual peace and friendship, we acknowledged to have been received by him previous to his signing the same, according to a receipt which is hereto annexed, except such part as is promised on the part of the United States to be delivered and paid by them on the arrival of their consul in Tripoli, of which part a note is likewise hereto annexed. And no pretence of any periodical tribute or farther payment is ever to be made by either party.

ART. XI. As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquillity of Musselmen—and as the said States have never entered into any war or act of [Page 71] hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

ART. XII. In case of any dispute arising from a vio­lation of any of the articles of this treaty, no appeal shall be made to arms, nor shall war be declared on any pre­text whatever. But if the consul residing on the place where the dispute shall happen, shall not be able to settle the same, an amicable reference shall be made to the mu­tual friend of the parties, the Dey of Algiers, hereby en­gaging to abide by his decision. And he, by virtue of his signature to this treaty, engages for himself and his successors, to declare the justice of the case according to the true interpretation of the treaty, and to use all the means in his power to enforce the observance of the same.