DECLARATION. THE king having entirely agreed with his moft Chriftian majefty upon the articles of the definitive treaty, will feek every means which fhall not only enfure the execution thereof, with his accustomed good faith and punctuality, but will be fitles give, on his part, all poffible efficacy to the principles which fhall prevent even the leaft foundation of difpute for the future. To this end, and in order that the fishermen of the two nations may not give caufe for daily quarrels, his Britannic majefty will take the moft pofitive meatures for preventing his fubjećts from interrupting, in any manner, by their competition, the fishery of the French, during the temporary exercife of it which is granted to them, upon the coafts of the ifland of Newfoundland; and he will, for this purpose, caufe the fixed fettlements, which fhall be formed there, to be removed. His Britannic majefty will give orders, that the French fishermen be not incommoded, in cutting the wood neceffary for the repair of their fcaffolds, huts and fishing veffels. The thirteenth article of the treaty of Utrecht, and the method of carrying on the fishery which has at all times been acknowledged, fhall be the plan upon which the fishery fhall be carried on there; it fhall not be deviated from by either party; the French fishermen building only their fcaffolds, confining themfelves to the repair of their fishing veffels, and not wintering there; the fubjects of his Britannic majefty, on their part, not molesting, in any manner, the French fishermen, during their fifhing, nor injuring their fcaffolds during their abfence. The king of Great Britain, in ceding the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon to France, regards them as ceded for the purpose of ferving as a real fhelter to the French fishermen, and in full confidence that thefe poffeflions will not become an object of jealoufy between the two nations; and that the fishery between the faid iflands, and that of Newfoundland, fhall be limited to the middle of the channel. With regard to India, Great Britain having granted to France every thing that can afcertain and confirm the trade which the latter requires to carry on there, his majefty relies with confidence on the repeated af furances of the court of Versailles, that the power of furrounding Chandernagore with a ditch for carrying off the waters, fhall not be exercifed in fuch a manner as to make it become an object of umbrage. The new state in which commerce may perhaps be found, in all parts of the world, will demand revifions and explanations of the fubfifting treaties; but an entire abrogation of thofe treaties, in whatever period it might be, would throw commerce. into fuch confufion as would be of infinite prejudice to it. In fome of the treaties of this fort there are not only articles which relate merely to commerce, but many others which enfure reciprocally, to the refpective fubjects, privileges, facilities for conducting their affairs, perfonal protections, and other advantages, which are not, and which ought not to be of a changeable nature, fuch as the regulations relating merely to the value of goods and merchandife, variable from circumstances of every kind. When therefore the state of the trade between the two nations fhall be treated upon, it is requifite to be underflood, that the alterations which may be made in the fubfifting treaties are to extend only to arrangements merely commercial; and that the privileges and advantages, mutual and particular, be not only preferved on each fide, but even augmented, if it can be done. In this view, his majefty has confented to the appointment of commiffaries, on each fide, who fhall treat folely upon this object. In witnefs whereof, we his Britannic majefty's ambaffador extraordinary and minifter plenipotentiary, being thereto duly authorized, have figned the prefent declaration, and caused the feal of our arms to be fet thereto. Given at Verfailles, the third of September, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-three. Manchefter. (L. S.) COUNTER-DECLARATION. THE principles which have guided the king, in the whole courfe of the negotiations which preceded the re-establishment of peace, must have convinced the king of Great Britain, that his majefty has had no other defign than to render it folid and lafting, by preventing, as much as poffible, in the four quarters of the world, every fubject of difcuffion and quarrel. The king of Great Britain undoubtedly places too much confidence in the uprightnefs of his majefty's intentions, not to rely upon his conftant attention to prevent the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon from becoming an object of jealoufy between the two nations. As to the fishery on the coafts of Newfoundland, which has been the object of the new arrangements fettled by the two fovereigns upon this matter, it is fufficiently