The definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship between his
Britannick Majesty, the Most Christian King, and the King of Spain. Concluded
at Paris the 10th day of February, 1763. To which the King of Portugal acceded
on the same day. (Printed from the Copy.)
In the Name of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost. So be it.
Be it known to all those whom it shall, or may, in any
manner, belong,
It has pleased the Most High to diffuse the spirit of union
and concord among the Princes, whose divisions had spread troubles in the four
parts of the world, and to inspire them with the inclination to cause the
comforts of peace to succeed to the misfortunes of a long and bloody war, which
having arisen between England and France during the reign of the Most Serene
and Most Potent Prince, George the Second, by the grace of God, King of Great
Britain, of glorious memory, continued under the reign of the Most Serene and
Most Potent Prince, George the Third, his successor, and, in its progress,
communicated itself to Spain and Portugal: Consequently, the Most Serene and
Most Potent Prince, George the Third, by the grace of God, King of Great
Britain, France, and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenbourg, Arch Treasurer
and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire; the Most Serene and Most Potent Prince,
Lewis the Fifteenth, by the grace of God, Most Christian King; and the Most
Serene and Most Potent Prince, Charles the Third, by the grace of God, King of
Spain and of the Indies, after having laid the foundations of peace in the preliminaries
signed at Fontainebleau the third of November last; and the Most Serene and
Most Potent Prince, Don Joseph the First, by the grace of God, King of Portugal
and of the Algarves, after having acceded thereto, determined to compleat,
without delay, this great and important work. For this purpose, the high
contracting parties have named and appointed their respective Ambassadors
Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary, viz. his Sacred Majesty the King
of Great Britain, the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lord, John Duke and
Earl of Bedford, Marquis of Tavistock, c. his Minister of State, Lieutenant
General of his Armies, Keeper of his Privy Seal, Knight of the Most Noble Order
of the Garter, and his Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to
his Most Christian Majesty; his Sacred Majesty the Most Christian King, the
Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lord, Csar Gabriel de Choiseul, Duke of
Praslin, Peer of France, Knight of his Orders, Lieutenant General of his Armies
and of the province of Britanny, Counsellor of all his Counsils, and Minister
and Secretary of State, and of his Commands and Finances: his Sacred Majesty
the Catholick King, the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lord, Don Jerome
Grimaldi, Marquis de Grimaldi, Knight of the Most Christian King's Orders,
Gentleman of his Catholick Majesty's Bedchamber in Employment, and his
Ambassador Extraordinary to his Most Christian Majesty; his Sacred Majesty the
Most Faithful King, the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lord, Martin de
Mello and Castro, Knight professed of the Order of Christ, of his Most Faithful
Majesty's Council, and his Ambassador and Minister Plenipotentiary to his Most
Christian Majesty.
Who, after having duly communicated to each other their full
powers, in good form, copies whereof are transcribed at the end of the present
treaty of peace, have agreed upon the articles, the tenor of which is as
follows:
Article I. There shall be a Christian, universal, and
perpetual peace, as well by sea as by land, and a sincere and constant
friendship shall be re established between their Britannick, Most Christian,
Catholick, and Most Faithful Majesties, and between their heirs and successors,
kingdoms, dominions, provinces, countries, subjects, and vassals, of what quality
or condition soever they be, without exception of places or of persons: So that
the high contracting parties shall give the greatest attention to maintain
between themselves and their said dominions and subjects this reciprocal
friendship and correspondence, without permitting, on either side, any kind of
hostilities, by sea or by land, to be committed from henceforth, for any cause,
or under any pretence whatsoever, and every thing shall be carefully avoided
which might hereafter prejudice the union happily re-established, applying
themselves, on the contrary, on every occasion, to procure for each other
whatever may contribute to their mutual glory, interests, and advantages,
without giving any assistance or protection, directly or indirectly, to those
who would cause any prejudice to either of the high contracting parties: there
shall be a general oblivion of every thing that may have been done or committed
before or since the commencement of the war which is just ended.
