Britannic Majefty, of his moft Chriftian Majefty, and of his Catholic Majefty, having concluded and figned at Paris, the 10th of February of this year, a definitive treaty of peace, and feparate articles, the tenor of which is as follows.

[Fiat Infertio.]

And the faid Ambaffadors and Plenipotentiaries having, in a friendly manner, invited the Ambaffador and Minister Plenipotentiary of his most Faithful Majefty to accede thereto, in the name of his faid Ma.. jefty; the under-written Minifters Plenipotentiary, viz. on the part of the most Serene and most Potent Prince George the Third, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Duke of Brunfwic and Lunenburg, Arch-treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, the most Illuftrious and moft Excellent Lord, John Duke and Earl of Bedford, Marquis of Tavistock, &c. Minifter of State of the King of Great Britain, Lieutenant General of his forces, Keeper of his Privy Seal, Knight of the moft Noble Order of the Garter, and his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to his most Christian Majefty; and on the part of the most Serene and moft Potent Prince Don Jofeph the First, by the grace of God, King of Portugal and of the Algarves, the moft Illuftrious and moft Excellent Lord, Martin de Mello and Caftro, Knight profeffed of the Order of Chrift, of his moft Faithful Majefty's Council, and his Ambaffador and Minifter Plenipotentiary to his most Christian Majefty, in virtue of their full powers, which they have communicated to each other, and of which copies shall be added at the end of the prefent act, have agreed upon what follows, viz. His imoft Faithful Majefty defiring moft fincerely to concur in the fpeedy re-establishment of peace, accedes, in virtue of the present act, to the faid definitive treaty and separate articles, as they are above transcribed, without any reserve or exception, in the firm confi

dence

dence that every thing that is promifed to his faid Majefty, will be bona fide fulfilled; declaring at the fame time, and promifing to fulfil, with equal fidelity, all the articles, claufes, and conditions, which concern him. On his fide, his Britannic Majefty accepts the prefent acceffion of his moft Faithful Majefty, and prorifes likewife to fulfil, without any reserve or exception, all the articles, claufes, and conditions, contained in the faid definitive treaty and separate articles above inferted. The ratifications of the prefent treaty fhall be exchanged in the fpace of one month, to be computed from this day, or fooner if it can be done.

In witness whereof, we, Ambaffadors and Minifters Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majefty, and of his moft Faithful Majefty, have figned the prefent act, and have caused the feal of our arms to be put thereto.

Done at Paris, the 10th of February, 1763. Bedford, C. P.S. (L. S.) De Mello et Caftro. (L. S.)

His moft Faithful Majefty's Full Power.

DON JOSEPH, by the grace of God, King of Portugal, and of the Algarves, on this fide the fea, and on that fide in Africa, Lord of Guinea, and of the conqueft, navigation, commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Perfia, and India, &c. I make known to those who fhall fee thefe my letters patent, that, defiring nothing more than to fee the flame of war, which has raged fo many years in all Europe, extinguifhed, and to co-operate (as far as depends upon me) towards its being fucceeded by a juft peace, established upon folid principles and being informed, that great part of the belligerent Powers entertain the fame pacific difpofitions, I am to nominate a perfon, to affift, in my name, at the affemblies and conferences to be held upon this important bufinefs, who, by his nobility, prudence,

prudence, and dexterity, is worthy of my confidence: whereas thefe feveral qualities concur in Martin de Mello de Caftro, of my Council, and my Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the court of London; and as from the experience I have, that he has always ferved me to my fatisfaction, in every thing I have charged him with, relying, that I fhall, from henceforward, have fresh caufe for the confidence I have placed in him, I nominate and conftitute him my Ambaffador and Plenipotentiary, in order that he may, as fuch, affift, in my name, at any congreffes, affemblies, or conferences, as well public as private, in which the business of pacification may be treated: negotiating and agreeing with the Ambafiadors and Plenipotentiaries of the faid belligerent Powers, whatever may relate to the faid peace; and concluding what he fhall negotiate between me and any belligerent Kings and Princes, under the conditions he fhall tipulate in my Royal name: therefore, for the above purpofes, I grant him all the full powers and authority, general and fpecial, which may be neceffary; and I promife, upon the faith and word of a King, that I will acknowledge to be firm and valid, and will ratify within the time agreed upon, whatever shall be contracted and ftipulated by my faid Ambaffador and Plenipotentiary, with the aforefaid Ambaffadors and Minifters of the belligerent Kings and Princes, who fhall be furnished by them with equal powers. In witness whereof, I have ordered these prefents to be made out, figned by myfelf, fealed with the feal of my arms thereunto affixed, and counterfigned by my Secretary and Minifter of State for foreign Affairs and War. Given at the palace of our Lady of Ajuda, the eighteenth day of September, of the year from the birth of our Lord Jefus Chrift 1762.

Locus Sigilli pendentis.

The KING.

Den Lewis da Cunha.

Letters

Letters patent whereby your Majefty is pleased to nominate Martin de Mello de Caftro to be your Ambaffador and Plenipotentiary for the negotiation and conclufion of peace, in the form above set forth. For your Majefty's infpection.

Declaration of bis moft Faithful Majefty's Ambassador and Minifter Flenipotentiary, with regard to Alternating with Great Britain and France.

WHEREAS, on the conclufion of the negotiation of the definitive treaty, figned at Paris this 10th day of February, a difficulty arofe as to the order of figning, which might have retarded the conclufion of the faid treaty, we the under-written, Ambassador and Minifter Plenipotentiary of his moft Faithful Majesty, declare, that the alternative obferved, on the part of the King of Great Britain, and the most Christian King, with the most Faithful King, in the act of acceffion of the court of Portugal, was granted, by their Britannic and moft Chriftian Majefties, folely with a view to accelerate the conclufion of the definitive treaty, and by that means the more speedily to confolidate fo important and fo falutary a work; and that this complaifance of their Britannic and moft Chriftian Majefties shall not be made any precedent of for the future; the court of Portugal fhall not alledge it as an example in their favour; fhall derive therefrom no right, title, or pretenfion, for any cause, or under any pretence whatsoever.

In witness whereof, we, Ambaffador and Minifter Plenipotentiary of his moft Faithful Majefty, duly authorized for this purpose, have figned the prefent declaration, and have caufed the feal of our arms to be put thereto.

Done at Paris, the 10th of February, 1763.

Martin de Mello et Caftro. (L. S.)

[The

[The treaty of VERSAILLES, 1783, is printed from the copy which was published by authority, in 1783.] The Definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship, between bis Britannic Majefty, and the most Chriftian King; figned at Verfailles, the 3d of September, 1783. In the name of the moft Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. So be it.

BE it known to all those whom it fhall or may in any manner concern. The moft Serene and most Potent Prince, George the Third, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Duke of Brunfwic and Lunenburg, Arch-treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, &c. and the moft Serene and most Potent Prince, Lewis the Sixteenth, by the grace of God, moft Chriftian King, being equally defirous to put an end to the war which for feveral years past afflicted their respective 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 most Christian Majefties, 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 January, in the prefent year. Their faid Majefties the King of Great Britain, and the moft Chriftian 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 in 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 moft Chriftian Majefties. Their faid Imperial Majefties having readily accepted that invitation, they have named as their reprefentatives, viz.