ARTICLES TAKEN TO ENGLAND BY MR STRACHEY.* Articles agreed upon by and between Richard Oswald, Commissioner of his Britannic Majesty, for treating of peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America, on behalf of his said Majesty on the one part; and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, three of the Commissioners of the said States, for treating of peace with the Commissioner of his said Majesty, on their behalf, on the other part, 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 is not to be concluded until his Britannic Majesty shall have agreed to the terms of a peace between France and Britain, proposed or accepted of by his Most Christian Majesty, and shall be ready to conclude with him such treaty accordingly; it being the duty and intention of the United States not to desert their ally, but faithfully and in all things to abide by and fulfil their engagements with his Most Christian Majesty. Whereas reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience are found by experience to form the only permanent foundation of peace and friendship between States, it is agreed to form the articles of the proposed treaty on such principles of liberal equality and reciprocity as that partial advantages (those seeds of discord) being excluded, such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse between the two countries may be established as to promise and secure to both perpetual peace and harmony. * These Articles were agreed to after the return of the first set, His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 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; 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 remain to be their boundaries, viz. From the northwest angle of Nova Scotia, being that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the source of St Croix river to the highlands which divide the rivers which empty themselves into the river St Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean, and along the said highlands to the northwesternmost head of Connecticut river, thence down along the middle of that river to the 45th degree of north latitude, following the said latitude until it strikes 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 31st degree of latitude north of the equator; south, by a line to be drawn due east from the termination of the line last mentioned in the latitude of the 31st degree to the middle of the river Apalachicola or Catahouchi, thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint river, thence straight to the head of St Mary's river, and thence down along the middle of St Mary's river to the Atlantic river to the mouth of the river St Croix in the Bay of Fundy, and by a line drawn through the middle of said river to its source, and from its source directly north to the aforesaid highlands, which divide the rivers which fall into the Atlantic ocean from those which empty theinselves 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 of St Croix river and St Mary's river shall respectively touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic ocean. It is agreed, that all such royalists or refugees, as well as all such British merchants or other subjects as may be resident in any of the United States at the time of the evacuation thereof by the arms and garrisons of his Britannic Majesty, shall be allowed six months thereafter to remove to any part of the world; and also, at their election, to dispose of, within the said term, or to carry with them their goods and effects. And it is understood, that the said States shall extend such further favor to the said merchants, and such amnesty and clemency to the said refugees, as their respective circumstances and the dictates of justice and humanity may render just and reasonable; and particularly, that amnesty and indemnity be granted to all such of the said refugees, as may be unaffected by acts, judgments, or prosecutions, actually passed or commenced a month previous to such evacuation. That the subjects of his Britannic Majesty and the people of the said United States, shall continue to enjoy unmolested, the right to take fish of every kind on all the Banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of St Lawrence, used at any time heretofore to fish; and also to dry and cure their fish on the shores of the Isle of Sables, Cape Sables, and the shores of any of the unsettled bays, harbors or creeks of Nova Scotia, and of the Magdalen Islands. And his Britannic Majesty and the said United States will extend equal privileges and hospitality to each other's fishermen as to their own. Whereas certain of the United States, excited thereto by the unnecessary destruction of private property, have confiscated all debts due from their citizens to British subjects; and also in certain instances, lands belonging to the latter; and whereas, it is just that private contracts made between individuals of the two countries before the war, should be faithfully executed; and as the confiscation of the said lands may have a latitude not justifiable by the law of nations, it is agreed, that British creditors shall, notwithstanding, meet with no lawful impediment to recovering the full value or sterling amount of such bona fide debts as were contracted before the year 1775. And also, that Congress will recommend to the said States, so to correct (if necessary) their said acts, respecting the confiscation of the lands in America, belonging to real British subjects, as to render the said acts consistent with perfect justice and equity. As to the cession made of certain lands in Georgia, by a number of Indians there, on the 1st of June, 1773, for the purpose of paying the debts due from them to a number of traders, the American Commissioners say, that the State of Georgia is alone competent to consider and decide on the same; for that it being a matter of internal police, with which neither Congress nor their Commissioners are authorised to interfere, it must of necessity be referred to the discretion and justice of that State, who, without doubt, will be disposed to do what may be just and reasonable on the subject. Similar reasons and considerations constrain the Commissioners to give the like answer to the case of Mr Penn's family. From and immediately after the conclusion of the proposed treaty, there shall be a perpetual and firm peace, &c. (the same as the second article in the preceding set of articles.) That the navigation of the river Mississippi from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open. SEPARATE ARTICLE. It is hereby understood and agreed, that in case Great Britain at the conclusion of the present war shall be, or be put in possession of West Florida, the line of north boundary between the said Province and the United States, shall be a line drawn from the mouth of the river Yazoo, where it unites with the Mississippi, due east to the river Apalachicola, and thence along the middle of that river to its junction with the Flint river, &c. H. STRACHEY TO THE COMMISSIONERS. Paris, November 5th, 1782. Gentlemen, Knowing the expectation of the King's Ministers, that a full indemnity shall be provided for the whole body of refugees, either by a restitution of their property or by some stipulated compensation for their losses, and being confident, as I have repeatedly assured you, that your refusal upon this point will be the great obstacle to a conclusion |