over the country, in which is grant ed to the English only the privilege of making use of the wood of the different kinds, the fruits and other produce, in their natural ftate, are here confirmed; and the fame refrictions shall also be obferved with refpect to the new grant. In confequence, the inhabitants of thofe countries fhall employ themselves fimply in the cutting and transporting of the faid wood, and in the gathering and transporting of the fruits, without meditating any more extenfive fettlements, or the formation of any fyftem of government, either military or civil, further than fuch regulations as their Britannic and catholic majefties may hereafter judge proper to eftablifh, for maintaining peace and good order amongst their refpective fubjects.

Art. VIII. As it is generally allowed that the woods and forefts are preferved, and even muli ly, by regular and methodical cuttings, the English fhall obferve this maxim, as far as poffible; but if, not withftinding all their precautions, it should happen in courfe of time that they were in want of dyingwood, or mahogany, with which the Spanish pofleflions might be provided, the Spanish government thall make no difficulty to furnifh a fupply to the English, at a fair and reafonable price.

Art. IX. Every poffible precaution fhall be obferved to prevent fmuggling; and the English fhall take care to conform to the regugulations which the Spanish government shall think proper to ellablish amongst their own fubjects, in all communications which they may have with the latter; on condition nevertheless that the English fhall be left in the peaceable en1786.

joyment of the fe eral advantages: inferted in their favour in the laft treaty, or ftipulated by the prefent convention.

Art. X. The Spanish governors fhall be ordered to give to the faid English di perfed, all poffible facicilities for their removal to the lettlements agreed upon by the prefent convention, according to the ftipulations of the 6th article of the definitive treaty of 1783, with refpect to the country allotted for their ufe by the faid article.

Art. XI. Their Britannic and Catholic ajeftis, in order to remove every kind of doubt with regard to the true conftruction of the prefent convention, think it neceffary to declare that the conditions of the faid convention ought to be obferved according to their fincere intention to enfure and improve the harmony and good underftanding, which to happily fubfift at prefent between their faid majetties.

In this view, his Britannic majelly engages to give the most pofitive orders for the evacuation of the countries above mentioned, by all his fubjects of whatever denomination; but if, contrary to fuch declaration, there flto id fill remain any perfons fo daring as to prefume, by retiring into the interor country, to endeavour to obstruct the entire evacuation already agreed upon, his Britannic majefty, fo far from affording them the leaft fuccour, or even protection, will difavow them in the most folemn manner, as he will equally do thofe who may hereafter attempt to fettle upon the territ ry belonging to the Spanish dominion.

Art. XII. The evacuation agreed upon fhall be completely effected within the space of fix months, (F)

after

after the exchange of the ratifications of this convention, or fooner, if it can be done.

Art. XIII. It is agreed that the new grants defcribed in the preceding articles, in favour of the English nation, are to take place as foon as the aforefaid evacuation fhall be entirely accomplished.

Art. XIV. His Catholic majelly, prompted folely by motives of hu manity, promiles to the king of England, that he will not exercite any act of feverity against the Mofquitos, inhabiting in part the countries which are to be evacuated, by virtue of the prefent convention, on account of the connections which may have fubfifted between the faid Indians and the English: and his Britannic majetty, on his part, will ftrictly prohibit all his fubjects from furnishing arms, or warlike ftores, to the Indians in general, fituated upon the frontiers of the Spanish poffeffions.

Art. XV. The two courts hall mutually tranfmit to each other duplicates of the orders, which they are to dispatch to their respective governors and commanders in America, for the accomplishment of the prefent convention; and a frigate, or proper fhip of war, fhall be appointed, on cach fide, to obferve in conjunction that all things are performed in the best order poilible, and with that cordiality and good faith of which the two fovereigns have been pleafed to fet the example.

Art. XVI. The prefent convention fhall be ratified by their Britannic and Catholic majefties, and the ratifications exchanged, within the fpace of fix weeks, or fooner, if it can be done.

