Whereas Provisional Articles were signed at Paris, on the Thirtieth Day
of November last, between Our Commissioner for treating of Peace with
the Commissioners of the United States of America and the Commissioners
of the said States, to be inserted in and to constitute the Treaty of
Peace proposed to be concluded between Us and the said United States,
when Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Us and his Most
Christian Majesty:[1] And whereas Preliminaries for restoring Peace
between Us and His Most Christian Majesty were signed at Versailles
on the Twentieth Day of January last, by the Ministers of Us and the
Most Christian King: And whereas Preliminaries for restoring Peace
between Us and the King of Spain were also signed at Versailles on the
Twentieth Day of January last, between the Ministers of Us and the King
of Spain: And whereas, for putting an End to the Calamity of War as
soon and as far as may be possible, it hath been agreed between Us, his
Most Christian Majesty, the King of Spain, the States General of the
United Provinces, and the United States of America, as follows; that is
to say,
That such Vessels and Effects as should be taken in the Channel and in
the North Seas, after the Space of Twelve Days, to be computed from
the Ratification of the said Preliminary Articles, should be restored
on all Sides; That the Term should be One Month from the Channel and
the North Seas as far as the Canary Islands inclusively, whether in the
Ocean or in the Mediterranean; Two Months from the said Canary Islands
as far as the Equinoctial Line or Equator; and lastly, Five Months in
all other Parts of the World, without any Exception, or any other more
particular Description of Time or Place.
And whereas the Ratifications of the said Preliminary Articles between
Us and the Most Christian King, in due Form, were exchanged by the
Ministers of Us and of the Most Christian King, on the Third Day of
this instant February; and the Ratifications of the said Preliminary
Articles between Us and the King of Spain were exchanged between the
Ministers of Us and of the King of Spain, on the Ninth Day of this
instant February; from which Days respectively the several Terms
above-mentioned, of Twelve Days, of One Month, of Two Months, and of
Five Months, are to be computed: And whereas it is Our Royal Will and
Pleasure that the Cessation of Hostilities between Us and the States
General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America,
should be agreeable to the Epochs fixed between Us and the Most
Christian King:
We have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, to
notify the same to all Our loving Subjects; and We do declare, that
Our Royal Will and Pleasure is, and We do hereby strictly charge and
command all Our Officers, both at Sea and Land, and all other Our
Subjects whatsoever, to forbear all Acts of Hostility, either by Sea
or Land, against His Most Christian Majesty, the King of Spain, the
States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of
America, their Vassals or Subjects, from and after the respective
Times above-mentioned, and under the Penalty of incurring Our highest
Displeasure.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Fourteenth Day of February, in
the Twenty-third Year of Our Reign, and in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.