afcertained by the fifth article of the treaty of peace figned this day, and by the declaration likewife delivered to-day, by his Britannic majesty's ambaffador extraordinary and plenipotentiary; and his majefty declares, that he is fully fatisfied on this head. In regard to the fifhery between the ifland of Newfoundland, and thofe of St. Pierre and Miquelon, it is not to be carried on, by either party, but to the middle of the channel; and his majefty will give the moft pofitive orders, that the French fishermen fhall not go be yond this line. His majefty is firmly perfuaded that the king of Great Britain will give like orders to the English fishermen. The king's defire to maintain the peace comprehends India as well as the other parts of the world; his Britannic majefty may therefore be affured, that his majesty will never permit that an object fo inoffensive, and fo harmlefs, as the ditch, with which Chandernagore is to be furrounded, fhould give any umbrage to the court of London. The king, in propofing new ar rangements of commerce, had no other defign than to remedy, by the rules ules of reciprocity and mutual convenience, whatever may be defective in the treaty of commerce figned at Utrecht, in one thousand feven hundred and thirteen. The king of Great Britain may judge from thence, that his majesty's intention is not in any wife to cancel all the ftipulations in the above mentioned treaty; he declares, on the contrary, from henceforth, that he is difpofed to maintain all the privileges, facilities and advantages expreffed in that treaty, as far as they fhall be reciprocal, or compenfated by equivalent advantages. It is to attain this end, defired on each fide, that commiffaries are to be appointed to treat upon the state of the trade between the two nations, and that a confiderable space of time is to be allowed for compleating their work. His majesty hopes that this object will be pur fued with the fame good faith, and the fame spirit of conciliation, which prefided over the difcution of all the other points comprited in the definitive treaty; and his faid majefty is firmly perfuaded, that the refpective commiffaries will employ the utmoft diligence for the completion of this important work. In witnefs whereof, we the underwritten minifter plenipotentiary of his moft Chriftian majefty, being thereto duly authorized, have figned the prefent counter-declaration, and have caufed the feal of our arms to be affixed thereto. Given at Verfailles, the third of September, one thoufand feven hundred and eighty three. Gravier de Vergennes. (L. S.) WE, ambaffador plenipotentiary of his Imperial and royal apoftolic majefty, having acted as mediator in the work of pacification, declare that the treary of peace figned this day at Verfailles, between his Britannic majefty and his most Christian majefty, with the two feparate articles thereto annexed, and of which they form a part, as alfo with all the claufes, conditions and ftipulations which are therein contained, was concluded by the mediation of his imperial and royal apoftolic majefty. In witnefs whereof, we have igned thefe prefents with our hand, and have caufed the feal of our arms to be amxed thereto, Done at Verfailles, the third of September, one thoufand feven hundred and eighty-three. Le Compte de Mercy Argenteau. (L.S.) WE, minifters plenipotentiary of ftipulations which are therein con E it known to all thofe whom B it fhall or may in any manner concern. The moft ferene and most potent prince George the Third, by he grace of God, king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, duke of Brunswick and Lunenbourg, arch-treafurer and elector of the holy Roman empire, &c. and the moft ferene and most potent prince Charles the Third, by the grace of God, king of Spain, and of the Indies, &c. being equally defirous to put an end to the war, which for feveral years pait afflicted their refpective dominions, accepted the offer which their majefties the emperor of the Romans, and the emprefs of all the Ruffias, made to them, of their interpofition, and of their mediation: but their Britannic and Catholic majesties, animated with a mutual defire of accelerating the re-establishment of peace, communicated to each other their laudable intention; which Heaven fo far bleffed, that they proceeded to lay the foundations of peace, by figning preliminary articles at Verfailles, the 20th of Japuary in the prefent year. Their faid majefties the king of Great Britain, and the Catholic king, thinking it incumbent upon them to give their imperial majefties a fignal proof of their gratitude for the generous offer of their mediation, invited them, in concert, to concur the completion of the great and falutary work of peace, by taking part, as mediators, in the definitive treaty to be concluded between their Britannic and Catholic ma jefties. Their faid imperial majesties having readily accepted