=Source.=--_Gentleman’s Magazine._ Vol. liii., p. 91.
SUBSTANCE OF THE PRELIMINARY ARTICLES OF PEACE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN
AND FRANCE, SPAIN, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
_Between Great Britain and France._
Peace to take place in all parts of the world as soon as the
preliminaries are ratified. Newfoundland to remain to England as
before the war; and, to prevent disputes about boundaries, the French
fishery shall commence from Cape St. John on the eastern side, and,
going round by the north, shall have for its boundary Cape Ray on the
western side.
The islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon to be ceded to the French, with
liberty to fish in the Gulph of St. Laurence.
The French to have St. Lucia and Tobago.
The English to have Granada and the Grenadines, St. Vincent’s,
Dominica, St. Kitt’s, Nevis, and Montserrat; the subjects of the French
King that choose to leave these islands, to be allowed 18 months to
settle their affairs and dispose of their effects.
In Africa, the river Senegal and its forts to be ceded to France, and
the island of Goree to be restored.
Fort St. James and Gambia to remain to England. The gum trade to remain
as before the war.
All the establishments formerly belonging to the French in India, to be
put on the same footing as before the war, and the freedom of trade on
the coasts of Orixa, Coromandel, and Malabar, to be free to the French
either as private traders, or as a company.
Pondicherry, Kerical to be restored to the French with the districts
of Valanour and Bahour, and the four contiguous Magans, Mahé, and the
Comptoir at Surat, to the French.
The allies of France and England in India, to be invited to accede to
the present pacification, and four months allowed them to make their
decision. In case of refusal no assistance to be given the allies on
either side.
Great Britain renounces every claim whatsoever relative to Dunkirk.
Commissioners to be appointed to agree upon new arrangements of trade
on the footing of reciprocity and mutual convenience.
All conquests on either side not included in those articles to be
restored.
The rest of the treaty between France and England respects the time
when the cessions are to be made, the prisoners released, the captures
to cease, and the treaty ratified, which is fixed for one month or
sooner, if it may be.
_Between Great Britain and Spain._
Minorca to be ceded to Spain, and East and West Florida.
The English to have liberty to cut and carry away logwood, in a
district that shall be allotted them.
Spain to restore to Great Britain the islands of Providence, and the
Bahamas without exception.
All other conquests of what kind soever to be mutually restored;
and all other treaties not herein mentioned to be in full force as
heretofore.
The other part of the treaty exactly the same with France.
_Between Great Britain and the United States of America._
His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the United States to be free,
sovereign, and independent States, treats with them as such, and
relinquishes all claim whatever to the lands and territories included
within certain boundaries, which boundaries shall be described and
delineated in a future Magazine.
The people of the United States shall continue to enjoy their fishery,
in as ample a manner, as heretofore, on the coasts wherever British
fishermen use; but not to dry their fish where settlements are actually
made, or may hereafter be made, without previous agreement.
That creditors on either side shall meet with no lawful impediments, to
recover their debts heretofore contracted.
That Congress shall earnestly recommend to their respective
legislatures, to provide for the restitution of all estates, rights
and properties belonging to real British subjects, or such as were
resident in districts in the possession of his Majesty’s arms, and who
have not borne arms against the United States. And that persons of any
other description shall have free liberty to remain in any part of any
of the Thirteen United States for the term of twelve months unmolested
in their endeavours for the recovery of their estates, &c. And that
Congress shall recommend to the several States a revision of all acts
regarding the premises, and to render the said laws consistent, not
only with justice and equity, but with that spirit of reconciliation
which, on the return of the blessings of peace, should universally
prevail; so that the estates of persons of the above description may
have their said estates restored, they refunding for the same the bona
fide purchase money to the present possessors; nor shall persons having
any interest in such confiscated lands, either by debts, marriage
settlements, or otherwise, meet with any lawful impediment in the
prosecution for the same.
That there shall be no farther confiscations made, nor prosecutions
commenced against any persons for or on account of the part they may
have taken in the present war.
That there shall be a perpetual peace between the contracting parties,
and all hostilities both by sea and land shall forthwith cease; that
the troops of his Britannic Majesty shall be immediately withdrawn, and
that all American artillery shall remain in the forts and places that
shall be evacuated.
The navigation of the Mississippi, from its source to the Ocean, to be
free to the subjects of both States.