RATIFICATION OF THE PROVISIONAL ARTICLES BY GREAT BRITAIN. George R. George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Arch Treasurer, and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, &c. Whereas Provisional Articles between us and our good friends, the United States of America, viz. New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, were concluded and signed at Paris, on the thirtieth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and eightytwo, by the Commissioners of us and our said good friends, duly and respectively authorised for that purpose; which Provisional Articles are in the form and words following; [Here follows the treaty. See pages 109 to 115.] We having seen and considered the Provisional Articles aforesaid, have approved, ratified, accepted, and confirmed the same in all and every one of their clauses, and provisos, as we do by these presents, approve, ratify, accept, and confirm them, for ourself, our heirs, and successors; engaging and promising upon our royal word, that we will sincerely and faithfully perform and observe, all and singular the things which are contained in the aforesaid Provisional Articles, and that we will never suffer them to be violated by any one, or transgressed in any manner, as far as it lies in our power. For the greater testimony and validity of all which, we have caused our great seal of Great Britain to be affixed to these presents, which we have signed with our royal hand. Given at our Court at St James, the sixth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eightythree, in the twentythird year of our reign. GEORGE R. An Act of the British Parliament, repealing certain Acts prohibiting Intercourse with the United States. An Act to repeal so much of two Acts, made in the sixteenth and seventeenth years of the reign of his present Majesty, as prohibits trade and intercourse with the United States of America. Whereas it is highly expedient, that the intercourse between Great Britain and the United States of America should be immediately opened; be it therefore enacted and declared by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in the present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that an Act passed in the sixteenth year of his Majesty's reign, entitled, "An Act to prohibit all trade and intercourse with the Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, during the continuance of the present rebellion within the said Colonies respectively, for repealing an Act made in the fourteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty, to discontinue the lading and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise, at the town and within the harbor of Boston in the province of Massachusetts Bay; and also two Acts, made in the last session of Parliament, for restraining the trade and commerce of the Colonies in the said Acts respectively mentioned; and to enable any person or persons, appointed and authorised by his Majesty to grant pardons, to issue proclamations, in the cases and for the purposes therein mentioned;" and also an Act, passed in the seventeenth year of his Majesty's reign, entitled, "An Act for enabling the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, to grant commissions to the commanders of private ships, and vessels employed in trade, or retained in his Majesty's service, to take and make prize of all such ships and vessels, and their cargoes, as are therein mentioned, for a limited time;" so far as the said Acts, or either of them, may extend, or be construed to extend, to prohibit trade and intercourse with the territories now composing the said United States of America, or to authorise any hostilities against the persons or properties of the subjects and citizens of the said United States, after the respective periods set forth in his Majesty's proclamation for the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and the United States of America, bearing date the fourteenth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and eightythree, shall be, and the same are henceforth repealed. Anno vicesimo tertio Georgü III, Regis; cap. 26. DAVID HARTLEY TO THE COMMISSIONERS. Gentlemen, Paris, August 29th, 1783. As the day is now fixed for the signatures of the definitive treaties, between Great Britain, France, and Spain, I beg leave to inform your Excellencies, that I am ready to sign the definitive treaty, between Great Britain and the United States of America, whenever it shall be convenient to you. I beg the favor, therefore, of you to fix the day. My instructions confine me to Paris, as the place appointed to me for the exercise of my functions, and, therefore, whatever day you may fix upon for the signature, I shall hope to receive the honor of your company at the Hôtel de York. I am, Gentlemen, with the greatest respect, yours, &c. TO DAVID HARTLEY. Passy, August 30th, 1783. The American Ministers Plenipotentiary for making peace with Great Britain, present their compliments to Mr Hartley. They regret that Mr Hartley's instructions will not permit him to sign the definitive treaty of peace with America at the place appointed for the signature of the others. They will, nevertheless, have the honor of waiting upon Mr Hartley at his lodgings at Paris, for the purpose of signing the treaty in question, on Wednesday morning at eight o'clock. DAVID HARTLEY TO THE COMMISSIONERS. Gentlemen, Paris, September 4th, 1783. It is with the sincerest pleasure that I congratulate you on the happy event which took place yesterday, viz.; the signature of the definitive treaty between our two countries. I considered it as the auspicious presage of returning confidence, and of the future intercourse of all good offices between us. I doubt not that our two countries will entertain the same sentiments, and that they will behold with satisfaction the period which terminates the memory of their late unhappy dissensions, and which leads to the renewal of all the ancient ties of amity and peace. I can assure you, that his Britannic Majesty and his confidential servants entertain the strongest desire of a cordial good understanding with the United States of America. And that nothing may be wanting on our parts to perfect the great work of pacification, I shall propose to you in a very short time, to renew the discussion of those points of amity and intercourse which have been lately suspended, to make way for the signature of the treaties between all the late belligerent powers, which took place yesterday. We have now the fairest prospects before us, and an unembarrassed field for the exercise of every benef icent disposition, and for the accomplishment of every object of reciprocal advantage between us. Let us, then, join our hearts and hands together in one com |