that invitation, they have named, as their the emperor of the Romans, the reprefentatives, viz. his majesty moft, illuftrious and most excellent lord Florimond, count Mercy-Argenteau, vifcount of Loo, baron of Crichegnée, knight of the Golden Fleece, chamberlain, actual privy counsellor of state to his Imperial and royal apoftolic majefty, and his ambaffador to his molt Chriftian majefty; and her majefty the emprefs of all the Ruffias, the most illuftrious and most excellent lord, prince Iwan Bariatinofkov, lieutenant-general of the forces of her Imperial majefty of all the Ruffias, knight of the orders of St. Anne and of the Swedish Sword, and her minifter plenipotentiary to his mot Chriftian majefty, and the lord Arcadi de Marcoff, counfellor of ftate to her Imperial mas jefty of all the Ruthias, and her minifter plenipotentiary to his moft Chriftian majefty. In confequence, their faid majefties the king of Great Britain, and the most Chrif tian king, have named and conftituted for their plenipotentiaries, charged with the concluding and figning of the definitive treaty of peace, viz. the king of Great Britain, the moft illuftrious and moit excellent lord George, duke and carl of Manchetter, vifcount Mandeville, baron of Kimbolton, lord lieutenant and cuftos rotulorum of the county of Huntingdon, actual privy counfellor to his Britannic majesty, and his ambaffador extra. ordinary and plenipotentiary to his moft Chriftian majefty; and the Catholic king, the most illustrious and most excellent lord Peter Paul Abarca Abarca de Bolea Ximenes d'Urrea, &c. count of Aranda and Caftel Florido, marquis of Torres, of Villanan and Rupit, vifcount of Rueda and Yoch, baron of the Baronies of Gavin, Sietamo, Clamofa, Eripol Trazmoz, La Mata de Caftil-Viejo, Antillon La Almolda, Cortés, Jorva, St. Genis, Rabo villet, Arcau, and Ste. Colome de Farnés, lord of the Tenance and honour of Alcalatéin, the valley of Rodella, the cafties and towns of Maella, Mefones, Tiurana, and Villa Plana, Taradel and Viladrau, &c. Rico Hombre in Arragon by defcent, grandce of Spain of the first clafs, knight of the order of the Golden Fleece, and of that of the Holy Ghoft, gentleman of the king's chamber in employment, captain general of his forces, and his ambaffador to the most Christian king; who after having exchanged their refpective full powers have agreed upon the following articles. Art. I. There fhall be a Chriftian, univerfal and perpetual peace, as well by fea as by land, and a fincere and conftant friendship fhall be re-established, between their Britannic and Catholic majesties, and between their heirs and fucceffors, kingdoms, dominions, provinces, countries, fubjects, and vaffals, of what quality or condition foever they be, without exception either of places or perfons; fo that the high contracting parties fhall give the greatest attention to the main taining between themfelves, and their faid dominions and fubjects, that reciprocal friendship and intercourse, without permitting here after, on either part, any kind of hoftilities to be committed, either by fea or by land, for any cause or under any pretence whatfoever; and they fhall carefully avoid, for the future, every thing which might prejudice the union happily re-eftablished, and endeavouring, on the contrary, to procure reciprocally for each other, on every occafion, whatever may contribute to their mutual glory, interefts, and advantage, without giving any af fiftance or protection, directly or indirectly, to those who would do any injury to either of the high contracting parties. There fhall be a general oblivion and an amnesty of every thing which may have been done or committed, before or fince the commencement of the war which is juft ended. Art. II. The treaties of Westphalia of 1648; thofe of Madrid of 1667, and of 1670; those of peace and of commerce of Utrecht of 1713; that of Baden of 17145 of Madrid of 1715; of Seville of 1729; the definitive treaty of Aixla-Chapelle of 1748; the treaty of Madrid of 1750; and the definitive treaty of Paris of 1763, ferve as a bafis and foundation to the peace, and to the prefent treaty; and for this purpose they are all renewed and confirmed in the best form, as well as all the treaties in general which fubfifted between the high contracting parties before the war, and particularly all thofe which are fpecified and renewed in the aforefaid definitive treaty of Paris, in the beft form, and as if they were herein inferted word for word: fo that they are to be exactly obferved for the future in their full tenor, and religiously executed, by both parties, in all the points which thaii not be derogated from by the prefent treaty peace. of Art. III. All the prifoners taken on either fide, as well by land as by fea, and the hostages carried away or given, during the war, and to this day, fhall be restored, with out ranfom, in fix weeks at lateft, to be |