PRELIMINARIES OF EUROPEAN PEACE (1783). 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.