DOCUMENTS BEAKING ON TREATY OF 1783. 37 



Sly. The Boundaries of these States are as follows, viz. These States are 

 bounded NORTH by a line to be drawn from the Northwest angle of Nova 

 Scotia, along the Highlands which divide those Rivers which empty themselves 

 into the River St. Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to 

 the Northwesternmost Head of Connecticut River; thence down along the mid- 

 dle of that River to the forty fifth degree of North latitude: thence due west 

 in the latitude of forty five degrees North from the Equator to the North West- 

 ernmost side of the River St. Lawrence, or Cadaraqui ; Thence straight to the 

 South end of Lake Nipissing, and thence Straight to the Source of the River 

 Mississippi; WEST by a line to be drawn along the middle of the River Missis- 

 sippi from its source to where the said line shall intersect the 31st degree of 

 North Latitude. SOUTH by a line to be drawn due East from the termination 

 of the line last mentioned in the latitude of 31 Degrees north from the Equator, 

 to the middle of the River Appalachicola or Catahouche; thence along the mid- 

 dle thereof to its junction with the Flint River: thence straight to the Head of 

 St. Mary's River and 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 

 River from irs source to its mouth in the Bay of Fundy. 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 afore- 

 said Boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part and Easf Florida on the 

 other part shall respectively touch the Bay of Fundy and atlantic ocean. You 

 are therefore strongly [to] contend that the whole of the said Countries and 

 Islands lying within the Boundaries aforesaid, and every citadel, fort, post, 

 place, harbour and road 1o 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 respectively belong, in such situation as they may be at 

 23 the termination of the war. But notwithstanding the clear right of these 

 States, and the importance of the object, yet they are so much influenced 

 by the dictates of Religion and Humanity, and so desirous of complying with 

 the earnest requests of their allies, that if the line \to] be drawn from the 

 mouth of the Lake Nipissing to the Head of the Mississippi cannot be obtained 

 without continuing the war for that purpose, yon are hereby empowered to 

 agree to some other line between that point and the River Mississippi, pro- 

 vided the same shall in no part thereof be to the Southward of latitude 45 

 North. And in like manner if the Eastern Boundary above described cannot 

 be obtained, you are hereby empowered to agree thnt the same shall be after- 

 wards adjusted by Commissioners to be duly appointed for that purpose accord- 

 ing to such line as shall be by them settled and agreed on as the Boundary 

 between that part of the State of Massachusetts Bay formerly called the Prov- 

 ince of Maine and the Colony of Nova Scotia agreeably to their respective 

 rights, and you may also consent that the Enemy shall destroy such fortifications 

 as they may have erected. 



Fourthly. Although it is of the utmost importance to the peace and Commerce 

 of the United States that Canada and Nova Scotia should be ceded, and more 

 particularly that their equal common right to the Fisheries should be guaran- 

 teed to them, yet a desire of terminating the war hath induced us not to make 

 the acquisition of these objects an ultimatum on the present occasion. 



Fifthly. You are empowered to agree to a cessation of Hostilities during the 

 negotiation, provided our ally shall consent to the same, and provided it shall 

 be Stipulated that all the forces of the enemy shall be immediately withdrawn 

 from the United States. 



Sixthly. In all other matters not above mentioned, you are to govern yourself 

 by the Alliance between his Most Christian Majesty and these States, by the 

 advice of our allies, by your knowledge of our Interests, and by your own dis- 

 cretion, in which we repose the fullest confidence. 



Congress likewise agreed to the following draft of instructions to 

 the commissioner to be appointed to negotiate a treaty of commerce 

 with Great Britain; 



n. 



SIR, You will herewith receive a Commission giving you full power to nego- 

 tiate a treaty of Commerce with Oreat Rrita'n: in doing which you will con- 

 sider yourself bound by the following Information and instructions : 



First. You will govern yourself principally by the Treaty of Commerce with 

 His Most Christian Majesty, and as on the one hand you shall grant no prlvi- 



92909 S. Doc. 870, 61-3, vol 7 8 



