Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free, sovereign and independent states: that he treats with them as fuch, and for himself, his Theirs and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the fame, and every part thereof:

714 ARTICLE. 2d. And that all disputes which might marife in future on the fubject of the boundaries of the faid 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 fource of Saint-Croix river to the Highlands; along the faid Highlands which divide those rivers that empty themselves into the river Saint Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the north. welternmost head of Connecticut river, thence down

along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree Lof north latitude; from thence by a line due weft on said 1latitude, until it strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy ;

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thence along the middle of faid river into lake Ontario, : through the middle of faid lake until it strikes the com. munication 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 faid water commanication into the lake Huron; thence through the middle of faid 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 through the middle of faid 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 Miffifippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of the faid river Missisippi, until it shall interfect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latie tude. South by a line 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

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of the river Apalachicola or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint river, thence straight to the head of Saint Mary's river; and thence down along the middle of Saint Mary's river to the Atlantic Ocean. East by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river Saint-Croix, from its mouth in the bay of Fundy to its fource, and from its fource directly north to the aforesaid Highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the river Saint 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 East 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 faid province of Nova Scotia.

ARTICLE. 3d. It is agreed that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the right to take fith of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all the other banks of Newfoundland, also in the gulph of Saint Lawrence, and at all other places in the fea, 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 fuch part of the coaft of Newfoundland as British fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or eure the fame on that Island) and alfo on the coafts, 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 unfettled bays, harbours and creeks of Nova-Scotia, Magdalen islands, and Labradore, to long as the fame diall remain unfettled, but fo foon as the fame or either of them shall be fettled, it shall not be lawful for the faid fishermen to dry or cure fish at fuch fettlement, without a previous agreement for that pur. pose with the inhabitants, proprietors or poffeffors of the ground.

ARTICLE 4th. It is agreed that creditors on either fide, shall meet with no lawful impediment to the recoVOL. X.

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very

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very of the full value in sterling money, of all bona fide debis heretofore contracted.

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ARTICLE 5th. 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 confifcated, belonging to real British subjects, and alfo of the estates, rights and properties of perfons resident in districts in the polletion of his Majesty's arms, and who have not borne arms against the faid United States. And that perfons of any other defeription 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 fuch of their estates, rights and properties, as may have been confif. cated; and that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several itates a reconfideration and revision of all acts; or laws regarding the premises, so as to render the faid laws or acts perfectly confiftent, not only with justice and equity, but with that spirit of conciliation, which on the return of the bleslings of peace should universally prevail. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several states, that the estates, rights and properties of fuch last mentioned perfons shall be restored to them; they refunding to any perfons who may be now 'in poffeffion the bona fide price (where any has been given) which such perfons may have paid on purchafing any of the faid lands, rights or properties since the confifcation. And it is agreed that all persons who have any interest in confifcated lands, either by debis, marriage fettlements, or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful impediment in the profecution of their just rights.

"ARTICLE 6th. That there shall be no future confifcations made, nor any profecutions commenced against any perfon 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, fuffer any future lofs 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,

Thall

at, liberty, and the profecutions

shall be immediately fet at liber fo commenced be discontinued.

ARTICLE 7th. There shall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannic Majelly and the faid states. and between the subjects of the one, and the citizens of the other, wherefore all hoftilities both by sea and land, shall from henceforth cease ; all prisoners on both fides shall be set at liberty, and his Britannic Majesty shall with all convenient speed, and without causing any de. istruction, or carrying away any negroes or other proper. ty of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrifons and fleets from the faid United States, and from nevery poft, 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, re. cords, deeds and papers, belonging to any of the faid states, or their citizens, which in the coufle of the war may have fallen into the hands of his officers, to be forthwith restored and delivered to the proper states and per. fons to whom they belong."

"ARTICLE &th. The navigation of the river Missiffippi, from its fource to the ocean, hall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain, and the citizens of the United States.

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" ARTICLE 9th. In cafe it should fo 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 faid provisional articles in America, it is agreed that the fame shall be restored without difficulty, and without requiring any compenfation.

"ARTICLE 10th. The folemn ratifications of the present treaty, expedited in good and due form, shall be exchanged between the contracting parties in the space of fix months, or fooner if poffible, to be computed from the day of the fignature of the present treaty. In wit. ness whereof, we the undersigned, their minifters plenipotentiary, have in their name, and in virtue of our full powers, figned with our hands the present definitive treaty, and caused the feals of our arms to be affixed thereto.

DONE

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"DONE at Paris, this third day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.

" (L. S.) D. HARTLEY,

(L. S.) JOHN ADAMS, (L. S.) B. FRANKLIN, (L. S.) JOHN JAY."

NOW KNOW YE, that We the United States in Congress assembled, having seen and confidered the definitive articles aforesaid, have approved, ratified and confirmed, and by these presents do approve, ratify and confirm the faid articles, and every part and clause thereof, engaging and promising, that we will fincerely and faithfully perform and observe the fame, and never fuffer them to be violated by any one, or tranfgressed in any manner, as far as lies in our power.

In testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Witness his excellency THOMAS MIFELIN, president, this fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the eighth year of the fovereignty and independence of the United States of America.

On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Howell.