TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS. 23 



And it is agreed that all Persons who have any interest in confis- 

 cated lands, either by debts, marriage settlements, or otherwise, shall 

 meet with no lawful impediment in the prosecution of their just 

 rights. 



VI. That there shall be no future confiscations made, nor any pros- 

 ecutions commenced against any Person or Persons, for or by reason 

 of the part which he or they may have taken in the present war ; and 

 that no Person shall on that account suffer any future loss or damage 

 either in his person, liberty, or property ; and that those who may be 

 in confinement on such charges at the time of the Eatification of the 

 Treaty in America, shall be immediately set at liberty, and the prose- 

 cutions so commenced be discontinued. 



14 yH- There shall be a firm and perpetual Peace between His 



Britannic Majesty and the said States, and between the Sub- 

 jects of the one and the Citizens of the other, wherefore all hostilities 

 both by sea and land shall from henceforth cease: all Prisoners on 

 both sides shall be set at liberty, and Hie Britannic Majesty shall 

 with all convenient speed, and without causing any destruction, or 

 carrying away any Negroes or other property of the American In- 

 habitants, withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons, and Fleets from the 

 said United States, and from every Port, Place, and Harbour within 

 the same; leaving in all Fortifications the American Artillery that 

 may be therein : and shall also order and cause all Archives, Records, 

 Deeds, and Papers belonging to any of the said States, of their Citi- 

 zens, which in the course of the War may have fallen into the hands 

 of his Officers, to be forthwith restored and delivered to the proper 

 States and Persons to whom they belong. 



VIII. The navigation of the River Mississippi, from its source to 

 the Ocean, shall for ever remain free and open to the Subjects of 

 Great Britain, and the Citizens of The United States. 



IX. In case it should so happen that any Place or Territory belong- 

 ing to Great Britain, or to The United States, should have been con- 

 quered by the arms of either, from the other, before the arrival of 

 the said Provisional Articles in America, it is agreed that the same 

 shall be restored without difficulty, and without requiring any 

 compensation. 



X. The solemn Ratifications of the present Treaty, expedited in 

 good and due form, shall be exchanged between the Contracting 

 Parties in the space of 6 months, or sooner if possible, to be com- 

 puted from the day of the signature of the present Treaty. 



In witness whereof, we, the Undersigned, their Ministers Plenipo- 

 tentiary, have in their name, and in virtue of our Full Powers, 

 signed with our Hands the present Definitive Treaty, and caused the 

 Seals of our Arms to be affixed thereto. 



Done at Paris, this 3d day of September, in the year of our Lord, 

 1783. 



[L. s.] D. HARTLEY. 



[L.S.] 



L. s.] JOHN ADAMS. 



L. s.] B. FRANKLIN. 



|L. s.] JOHN JAY. 



