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itci States cf America .
THE first consul of the t rench republic, in the name
of the French people, and the president of the Un
ited States of America, being equally desirous of terminat
ing the difficulties which have occurred between the two
nations, have respectively named their plenipotentiaries,
and have given them full powers to bring thole differences
to an end, viz. the fy-st consul, in tlie name of the French
people, has appointed as plenipotentiaries on the part of
the republic, Joseph Buonaparte, ambassador from France
to Rome, and counsellor of state; C. P. C. Fleurieu,
member of the national institute, and -of the office of lon
gitude in France, and counsellor of state; and P. L. Roe
tlerer, member of the institute, counsellor, of state, and
’ president of the seftion of the interior. The president of
the United States of America, by and with the consent of
the senate, has named as plenipotentiaries, Oliver Ells
worth, chief justice of the United States; W. R. Davie,
ci devant governor of Carolina; and W V. Murray*
minister of the United States at the Hague.
These ministers, after having exchanged their respe&ive
powers, and after a long and mature discussion, have a
- on the following articles, viz.
Article I. There shall be a firm, inviolable, and ge
neral’ peace, between all tlie subjects of the United States
and of tlie French republic.
11. The ministers of the two contracting powers not
being able at present to agree with respeft to the treaty of
alliance of February 6, 1778, or to the treaty of amity
and commerce, and the convention, dated November 14,
1788, or with regard to tlie indemnities due or claimed,
these points are referred for discussion, and these
treaties are to be considered for the present as of no tffeft.
• The relations between the two nations ant in the mean
time to be regutated in the manner following, viz.
111. The national vessels taken on either side, or
which shall be taken before the exchange of the ratificati
ons, shall immediately be restored.
IV. The property captured, and not yet condemned,
or which shall be taken before the exchange of the ratifica
tions, excepting contraband merchandise destined for an
enemy’s port, shall be mutually restored on the following
proofs being made of the property, to wit:
On each part the proof of the property relative to merchant
vessels, armed or unarmed, shall be a passport couched in
the following manner:
“ To all whom it may concern , be it knowti, that
facility and permission bus been granted to , mas
ter or commander of the ship called ■■■ ■■-, cf the town
cf *, of the burthen of ——, at present in the bar *
her of ~, bound for ■ ■ , and laden with —
That this vessel having been inspe&ed by the proper
officers previous to her sailing, the master has made
oath that the cargo is the property of one or more sub
je&s of ——that be shall observe all the maritime
usage and regulations, and provide kimself with an
attested list of the crew, (role d'equipage) with their
names, surnames, places of birth, and also of the pas-’
sengers, who are not to be admitted without a license
from the officers above mentioned: That this passport
shall be exhibited at every port where be may touch to
the proper officers, he, the master, making to them a
faithful report cf all that has occurred during his voy
age, be bearing also the arms and ensigns of the Un
ited States, or of the French republic . In testimony
cf this we have signed these presents , have caused
them to be countersigned, and put thereto the seal of
cur arms . Given in the - year of grace , the —— -
day of .’’
This passport shall of itself be sufficient, notwithstanding
any previous regulation. It need not be recalled or renew
ed within the space of one year.
With respeft to the cargo, the proofs shall be contain,
ed in the certificates signed by the officers of the place
from which the vessel takes her departure. If these certi
ficates shall be destroyed by accident, or taken away by
force, then the defeft is to be supplied by the means re
sorted to by tlie general usage of nations.
From the national vessels, not merchantmen, no other
proof shall be required than the shewing of their respective
commissions. This article is to have tffeft from the date
of the present convention. If property shall be condemned
contrary to the spirit of this convention! on or before its
stipulations are known, it shall be immediately restored.
V. Any debts contracted between the two nations, or
lie tween individuals, shall be recoverable as if no misun
derstanding had taken place. This ar£le does
not extend to any indemnities claimed on either side.
VI. The commerce between the two nations shall be
free. Their vessels and prizes shall be treated in their se
veral ports with all the respeft which is due to the most
favored nation.
