Art. 3. 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 Great Bank, and on all the other banks of Newfoundland; also in the Gulf of St. 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 in lands which divide those rivers that one part and east Florida on the other, empty themselves into the river St. Law- shall respectively touch the Bay of Fundy rence, from those which fall into the At- and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such lantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost islands as now are or heretofore have head of Connecticut River; thence drawn been within the limits of the said prov along the middle of that river to the ince of Nova Scotia. forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due west on said latitude, until it strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of said river into Lake Ontario; through the middle of said lake, until it strikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie; thence along the middle of the said communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said habitants of the United States shall have lake until it arrives at the water com- liberty to take fish of every kind on such munication between that lake and Lake part of the coast of Newfoundland as Huron; thence through the middle of British fishermen shall use (but not to said lake to the water communication dry or cure the same on that island), between that lake and Lake Superior; and also on the coasts, bays, and creeks thence through Lake Superior northward of all other of his Britannic Majesty's to the isles Royal and Philipeaux, to the dominions in America; and that the Long Lake; thence through the middle American fishermen shall have liberty to 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 northwesternmost point thereof, and from thence a due west course to the river Mississippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of said river Mississippi, until it shall intersect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude; 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 the river Apalachicola or Catahouche; thence along the middle Art. 5. It is agreed that Congress shall thereof, to its junction with the Flint earnestly recommend it to the legislatRiver; thence straight to the head of St. ures of the respective States to provide Mary's River, to the Atlantic Ocean; for the restitution of all estates, rights, east, by a line to be drawn along the and properties which have been confismiddle of the river St. Croix, from its cated, belonging to real British subjects; mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its source, and also of the estates, rights, and propand from its source directly north to erties of persons resident in districts in the aforesaid high lands, which divide the possession of his Majesty's arms, and the rivers that fall into the Atlantic who have not borne arms against the said Ocean from those which fall into the United States; and that persons of any river St. Lawrence, comprehending all other description shall have free liberty islands within twenty leagues of any part to go to any part or parts of any of the 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 dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbors, and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled; but so soon as the same 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. Art. 4. It is agreed that the 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. thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve months unmolested in their endeavors to obtain the restitution of such of their estates, rights, and prop 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. erties as may have been confiscated; and may be therein; and shall also order and that Congress shall also earnestly recom- cause all archives, records, deeds, and mend to the several States a reconsidera- papers belonging to any of the said tion 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 invariably prevail; and that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States 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 islands, rights, or properties since the confiscation. And it is agreed that all persons who have any interest in confiscated lands, either by debts, marriage settlements, or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful impediment in the prosecution of their just rights. Art. 6. 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 prosecutions so commenced be discontinued. Art. 8. 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. Art. 9. 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 difficulty and without requiring any compensation. Art. 10. 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. Done at Paris, this third day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. DAVID HARTLEY, Art. 7. There shall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannic Majesty and the said United States, and between the subjects of the one and the citizens of the other; wherefore all hos- For some years the British government tilities, both by sea and land, shall from omitted to execute the provisions of the henceforth cease; all prisoners, on both treaty of peace with the United States sides, shall be set at liberty; and his concerning the delivering up of the forts Britannic Majesty shall with all conven- on the northeastern frontier. Gouverient speed, and without causing any de- neur Morris was directed by Washington struction, or carrying away any negroes to go to England from Paris (1791) to or other property of the American in- sound the British ministry on the subject habitants, withdraw all his armies, gar- of a full and immediate execution of the risons, and fleets from the said United treaty. He remained there about nine States, and from every post, place, and months, endeavoring to obtain a positive harbor within the same, leaving in all answer to the questions, Will you execute fortifications the American artillery that the treaty? Will you make a treaty of commerce with the United States? The New England fishermen a valuable right, British came to the conclusion that hitherto used from the earliest time, that the new national