Whereas an arrangement was entered into at the city of Washington in
the month of April, A.D. 1817, between Richard Rush, esq., at that time
acting as Secretary for the Department of State of the United States,
for and in behalf of the Government of the United States, and the Right
Honorable Charles Bagot, His Britannic Majesty's envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary, for and in behalf of His Britannic Majesty,
which arrangement is in the words following, to wit:
The naval force to be maintained upon the American lakes by His
Majesty and the Government of the United States shall henceforth
be confined to the following vessels on each side; that is--
On Lake Ontario, to one vessel not exceeding 100 tons burden and
armed with one 18-pound cannon.
On the upper lakes, to two vessels not exceeding like burden each
and armed with like force.
On the waters of Lake Champlain, to one vessel not exceeding like
burden and armed with like force.
All other armed vessels on these lakes shall be forthwith dismantled,
and no other vessels of war shall be there built or armed.
If either party should hereafter be-desirous of annulling this
stipulation, and should give notice to that effect to the other
party, it shall cease to be binding after the expiration of six
months from the date of such notice.
The naval force so to be limited shall be restricted to such services
as will in no respect interfere with the proper duties of the armed
vessels of the other party.
And whereas the Senate of the United States have approved of the said
arrangement and recommended that it should be carried into effect, the
same having also received the sanction of His Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of His Britannic Majesty:
Now, therefore, I, James Monroe, President of the United States, do
by this my proclamation make known and declare that the arrangement
aforesaid and every stipulation thereof has been duly entered into,
concluded, and confirmed, and is of full force and effect.
Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this 28th day of
April, A.D. 1818, and of the Independence of the United States the
forty-second.