VII. The subjefts of the United States in France shall
have the power of disposing of their property by will, and
the French subjefts in America shall enjoy the same pri-,
vilegc. The heirs of persons intestate shall inijerit, with
out being under the necessity of taking out letters of na
uralization, and without any tax or impost whatever.
VII I. It is agreed that if war should break out be
tween the two nations the merchants and citizens, on ei
ther side, shall lie allowed six months to withdraw their
persons and their property, without let or molestation.
They shaft also be furnished with the necessary passports
to enable them to return in safety to their respective coun
tries.
IX. The debts due from individuals to each other
hall not, in consequence of any national dispute, be liable
to confiscation or sequestration. This article comprises
equally their property in public or private funds.
X. The two contracting parties shall have the power
of naming commercial agents to reside in America or in
France for the protection of trade. These agents, when
formally inducted into their functions, shall enjoy alb
rights ami prerogatives equally with those of the most fa
vored nations.
XI. The citizens of the French republic shall not pay
in the cities, harbors, tec. of America, any duties orim
the -.ubjitt* of the mot favored nation.
*hv\ shall also h ive tlie same privileges ■'to trade and 11a
l.*c citizens of the United States are to enjoy
in Europe.
XII. ‘The.citizem.pf the two republics shall be autho
rized to trade, and to convey their vessels and merchan
dise, (contraband goods excepted) in the port of an enemy,
and from otic enemy’s port to another, Unless they should
be in a state of blockade, in the latter case every vessel
shall be obliged to change her destination, but without be
ing subjeft to any detainment or confiscation of her cargo,
(contraband goods, as above excepted.) Vessels of either
nation, being in a hostile port Before a blockade is declar
ed, shall be allowed to depart at discretion.
XIII. Amongst goods to be reckoned contraband are
to be included gunpowder, saltpetre, petards, matches,
balls, bullets, bombs, grenades, carcases, pikes, halberts,
swords, scabbards, pistols, saddles for cavalry, harness,
cannon, mortars, and generally all instrument* of war.
All these articles are liable to confiscation, but the vessel
bearing them shall be discharged.
XIV. It is stipulated by the present treaty that all
free ships shall have full liberty of trade. By free ships
are to be understood those vessels which belong to either
nation, even if the cargo should belong either wholly or
in part to ajj hostile power. This freedom is to be extend
ed to all passengers, excepting only military ftien gftuaily
in the service of an enemy.
XV. It is agreed, on the contrary, that all ptoperty
belonging to the ‘subjtfts of either country found on board
an hostile vessel, whether contraband, prohibited or not,
shall be confiscated, with the exception only of the goods
put on boa.l’d previous to a.declaration of war, or the know
ledge of such a declaration. Two motiths are to be al
lowed on each side, after which the ignorance of such a
declaration is not to be pleaded or accepted.
XV I. The merchant ships belonging to either of the
contracting powers, if passing to an enemy’s port, and if
their cargo is such as to furnish grounds of suspicion, shall
be obliged, in full sea, to exhibit their passports and cer
tificates.
XVII. In order to prevent captures on frivolous sus-
and the damages which may result from thence, it
is agreed that, when one of the parties shall be at war and
tlie other neutral, tlie vessels belonging to the neutral party,
provided with a passport as described in the 4th article, shall
be allowed to pass without molestation. The certificates
shall however be so granted as to shew that they have no
articles of a contraband nature on board. If these articles
should form the smaller part of the cargo, then tlie vessel,
on surrendering them, shall be allowed to proceed upon her
voyage. If a vessel be found without a proper certificate
or passport as above, then the circumstances are to be ex
amined by the proper tribunals. If the captain shall die on
the voyage his successor shall be entitled to the same im
munities.
XVIII. If the vessels of either nation are met at sea
by a ship of war or privateer, the latter are to keep out
of gun shot, and shall send their boat to the other with
no more than two or three men. These shall demand to
see the passport. But on no account shall the former he
compelled to send on board the visiting vessel, or there to
make any exhibition of its papers.
