AMERICAN PASSPORT FOR BRITISH SHIPS. We, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, three of the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making peace with Great Britain; To all captains or commanders of ships of war, privateers, or armed vessels belonging to the said states, or to either of them, or to any of the citizens of the same, and to all others whom these presents may concern, send greeting. Whereas peace and amity is agreed on between the said United States and his Britannic majesty, and a suspension of hostilities to take place at different periods in different places, hath also been agreed upon by their respective plenipotentiaries: And whereas it hath been further agreed by the said plenipotentiaries, to exchange one hundred passports for merchant vessels, to the end that such as shall be provided with them shall be exempted from capture, although found in latitudes at a time prior to the taking place of the said suspension of hostilities therein: Now therefore know ye, that free passport, licence, and permission is hereby given to the commander, now lying at the port of and bound from thence to And we do earnestly enjoin upon and recommend to you, to let and suffer the said vessel to pass unmolested to her destined port, and if need be, to afford her all such succor and aid as circumstances and humanity may require, Given under our hands and seals at Paris, on the in the year of our Lord 1783. day of , Proclamation for the cessation of hostilities." BY THE KING, A proclamation, declaring the cessation of arms, as well by sea as land, agreed upon between his Majesty the most Christian King, the King of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces and the United States of America, and enjoining the observance thereof. GEORGE R. Whereas provisional articles were signed at Paris, on the thirtieth day of November last, between our commis sioner for treating of peace with the commissioners of the United States of America, and the commissioners of the said states, to be inserted in and to constitute the treaty of peace proposed to be concluded between us and the said United States, when terms of peace should be agreed upon between us and his most Christian majesty; and whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between us and his most Christian majesty were signed at Versailles on the twentieth day of January last, by the ministers of us and the most Christian king; and whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between us and the king of Spain, were also signed at Versailles on the twentieth day of January last, between the ministers of us and the king of Spain; and whereas, for putting an end to the calamity of war as soon and as far as may be pos sible, it hath been agreed between us, his most Christian Majesty, the King of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, as follows; that is to say That such vessels and effects, as should be taken in the Channel and in the North Seas, after the space of twelve days, to be computed from the ratification of the said preliminary articles, should be restored on all sides. That the term should be one month from the Channel and the North Seas, as far as the Canary Islands inclusively, whether in the Ocean or in the Mediterranean; two months from the said Canary Islands, as far as the equinoctial line or equator ; and lastly, five months in all other parts of the world, without any exception, or any other more particular description of time or place: And whereas the ratifications of the said preliminary articles between us and the most Christian king, in due form, were exchanged by the ministers of us and the most Christian king, on the third day of this instant February, and the ratifications of the said preliminary articles between us and the king of Spain, were exchanged between the ministers of us and the king of Spain, on the ninth day of this instant February, from which days respectively the several terms above mentioned, of twelve days, of one month, of two months, and of five months, are to be computed; and whereas it is our royal will and pleasure, that the cessation of hostilities between us and the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, should be agreeable to the epochs fixed between us and the most Christian king: We have thought fit, by and with the advice of our privy council, to notify the same to all our loving subjects'; and we do declare, that our royal will and pleasure is, and we do hereby strictly charge and command all our officers, both at sea and land, and all other our subjects whatsoever, to forbear all acts of hostility, either by sea or land, against his most Christian majesty, the king of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, their vassals or subjects, from and after the respective times above mentioned, and under the penalty of incurring our highest displeasure. Given at our court at St. James's, the fourteenth day of February, in the twenty-third year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightythree. God save the king. TO THE MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GENTLEMEN, Paris, Feb. 18, 1783. I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, a packet containing one hundred passports for American vessels, which I have this moment received by a courier from England. I take this opportunity of acquainting you, that a proclamation was issued out in the king's name on the 14th inst. making known the cessation of hostilities which has been agreed upon between the several belligerent powers, and declaring further, that the several epochas at which the said armistice is to commence between his majesty and the United States of North America, are to be computed from the third day of this instant February, being the day on which the ratifications of the preliminaries were exchanged between his majesty and the most Christian king. I must add that his majesty was induced to take this step under the firm and just expectation that you, gentlemen, will corre spond to it on your parts, by adopting the same measure reciprocally in the name of the States, your masters. I have the honor to be, with great regard and esteem, gentlemen, yours, &c. (Signed) ALLEYNE FITZHERBERT. DECLARATION OF THE CESSATION OF ARMS ON THE By the ministers plenipotentiary of the United A DECLARATION Of the cessation of arms, as well by sea as land, agreed upon between his MAJESTY the KING of GREAT BRITAIN, and the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Whereas preliminary articles were signed at Paris on the thirtieth day of November last, between the plenipotentiaries of his said majesty the king of Great Britain, and of the said States, to be inserted in and to constitute the treaty of peace to be concluded between his said majesty and the said United States, when terms of peace should be agreed upon between his said majesty and his most Christian majesty and whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between his said majesty the king of Great Britain and his most Christian majesty, were signed at Versailles on the twentieth day of January last, by the respective ministers of their said majesties: and whereas preliminaries for restoring peace between his said majesty the king of Great Britain and his majesty the king of Spain, were also signed at Versailles on the twentieth day of January last, by their respective ministers: and whereas, for putting an end to the calamity of war, as soon and as far as possible, it hath been agreed between the king of Great Britain, his, most Christian majesty, the king of Spain, the States General of the United Provinces, and the United States of America, as follows, that is to say→→→ |