DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TEEATY OF 1783. 23 



Mississippi ; west, by a line to be drawn along the middle of the River 

 Mississippi from its source to where the said line shall intersect the 

 latitude of thirty-one degrees north: south, by a line to be drawn 

 due east from the termination of the line last mentioned in the 

 latitude thirty-one degrees north from the equator to the middle of 

 the River Apalachicola, or Catahouchie; thence along the middle 

 thereof to its junction with the Flint River; thence straight to the 

 head of St. Mary's River; thence down along the middle of St. 

 Mary's River to the Atlantic Ocean ; and east, by a line to be drawn 

 along the middle of St. John's from its source to its mouth in the 

 Bay of Fundy, or by a line to be settled and adjusted betAveen that 

 part of the State of Massachusetts Bay, formerly called the province 

 of Maine, and the colony of Nova Scotia, agreeably to their respective 

 rights, comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any part of 

 the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn 

 due east from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between 

 Nova Scotia on the one part, and East Florida on the other part, 

 shall respectively touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean. 

 Provided, that if the line to be drawn from the mouth of Lake 

 Nepissing to the head of the Mississippi cannot be obtained without 

 continuing the war for that purpose, then, that a line or lines may be 

 drawn more southerly, so as not to be southward of a line in latitude 

 forty-five degrees north. 



2. That every post and place within the United States, and every 

 island, harbour, and road to them, or any of them belonging, be 

 absolutely evacuated by the land and sea forces of His Britannic 

 Majesty, and yielded to the powers of the states to which they respec- 

 tively belong. 



Adjourned to 10 o clock to morrow. 



******* 



1779, March 2%. Congress resumed the consideration of the report 

 of the committee of the whole; and the third resolution reported by 

 the committee as one of the ultimata being under debate, and being 

 in the words following : 



3. That a common right in these States to fish on the coasts, bays 

 and banks of Newfoundland and Gulf of St. Lawrence, coast of Lab- 

 rador and Straits of Belleisle, be acknowledged; and in case of re- 

 fusal, that the war be continued, unless the circumstances of our 

 allies shall be such as to render them utterly unable to assist in the 

 prosecution of the war; in which case, as ample privileges in the 

 fishery be insisted on, as can possibly be obtained : 



That in case Great Britain should not be prevailed on either to cede 

 or declare Nova Scotia independent, the privilege of curing fish on 

 the shores and in the harbours of Nova Scotia be required 



In lieu thereof a substitute was moved by Mr. [Gouverneur] Mor- 

 ris, in the words following, viz. 



That an acknowledgment be made by Great Britain of a common right in 

 these states to fish on the coasts, bays and banks of Nova Scotia, the banks of 

 Newfoundland and gulf of St. Lawrence, the coasts of Labrador and straits of 

 Belleisle, and a stipulation for the right of curing fish on the shores of Nova 

 Scotia. Provided always, that the allies of these states shall be in circum- 

 stances to support them in carrying on the war for such acknowledgment and 

 stipulation; but that in no case, by any treaty of peace, the common right of 

 fishing as above described be given up. 



The substitute being adopted, and under debate. 



