certificates the persons to whom the goods belong, he may freely do so.

ARTICLE XXVIII.

The ships of the subjects and inhabitants of either of the parties, coming upon any coast belonging to either of the said allies, but not willing to enter into port, or being entered into port, and not willing to unload their cargoes, or break bulk, they shall be treated according to the general rules prescribed, or to be prescribed, relative to the object in question.

ARTICLE XXIX.

If the ships of the subjects, people or inhabitants of either of the parties shall be met with sailing along the coasts, or on the high seas, by any ship of war of the other, or by any privateer, the said ship of war, or privateer, for the avoiding of any disorder, shall remain out of cannon shot, and may send their boats on board the merchant ship which they shall so meet with, and may enter her to the number of two or three men only, to whom the master or commander of such ship or vessel shall exhibit his passport concerning the property of the ship, made out according to the form inserted in this present treaty ; and the ship, when she shall have showed such passport, shall be free and at liberty to pursue her voyage, so as it shall not be lawful to molest or search her, in any manner, or to give her chase, or force her to quit her intended course.

ARTICLE XXX.

It is also agreed, that all goods, when once put on board the ships and vessels of either of the two contracting parties, shall be subject to no further visitation, but all visitation, or search, shall be made beforehand, and all prohibited goods shall be stopped on the spot, before the same be put on board, unless there are manifest tokens or proofs of fraudulent practice. Nor shall either the persons or goods of the subjects of his most christian majesty, or the United States, be put under any arrest, or molested by any other kind of embargo for that cause; and only the subject of that state to whom the said goods have been, or shall be prohibited, and who shall presume to sell, or alienate such sort of goods, shall be duly punished for the of fence.

ARTICLE Xxxi.

The two contracting parties grant, mutually, the liberty of having each in the ports of the other, consuls, vice-consuls, agents and commissaries, whose functions shall be regulated by a particular agreement.

ARTICLE XXXII.

And the more to favour and facilitate the commerce which the subjects of the United States may have with France, the most christian king will grant them, in

Europe, one or more free ports, where they may bring and dispose of all the produce and merchandise of the thirteen United States; and his majesty will also continue to the subjects of the said states the free ports which have been and are open in the French Islands of America; of all which free ports, the said subjects of the United States shall enjoy the use, agreeable to the regulations which relate to them.

ARTICLE XXXIII.

The present treaty shall be ratified on both sides, and the ratifications shall be exchanged, in the space of six months, or sooner if possible.

In faith whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the above articles, both in the French and English languages; declaring, nevertheless, that the present treaty was originally composed and concluded in the French language. And they have thereto set their seals.-Done at Paris, the sixth day of February, 1778.

C. A. GERARD. [L. s.] B. FRANKLIN, [L. s.] SILAS DEANE, [L. s.1 ARTHUR LEE. [L. s.]

Form of the passports and letters which are to be given to the ships and barks, according to the 27th article of this treaty.

To all who shall see these presents, Greeting. Ir is hereby made known, That leave and permission has been given to master and commander

of the ship called

den

and laden with

tons, or thereabouts, lying at present in the

port or haven of

After

that his ship has been visited, and before sailing, he shall make oath, before the officers who have the jurisdiction of maritime affairs, that the said ship belongs to one or more of the subjects of The

act whereof shall be put at the end of these presents; as likewise that he will keep, and cause to be kept by his crew on board, the marine ordinances and regulations, and enter, in the proper office, a list signed and witnessed, containing the names and surnames, the places of birth and abode of the crew of his ship, and of all who shall embark on board her, whom he shall not take on board without the knowledge and permission of the officers of marine. And in every port or haven, where he shall enter with his ship, he shall show this present leave to the officers and judges of the marine; and shall give a faithful account to them of what passed and was done during his voyage; and he shall carry the colours, arms and ensigns of the king, or United States, during his voyage.

In witness whereof we have signed these presents, and put the seal of our arms thereunto, and caused the same to be countersigned by

at

the

Anno Domini

day of

Full powers of Mr. Gerard, in French.*

THE TRANSLATION.

LEWIS, by the grace of God king of France and Navarre-To all who shall see these presents, Greeting.

For

The Congress of the United States of America having, by their plenipotentiaries residing in France, proposed to form with us a defensive and eventual alliance; and willing to give the said states an efficacious proof of the interest we take in their prosperity, we have determined to conclude the said alliance. these causes, and other good considerations us thereunto moving, we, reposing entire confidence in the abilities and experience, zeal and fidelity for our service, of our dear and beloved Conrad Alexander Gerard, royal syndic of the city of Strasburg, secretary of our council of state, have nominated, commissioned and deputed, and by these presents signed with our hand, do nominate, commission and depute him our plenipotentiary, giving him power and special command to act in this quality, and confer, negotiate, treat and agree conjointly with the abovementioned plenipotentiaries of the United States, vested in like manner with powers in due form, to determine and conclude such articles, conditions, conventions, declarations, definitive treaty, and any other acts whatever, as he shall judge proper to answer the end which we pro