XIX. It is expressly stipulated that these conditions
to be observed by vessels at sea relate only to those navi
gating without convoy* If they navigate with convoy the
Hag shall in every case be a sufficient prated!ion even from
inspection. The verbal declaration of the commandant,
that those vessels belong to his nation, and that they
have nothing contraband on board, shall in all cases be
sufficient. The two parties reciprocally engage themselves
not to take under their convoy goods cither contraband
or destined to an hostile port.
XX* If vessels should be taken or stayed under any
pretext of conveying contraband goods the captor shall
give a receipt for the ship’s papers, with an annexed list
of the same. He is not allowed to break open any chests,
tranks, or cases, or to remove any part of the cargo, un
less in the presence of the competent officers*
XXI. To prevent any damage to the ship or cargo it
is respectively agreed, that the owner, captain, or super
cargo, shall remain on board until the proceedings respect
ing the captured vessel be ultimately decided* The officers
iu the mean time are not to be deprived of their property,
nor the ere tvs to be ill treated. The property of the. cap
tain, the supercargo, and the second in command, is al
lowed to extend to 500 dollars, and on the part of the
sailors and passengers to 100 dollars each.
XXII. In every case of dispute the matter is to be
judged by established tribunals of each country, the judg
ment of which is to be definitive. The copies of the ar
guments, and motives of such judgment, to be delivered
to either party requiring them, on payment of the usual
expences. ‘
XXIII* For the further surety’ of the citizens of the
two contracting parties the crews of vessels of war and
privateers are bound to abstain from every- injury whate
ver, and to inHiCt no insult or damage- If they aft o
therwise they shall be responsible with interest. For the
better security in this case every captain of a privateer,
before receiving his commission, is to provide securities to*
the amount ot 7000 dollars or 36,820 livres, or, if the
vessel be manned with more than 150 sailors, to the a
rnount of 14,000 dollars, or 73,640 livres, to repair any
injuries inflicted during their cruise, and in violation of the
terms of this convention.
XXIV. If the vessels of war of either of the contract
ing parties, or private ships of war, should enter the ports
ci each other with their prizes, they shall not be qalled
upon tor any particular taxes, nor shall the validity of the
capture be called in question by tlie judges of the place.
1 he officers and Crews of such vessels, sanctioned by a pro
per commission, are ou no account tobe detained or molested.
XXV . No privateers bearing commissions from any
state at war with either cf the contracting pdlvers shall be
allowed to arm, or to provide themselves, or to dispose of
the prizes, in any port respectively belonging to their..
XVI. It is further agreed, that no pirate shall be re
ceived in their ports, roads, or harbors, and that no pro
tection or assistauce shall bo given to them by tlie subjects
ot the respective powers. AlTproperty piraticaTly seized
shall be immediately restored to tbe authorized agents of
both countries.
tlie fisheries belonging to the otLr’
acquire on the coast df N^w&mulUnd,
Lawrence, or elsewhere on the coasts a - phof St
north of the United States. The whale W*"* ?
of the sea calf, shall however be free to’the?’ lhat
111 every part of the world. IWo na hons
This convention shall be ratified in due fo fm 9 . ,
•ratifications shall be exchanged within six ***
sooner and possible. In faith of which the several *
teimaries have signed their naif.es to tlie
cited m the French and English languages. ‘ b ° V *
Done at Paris, September 3, ISOO.
J. Buonaparte. O. Ellsworth.
;f* Flevriku. W. R. Dame.
1. L. Boeder er. W. V. Murray.
(A true copy.)
C. M. Talleyrand.
, n . House of Lords. November tr.