In witness whereof, We, the underligned minifters plenipotentiary of their Britannic and Ca

5

HIS Britannic majefty, and his Molt Chriftian majesty, being equally animated with the defire not only of confolidating the good harmony which actually fubfifts between them, but alio of extending the happy effects thereof to their refpective fubjects, have thought that the moft efficacious means for attaining thofe objects, conformably to the 18th article of the treaty of peace, figned the 6th of September, 1783, would be to adopt a fyftem of commerce on the balis of reciprocity and mutual convenience, which, by difcontinuing the prohibitions and prohibitory duties which have exifted for almoft a century between the two nations, might procure the most folid advantages, on both fides, to the national productions and industry, and put an end to contraband trade, no lefs injurious to the public revenue, than to that lawful com merce which is alone intitled to protection; for this end, their faid majefties have named for their commillaries and plenipotentiaries, to wit, the king of Great Britain, William Eden, efq. privy counfellor in Great Britain and Ireland, member of the British parliament, and his envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to his Moft Chrißian majefty; and the Mot Chrißian king, the Sieur Jofeph Mathias Gerrard de Rayneval,

knight,

knight, counfellor of ftate, knight of the royal order of Charles III. who, after having exchanged their refpective full powers, have agreed upon the following articles :

Art. I. It is agreed and con cluded between the most ferene and most potent king of Great Britain, and the moft ferene and most potent, the most Christian king, that there fhall be a reciprocal and entirely perfect liberty of navigation and commerce between the fubjects of each party, in all and every the kingdoms, ftares, provinces, and territories, fubject to their majesties in Europe, for all and fingular kinds of goods, in thofe places, upon the conditions, and in fuch manner and form as is settled and adjusted, in the following articles:

Art. II. For the future fecurity of commerce and friendship between the fubjects of their faid majefties, and to the end that this good correfpondence may be preferved from all interruption and disturbance, it is concluded and agreed, that if, at any time, there fhould arife any misunderstanding, breach of friendfhip, or rupture between the crowns of their majefties, which God forbid (which rupture fhall not be deemed to exist until the recalling or fending home of the refpective ambaffadors and minifters) the fubjects of each of the two parties refiding in the dominions of the other, fhall have the privilege of remaining and continuing their trade therein, without any manner of disturbance, fo long as they be have peaceably, and commit no offence against the laws and ordinances; and in cafe their conduct fhould render them fufpected, and the refpective governments fhould be obliged to order them to remove, the term of twelve months fhall be

allowed them for that purpofe, in order that they may remove, with their effects and property, whether entrusted to individuals, or to the ftate. At the same time it is to be understood that this favour is not to be extended to thofe who fhall act contrary to the established laws.

·

Art. III. It is likewife agreed and concluded, that the fubjects and inhabitants of the kingdoms, provinces, and dominions of their ma jefties, fhall exercife no acts of hoftility or violence against each other, either by fea, or by land, or in rivers, ftreams, ports or havens, under any colour or pretence whatfoever; fo that the fubjects of either party fhall receive no patent, commiffion, or inftruction for arming and acting at sea as privateers, nor letters of reprifal, as they are called, from any prinees or states, enemies to the other party; nor by virtue, or under colour of fuch patents, commiffions, or reprisals, fhall they difturb, infeft, or any way prejudice or damage the aforefaid fubjects and inhabitants of the king of Great Britain, or of the molt Chriftian king; neither fhall they arm fhips in fuch manner as is above faid, or go out to fea therewith. To which end, as often as it is required by either party, ftrict and exprefs prohibitions fhall be renewed and published in all the territories, countries, and dominions of each party wherefover, that nơ one fhall in any wife ufe fuch commiffions or letters of reprifal, under the feverest punishment that can be inflicted on the tranfgreffors, befides being liable to make full reftitution and fatisfaction to those to whom they have done any damage; neither fhall any letters of reprifal be hereafter granted by either of the faid high contracting parties, (F2)

to

to the prejudice or detriment of the fubjects of the other, except only in fuch cafe wherein justice is dcdenied or delayed; which denial or delay of justice fhall not be regarded as verified, unless the petitions of the perfon, who defires the faid letters of reprifal, be communicated to the minifter refiding there on the part of the prince against whofe fubjects they are not to be granted, that within the space of four months, or fooner, if it be poffible, he may manifeft the contrary, or procure the fatisfaction which may be justly due.

Art. IV. The fubjects and inha. bitants of the refpective dominions of the two fovereigns hall have liberty, freely and fecurely, without licence or paffport, general or fpecial, by land or by fea or any other way, to enter into the kingdoms, dominions, provinces, countries, iflands, cities, villages, towns, walled or unwalled, fortified or unfortified, ports, or territories whatfoever, of either fovereign, fituated in Europe, and to return from thence, to remain there, or to pafs through the fame, and therein to buy and purchase, as they pleafe, all things neceffary for their fubfiftence and use, and they fhall mutually be treated with all kindness and favour. Provided, however, that in all thefe matters, they behave and conduct themselves conformably to the laws and ftatutes, and live with each other in a friendly and peaceable manner, and pio mote reciprocal concord by main taining a mutual and good underftanding.