II. The treaties of Westphalia of 1648; those of
Madrid between the Crowns of Great Britain and Spain of 1661, and 1670; the
treaties of peace of Nimeguen of 1678, and 1679; of Ryswick of 1697; those of
peace and of commerce of Utrecht of 1713; that of Baden of 1714; the treaty of
the triple alliance of the Hague of 1717; that of the quadruple alliance of
London of 1118; the treaty of peace of Vienna of 1738; the definitive treaty of
Aix la Chapelle of 1748; and that of Madrid, between the Crowns of Great
Britain and Spain of 1750: as well as the treaties between the Crowns of Spain
and Portugal of the 13th of February, 1668; of the 6th of February, 1715; and
of the 12th of February, 1761; and that of the 11th of April, 1713, between
France and Portugal with the guaranties of Great Britain, serve as a basis and
foundation to the peace, and to the present treaty: and for this purpose they
are all renewed and confirmed in the best form, as well as all the general,
which subsisted between the high contracting parties before the war, as if they
were inserted here word for word, so that they are to be exactly observed, for
the future, in their whole tenor, and religiously executed on all sides, in all
their points, which shall not be derogated from by the present treaty,
notwithstanding all that may have been stipulated to the contrary by any of the
high contracting parties: and all the said parties declare, that they will not
suffer any privilege, favour, or indulgence to subsist, contrary to the
treaties above confirmed, except what shall have been agreed and stipulated by
the present treaty.
III. All the prisoners made, on all sides, as
well by land as by sea, and the hostages carried away or given during the war,
and to this day, shall be restored, without ransom, six weeks, at least, to be
computed from the day of the exchange of the ratification of the present
treaty, each crown respectively paying the advances which shall have been made
for the subsistance and maintenance of their prisoners by the Sovereign of the
country where they shall have been detained, according to the attested receipts
and estimates and other authentic vouchers which shall be furnished on one side
and the other. And securities shall be reciprocally given for the payment of
the debts which the prisoners shall have contracted in the countries where they
have been detained until their entire liberty. And all the ships of war and
merchant vessels Which shall have been taken since the expiration of the terms
agreed upon for the cessation of hostilities by sea shall likewise be restored,
bon fide, with all their crews and cargoes: and the execution of this article
shall be proceeded upon immediately after the exchange of the ratifications of
this treaty.
IV. His Most Christian Majesty renounces all
pretensions which he has heretofore formed or might have formed to Nova Scotia
or Acadia in all its parts, and guaranties the whole of it, and with all its
dependencies, to the King of Great Britain: Moreover, his Most Christian
Majesty cedes and guaranties to his said Britannick Majesty, in full right,
Canada, with all its dependencies, as well as the island of Cape Breton, and
all the other islands and coasts in the gulph and river of St. Lawrence, and in
general, every thing that depends on the said countries, lands, islands, and coasts,
with the sovereignty, property, possession, and all rights acquired by treaty,
or otherwise, which the Most Christian King and the Crown of France have had
till now over the said countries, lands, islands, places, coasts, and their
inhabitants, so that the Most Christian King cedes and makes over the whole to
the said King, and to the Crown of Great Britain, and that in the most ample
manner and form, without restriction, and without any liberty to depart from
the said cession and guaranty under any pretence, or to disturb Great Britain
in the possessions above mentioned. His Britannick Majesty, on his side, agrees
to grant the liberty of the Catholick religion to the inhabitants of Canada: he
will, in consequence, give the most precise and most effectual orders, that his
new Roman Catholic subjects may profess the worship of their religion according
to the rites of the Romish church, as far as the laws of Great Britain permit.
His Britannick Majesty farther agrees, that the French inhabitants, or others
who had been subjects of the Most Christian King in Canada, may retire with all
safety and freedom wherever they shall think proper, and may sell their
estates, provided it be to the subjects of his Britannick Majesty, and bring
away their effects as well as their persons, without being restrained in their
emigration, under any pretence whatsoever, except that of debts or of criminal
prosecutions: The term limited for this emigration shall be fixed to the space
of eighteen months, to be computed from the day of the exchange of the
ratification of the present treaty.