Hus day, a little after 3 o’clock, his majesty cam.
down to tlie house, and opened the sess.,u o, *
with the following most gracious speech from the tivo£
the speaker of the house of commons and several member*
attend mg at the ba r. r *
My lords and gentlemen ,
My tender concern for the welfare of mv subjects, and
a sense of the difficulties w, h whid, the poorer Asses Z
ticularly have to struggle from the present high price of
provisions, have induced me to call you together at an
earlier period than I had otherwise intended. No obi ft
can be nearer Wiy heart than that, by vour care and
dom, ail such measures may he adopted as may, upon full
consideration, appear best calculated to alleviate this se
vere pressure, and to prevent the danger of its recurrence,
by promoting, as far as possible, the permanent extension
and improvement of our agriculture*
For the objeft of immediate relief your attention will
naturally be curetted, in the first instance, to the best
mode of affording the earliest and the most feu pie encour.
agement for the importation of all descriptions of grain
from abroad. 6
Such a supply, aided by the examples which you have
Sct . on former occasions of attention to economy and fru
gality in the consumption of corn, is most likely'to contri
bute to a reduction in the present high price, and to tn.
sine, at the same time, the means of meeting the demands
for the necessary consumption of the year*
Ihe present circumstances will also, I am persuaded,
render the state ot tlie laws respecting the commerce in
the various articles of provision the object of your serious
deliberation.
If on the result of that deliberation it shall appear to you
that the evil necessarily arising from unfavorable seasons
has been increased by any undue combinations or fraudu.
lent pi attices, for the sake of adding unfairly to the price,
you will l'eel an earnest desire oi effectually preventing
such abuses; lint yoli will, I am sure, be careful to dis
tinguish any prattices of this nature from that regular and
long f stablilhed course of trade tvhich experience has shewn
to be indispensable for tlie present state of society, for the
supply of the markets, and for the subsistence of my people.
\ou will have seen with Concent the temporary disturb
ances which have taken place in some parts of the king
dom* *1 hose malicious and disaffected persons who cruelly
take advantage of the prest nt difficulties to excite any of
my subjefts to afts in violation of the law's, and of the
public peace, are in the present circumstances doubly cri
minal* as such proceedings must necessarily and immedi
ately tend to increase in the highest degree the evil com
plained of, while they at the same time endanger the per
manent tranquillity of the country, on which the Well
being of the industrious classes of the community must
always principally depend.
The voluntary exertions which have on this occasion
been made for the immediate repression of these outrages,
and in support of the laws and public peace, are therefore
entitled to my highest praise*
Gentlemen of the house of comment,
Under the circumstances of the present meeting I am
desirous of asking of you such supplies only as may be ne
cessary for carrying on the public service till the parlia
ment of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
may conveniently be assembled* The estimates for that
purpose will be laid before you, and I have no doubt of
y our readiness to make such provision as the public interests
may appear to require. •
My lords and gentlemen,
I have diretted copies to be laid before you of those
communications which have recently passed between me
and the French government respecting the Commencement
of negotiations for peace. Yott will see in them fresh and
striking proofs of my earnest desire to contribute to the
reestablishment of general tranquillity. That desire or
my part has hitherto been unhappily, fmsrrated %-thcig!
termination oi the enemy to enter onlv on a separate nfr
gotiation, in which it was impossible for me to engage
consistently either with public faith or with a due regart
to the permanent security of Europe.
My anxiety for the speedy restoration cf peace remain:
unaltered; and there will % be no obstacles nor delay on mv
part to the adoption of such measures as may best tend t<
promote and accelerate that desirable end, consistent!}
with the honor of this countrv and the true interest of mj
people; but if the disposition of our enemies should conri
nue to render this great objeft of all my wishes unattain
able, without the sacrifice of these essential consideration*
on the mainienance of which all its advantages must de
pend, you will, I am confident, persevere in affording rn<
the same loyal and steady support which I have experienc
ed through tlie whole of this important contest, and which
has, under the blessing of Providence, enabled me, durinj
a period of such unexampled difficulty and calamity to al
tlie surrounding nations, to maintain unimpaired tlie secu
1 ity and honor of these kingdoms.
WRITING INK
For Title at tit. Ftluting OtTtte in Broughtttn fireet.
SAVANNAH: Piuxtm by N. JOHNSTON asp CO