government contain- of catching and curing fish on the shores ed vastly more vitality than the league of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It was of States, and could enforce its wishes agreed that both parties should use their with energy; so in August, 1791, George Hammond was sent as full minister to the United States. But the treaty of 1783 was not fully executed until after that of Jay was negotiated and ratified. See JAY, JOHN. best endeavors to suppress the African slave-trade. Hostilities on land were to terminate with the ratification of the treaty of peace, and on the ocean at specified periods, according to distance, the longest being four months. It did not secure to the Americans what they went to war for-namely, immunity from search and impressment. In 1814 the British government rejected the mediation of the Empress of Russia in bringing about a peace with the United States, but finally offered to The treaty was ratified Dec. 28, 1814, treat directly with the United States. by the Prince Regent, and then sent to The ancient city of Ghent, in Belgium, the United States in the British sloop-ofwas selected, and there the commission- war Favorite. She arrived in New York ers of the two governments met in on Feb. 11, 1815. Mr. Hughes, principal the summer of 1814. The American com- secretary to the American commissioners, missioners were John Quincy Adams, left Ghent with a copy of the treaty at James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan the same time, sailed for the Chesapeake Russell, and Albert Gallatin. The Brit- from the Texel in the schooner Transit, ish commissioners were Lord Gambier, landed at Annapolis two days after the Henry Goulburn, and William Adams. Favorite reached New York, and put his These joined the American commission- copy of the treaty into the hands of ers at Ghent, Aug. 6, 1814. Christo- President Madison before the ratified copy pher Hughes, Jr., the American chargé arrived there. The treaty of peace spread d'affaires at Stockholm, was appoint- joy over the land, because it assured ed secretary to the American com- peace; but when its contents were known, missioners. Negotiations were speedily and that immunity from search or imopened, when a wide difference of views pressment had not been secured, it was appeared, which at first threatened the severely criticised. The opposition pointmost formidable obstructions to an agree- ed to it exultingly as proof of the wisdom ment. The discussions continued several of their prophecies, the patriotism of their months, and a conclusion was reached by course in opposing the war, and the truth a mutual agreement to a treaty on Dec. of their declaration that the “ war was a 24, 1814, when it was signed by the re- failure." The English people, too, indulged spective commissioners. It provided for in strong condemnation of the treaty, bethe mutual restoration of all conquered cause it made concessions to the Ameriterritory, and for three commissions-one cans. to settle the titles to islands in Passama- The effect of the treaty upon financial quoddy Bay, another to mark out the matters was very marked. Six-per-cents northeastern boundary of the United rose, in twenty-four hours, from 76 to States as far as the St. Lawrence, and a 86, and treasury notes from 92 to 98. third to run the line through the St. Law- Coin, which was 22 per cent. premium, rence and the Lakes to the Lake of the fell to 2 per cent. in forty-eight hours. Woods. In case of disagreement in either The effect on commerce was equally great. commission, the point in dispute was to Within forty-eight hours sugar fell from be referred to some friendly power. No $26 per cwt. to $12.50; tea, from $2.25 provision was made as to the boundary per pound to $1; tin, from $80 a box to west of the Lake of the Woods, nor as to $25. In England, especially among the the fisheries on the shores of British manufacturing and commercial classes, America. It took away from the British there was equal rejoicing, and medals a normal right (never used), that of were struck in commemoration of the navigating the Mississippi; and from the event. Done in Treplicate at Ghent The twenty fourth day of December one thousand eight hundred and fourteen Cambier Henry Goulburn William Adams John Quincy Adams J. A. Bayard SEALS AND SIGNATURES TO THE ANGLO-AMERICAN TREATY AT GHENT. 110 Treaties, FRANCO-AMERICAN. volved in the war, neither party should make a definitive treaty of peace without six months' notice to the other. In Sep- with that power in goods contraband of tember, 1776, the Continental Congress, war. The commissioners sent to negotiate after weeks of deliberation, adopted an the treaty were authorized to promise elaborate plan of a treaty to be proposed that, in case France should become into France. They wanted France to engage in a separate war with Great Britain, and so give the Americans an opportunity for establishing their independence. They re- Franklin, Deane, and Lee were United nounced in favor of France all eventual States commissioners at the French Court conquests in the West Indies, but claimed at the close of 1776. The Continental Conthe sole right of acquiring British Con- gress had elaborated a plan of a treaty tinental America, and all adjacent is with France, by which it was hoped the ands, including the Bermudas, Cape Bre- States might secure their independence. ton and Newfoundland. They proposed The commissioners were instructed to press arrangements concerning the fisheries; for an immediate declaration of the French avowed the principle of Frederick the government in favor of the Americans. Great that free ships made free goods, Knowing the desire of the French to widen and that a neutral power may lawfully the breach and cause a dismemberment of trade with a belligerent. Privateering the British Empire, the commissioners was to be restricted, not abolished; and were to intimate that a reunion of the while the Americans were not willing to colonies with Great Britain might be the make common cause with the French, they consequence of delay. But France was were willing to agree not to assist Great then unwilling to incur the risk of war Britain in the war on France, nor trade with Great Britain. When the defeat of |