V. The subjects of France shall have the liberty of
fishing and drying on a part of the coasts of the island of Newfoundland, such
as it is specified in the XIIIth article of the treaty of Utrecht; which
article is renewed and confirmed by the present treaty, (except what relates to
the island of Cape Breton, as well as to the other islands and coasts in the
mouth and in the gulph of St. Lawrence:) And his Britannick Majesty consents to
leave to the subjects of the Most Christian King the liberty of fishing in the
gulph of St. Lawrence, on condition that the subjects of France do not exercise
the said fishery but at the distance of three leagues from all the coasts
belonging to Great Britain, as well those of the continent as those of the
islands situated in the said gulph of St. Lawrence. And as to what relates to
the fishery on the coasts of the island of Cape Breton, out of the said gulph,
the subjects of the Most Christian King shall not be permitted to exercise the
said fishery but at the distance of fifteen leagues from the coasts of the
island of Cape Breton; and the fishery on the coasts of Nova Scotia or Acadia,
and every where else out of the said gulph, shall remain on the foot of former
treaties.
VI. The King of Great Britain cedes the islands
of St. Pierre and Macquelon, in full right, to his Most Christian Majesty, to
serve as a shelter to the French fishermen; and his said Most Christian Majesty
engages not to fortify the said islands; to erect no buildings upon them but
merely for the conveniency of the fishery; and to keep upon them a guard of
fifty men only for the police.
VII. In order to re-establish peace on solid and
durable foundations, and to remove for ever all subject of dispute with regard
to the limits of the British and French territories on the continent of
America; it is agreed, that, for the future, the confines between the dominions
of his Britannick Majesty and those of his Most Christian Majesty, in that part
of the world, shall be fixed irrevocably by a line drawn along the middle of
the River Mississippi, from its source to the river Iberville, and from thence,
by a line drawn along the middle of this river, and the lakes Maurepas and
Pontchartrain to the sea; and for this purpose, the Most Christian King cedes
in full right, and guaranties to his Britannick Majesty the river and port of
the Mobile, and every thing which he possesses, or ought to possess, on the
left side of the river Mississippi, except the town of New Orleans and the
island in which it is situated, which shall remain to France, provided that the
navigation of the river Mississippi shall be equally free, as well to the
subjects of Great Britain as to those of France, in its whole breadth and length,
from its source to the sea, and expressly that part which is between the said
island of New Orleans and the right bank of that river, as well as the passage
both in and out of its mouth: It is farther stipulated, that the vessels
belonging to the subjects of either nation shall not be stopped, visited, or
subjected to the payment of any duty whatsoever. The stipulations inserted in
the IVth article, in favour of the inhabitants of Canada shall also take place
with regard to the inhabitants of the countries ceded by this article.
VIII. The King of Great Britain shall restore to France
the islands of Guadeloupe, of Mariegalante, of Desirade, of Martinico, and of
Belleisle; and the fortresses of these islands shall be restored in the same
condition they were in when they were conquered by the British arms, provided
that his Britannick Majesty's subjects, who shall have settled in the said
islands, or those who shall have any commercial affairs to settle there or in
other places restored to France by the present treaty, shall have liberty to
sell their lands and their estates, to settle their affairs, to recover their
debts, and to bring away their effects as well as their persons, on board
vessels, which they shall be permitted to send to the said islands and other
places restored as above, and which shall serve for this use only, without
being restrained on account of their religion, or under any other pretence
whatsoever, except that of debts or of criminal prosecutions: and for this
purpose, the term of eighteen months is allowed to his Britannick Majesty's
subjects, to be computed from the day of the exchange of the ratifications of
the present treaty; but, as the liberty granted to his Britannick Majesty's
subjects, to bring away their persons and their effects, in vessels of their
nation, may be liable to abuses if precautions were not taken to prevent them;
it has been expressly agreed between his Britannick Majesty and his Most
Christian Majesty, that the number of English vessels which have leave to go to
the said islands and places restored to France, shall be limited, as well as
the number of tons of each one; that they shall go in ballast; shall set sail
at a fixed time; and shall make one voyage only; all the effects belonging to
the English being to be embarked at the same time. It has been farther agreed,
that his Most Christian Majesty shall cause the necessary passports to be given
to the said vessels; that, for the greater security, it shall be allowed to
place two French clerks or guards in each of the said vessels, which shall be
visited in the landing places and ports of the said islands and places restored
to France, and that the merchandize which shall be found t herein shall be
confiscated.
