between the two countries may be established, as to pro- 1783. mise and secure to both perpetual peace and harmony. ARTICLE I. His Britannic majefty acknowledges the faid United States, viz. New-Hampshire, MaffachusettsBay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, SouthCarolina and Georgia, to be free, fovereign, and independent states; that he treats with them as fuch; and for himself, his heirs and fucceffors, relinquifhes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the fame, and every part thereof; and that all difputes which might arife in future, on the subject of the boundaries of the faid United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are, and fhall be their boundaries, viz. ARTICLE II. From the north-weft angle of NovaScotia, 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 thofe rivers that empty themselves into the river Saint Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean, to the north-western-moft head of Connecticut river; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due west on faid latitude until it ftrikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of faid river into lake Ontario; through the middle of faid lake, until it ftrikes the communication by water between that lake and lake Erie; thence along the middle of faid communication into lake Erie; through the middle of faid lake, until it arrives at the water-communication between that lake and lake Huron; thence along the middle of 1783. faid water-communication 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 ifles Royal and Phelipeaux, 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 faid Lake of the Woods; thence through the faid lake to the most north-western point thereof, and from thence on a due west course to the river Miffiffippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of the said river Miffiffippi, until it fhall interfect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude :-fouth by a line to be drawn due eaft from the determination of the line laft-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 thereof to its junction with the Flint river; thence ftraight to the head of St. Mary's river, and thence down along the middle of St. Mary's river, to the Atlantic ocean:eaft by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river St. Croix from its mouth in the bay of Fundy to its fource; and from its fource directly north to the aforefaid Highlands, which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic ocean, from thofe which fall into the river St. Lawrence; comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the fhores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due eaft from the points where the aforefaid boundaries between NovaScotia on the one part, and Eaft-Florida on the other, fhall respectively touch the bay of Fundy, and the Atlantic ocean; excepting fuch iflands as now are, or here tofore A A tofore have been, within the limits of the faid province 1783. of Nova-Scotia. ARTICLE III. It is agreed, that the people of the United States fhall continue to enjoy, unmolefted, the right to take fifh of every kind on the Grand Bank; and on all other banks of Newfoundland; alfo in the gulph of St. Lawrence, and at all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries used at any time heretofore to fifh. And also that the inhabitants of the United States fhall have liberty to take fifh of every kind on fuch part of the coaft of Newfoundland, as British fishermen fhall ufe (but not to dry or cure the fame on that ifland) and alfo on the coafts, bays, and creeks of all other of his Britannic majesty's dominions in America; and that the American fishermen fhall have liberty to dry and cure fifh in any of the unfettled bays, harbours, and creeks of Nova-Scotia, Magdalen islands, and Labrador, fo long as the fame fhall remain unfettled; but fo foon as the fame, or either of them, fhall be fettled, it fhall not be lawful for the faid fishermen to dry or cure fish at such settlement, without a previous agreement for that purpose with the inhabitants, proprietors or poffeffors of the ground. ARTICLE IV. It is agreed, that creditors on either fide fhall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value in fterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted. ARTICLE V. It is agreed, that the Congrefs fhall earnestly recommend it to the legislatures of the refpective states, to provide for the restitution of all eftates, rights and properties, which have been confifcated, belonging to real British fubjects: and also of the eftates, 1783. rights and properties of perfons refident in diftricts in the poffeffion of his majesty's arms, and who have not borne arms against the said United States: and that perfons of any other description fhall 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 reftitution of fuch of their eftates, rights and properties, as may have been confifcated: and that Congrefs fhall alfo earnestly recommend to the feveral ftates 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 juftice and equity, but with that fpirit of conciliation, which, on the return of the bleffings of peace, fhould univerfally prevail.-AND that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several states, that the estates, rights and properties of fuch laft-mentioned perfons fhall 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 fuch persons may have paid on purchasing any of the faid lands, rights or properties; fince the confifcation.-AND it is agreed, that all perfons who have any interest in confiscated lands, either by debts, marriage fettlements or otherwise, fhall meet with no lawful impediment in the profecution of their just rights. ARTICLE VI. That there fhall be no future confifçations made, nor any profecutions commenced against any perfon or perfons, for or by reason of the part which he or they may have taken in the prefent war, and that no perfon fhall on that account, fuffer any future loss or damage, either in his perfon, liberty or property; and that that those who may be in confinement on fuch charges 1783. at the time of the ratification of the treaty in America, shall be immediately fet at liberty, and the profecutions fo commenced be discontinued. ARTICLE VII. There shall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannic majefty and the faid ftates, and between the subjects of the one and the citizens of the other, wherefore all hoftilities both by fea and land shall then immediately cease: all prisoners on both fides fhall be fet at liberty, and his Britannic majesty shall with all convenient fpeed, and without caufing any deftruction, or carrying away any negroes, or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrisons and fleets from the faid United States, and from every port, place, and harbour within the fame; leaving in all fortifications the American artillery that may be therein and fhall alfo order and cause all archives, records, deeds and papers belonging to any of the said 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 stateş and perfons to whom they belong. ARTICLE VIII. The navigation of the river Missisfippi, from its fource to the ocean, fhall for ever remain free and open to the fubjects of Great-Britain, and the citizens of the United States. ARTICLE IX. In cafe it fhould fo happen that any place or territory belonging to Great-Britain, or to the United States, fhould be conquered by the arms of either, from the other, before the arrival of these articles in America, it is agreed that the fame fhall be re ftored |