Art. V. The fubjects of each of their faid majefties may have leave and licence to come with their fhips, as alfo with the merchandizes and goods on board the fame, the trade and importation whereof are not

prohibited by the laws of either kingdom, and to enter into the countries, dominions, cities, ports, places, and rivers of either party, fituated in Europe, to refort thereto, and to remain and refide there, without any limitation of time; alfo to hire houfes, or to lodge with other perfons, and to buy all lawful kinds of merchandizes, where they think fit, either from the first maker or the feller, or in any other manner, whether in the public market for the fale of merchandizes, or in fairs, or wherever such mer chandizes are manufactured or fold. They may likewise depofit and keep in their magazines and warehouses the merchandizes brought from other parts, and afterwards expose the fame to fale, without being in any wife obliged, unlefs willingly and of their own accord, to bring the faid merchandizes to the marts and fairs. Neither are they to be burthened with any impofitions or duties on account of the faid freedom of trade, or for any other cause whatsoever, except thofe which are to be paid for their fhips and meichandizes, conformably to the regulations of the prefent treaty, or thofe to which the fubjects of the two contracting parties fhall themfelves be liable. And they fall have free leave to remove themfelves, as alfo their wives, children, and fervants, together with their merchandizes, property, goods, or effects, whether bought or import ed, wherever they hall think fit, out of either kingdom, by land and. by fea, on the rivers and fresh waters, after difcharging the ufual duties; any law, privilege, grant, immunities or culioms, to the contrary thereof in any wife notwithstanding. In matters of religion, the fubjects of the two crowns fhall enjoy perfect liberty. They fhall not

be

be compelled to attend divine fervice, whether in the churches or elsewhere; but, on the contrary, they fhall be permitted, without any moleftation, to perform the exercifes of their religion privately in their own houses, and in their own way. Liberty fhall not be refufed to bury the fubjects of either kingdom who die in the territories of the other, in convenient places to be appointed for that purpose; nor fhall the funerals or fepulchres of the deceased be in any wife disturb ed. The laws and ftatutes of each kingdom fhall remain in full force and vigour, and fhall be duly put in execution, whether they relate to commerce and navigation, or to any other right, thofe cafes only excepted, concerning which it is otherwife determined in the articles of this prefent treaty.

Art. VI. The two high contracting parties have thought proper to fetile the duties on certain goods and merchandizes, in order to fix invariably the footing on which the trade therein shall be established between the two nations. In confequence of which they have agreed upon the following tariff, viz.

ift, The wines of France, imported directly from France into Great Britain, fhall, in no cafe, pay any higher duties than thofe which the wines of Portugal now

pence, and fixteen twentieths of a penny fterling, per ton.

3d. The brandies of France, inftead of nine fhillings and fix pence, and twelve twentieths of a penny fterling, fhall, for the future, pay, in Great Britain, only feven thillings fterling per gallon, making four quarts, English measure.

4th, Oil of olives, coming directly from France, fhall, for the future, pay no higher duties than are now paid for the fame from the moft favoured nations.

5th, Beer all pay reciprocally a duty of thirty per cent. ad valorem.

6th. The duties on hardware, cutlery, cabinet ware and turnery, and alfo all works, both heavy, and light, of iron, steel, copper, and brafs, fhall be clafled; and the highest duty fhall not exceed ten per cent. ad valorem.

7th. All forts of cottons manufactured in the dominions of the two fovereigns in Europe, and alfo woollens, whether knit or wove, including hotiery, fhall pay, in both countries, an import-duty of twelve per cent. ad valorem; all manufactures of cotton or wool, mixed with filk excepted, which fhall remain prohibited on both fides.

8th. Cambricks and lawns fhall pay, in both countries, an import duty of five fhillings, or fix livres Tournois, per demi piece of feven yards and three quarters, English meature; and linens, made of flax or hemp, manufactured in the dominions of the two fovereigns in Europe, fhall pay no higher duties, either in Great Britain or France, than linens manufactured in Holland or Flanders, imported into Great Britain, now pay.

And linen made of flax or hemp, manufactured in Ireland or France, fhall reciprocally pay no higher du (F3)

ties