IX. The Most Christian King cedes and guaranties
to his Britannick Majesty, in full right, the islands of Grenada, and the
Grenadines, with the same stipulations in favour of the inhabitants of this
colony, inserted in the IVth article for those of Canada: And the partition of
the islands called neutral, is agreed and fixed, so that those of St. Vincent,
Dominico, and Tobago, shall remain in full right to Great Britain, and that of
St. Lucia shall be delivered to France, to enjoy the same likewise in full
right, and the high contracting parties guaranty the partition so stipulated.
X. His Britannick Majesty shall restore to France the
island of Goree in the condition it was in when conquered: and his Most
Christian Majesty cedes, in full right, and guaranties to the King of Great
Britain the river Senegal, with the forts and factories of St. Lewis, Podor,
and Galam, and with all the rights and dependencies of the said river Senegal.
XI. In the East Indies Great Britain shall restore to
France, in the condition they are now in, the different factories which that Crown
possessed, as well as on the coast of Coromandel and Orixa as on that of
Malabar, as also in Bengal, at the beginning of the year 1749. And his Most
Christian Majesty renounces all pretension to the acquisitions which he has
made on the coast of Coromandel and Orixa since the said beginning of the year
1749. His Most Christian Majesty shall restore, on his side, all that he may
have conquered from Great Britain in the East Indies during the present war;
and will expressly cause Nattal and Tapanoully, in the island of Sumatra, to be
restored; he engages farther, not to erect fortifications, or to keep troops in
any part of the dominions of the Subah of Bengal. And in order to preserve
future peace on the coast of Coromandel and Orixa, the English and French shall
acknowledge Mahomet Ally Khan for lawful Nabob of the Carnatick, and Salabat
Jing for lawful Subah of the Decan; and both parties shall renounce all demands
and pretensions of satisfaction with which they might charge each other, or
their Indian allies, for the depredations or pillage committed on the one side
or on the other during the war.
XII. The island of Minorca shall be restored to his
Britannick Majesty, as well as Fort St. Philip, in the same condition they were
in when conquered by the arms of the Most Christian King; and with the
artillery which was there when the said island and the said fort were taken.
XIII. The town and port of Dunkirk shall be put into
the state fixed by the last treaty of Aix la Chapelle, and by former treaties.
The Cunette shall be destroyed immediately after the exchange of the
ratifications of the present treaty, as well as the forts and batteries which
defend the entrance on the side of the sea; and provision shall be made at the
same time for the wholesomeness of the air, and for the health of the
inhabitants, by some other means, to the satisfaction of the King of Great
Britain.
XIV. France shall restore all the countries belonging
to the Electorate of Hanover, to the Landgrave of Hesse, to the Duke of Brunswick,
and to the Count of La Lippe Buckebourg, which are or shall be occupied by his
Most Christian Majesty's arms: the fortresses of these different countries
shall be restored in the same condition they were in when conquered by the
French arms; and the pieces of artillery, which shall have been carried
elsewhere, shall be replaced by the same number, of the same bore, weight and
metal.
XV. In case the stipulations contained in the XIIIth
article of the preliminaries should not be compleated at the time of the
signature of the present treaty, as well with regard to the evacuations to be
made by the armies of France of the fortresses of Cleves, Wezel, Guelders, and
of all the countries belonging to the King of Prussia, as with regard to the
evacuations to be made by the British and French armies of the countries which
they occupy in Westphalia, Lower Saxony, on the Lower Rhine, the Upper Rhine,
and in all the empire; and to the retreat of the troops into the dominions of
their respective Sovereigns: their Britannick and Most Christian Majesties
promise to proceed, bon fide, with all the dispatch the case will permit of to
the said evacuations, the entire completion whereof they stipulate before the
15th of March next, or sooner if it can be done; and their Britannick and Most
Christian Majesties farther engage and promise to each other, not to furnish
any succours of any kind to their respective allies who shall continue engaged
in the war in Germany.
XVI. The decision of the prizes made in time of peace
by the subjects of Great Britain, on the Spaniards, shall be referred to the
Courts of Justice of the Admiralty of Great Britain, conformably to the rules
established among all nations, so that the validity of the said prizes, between
the British and Spanish nations, shall be decided and judged, according to the
law of nations, and according to treaties, in the Courts of Justice of the
nation who shall have made the capture.
XVII. His Britannick Majesty shall cause to be
demolished all the fortifications which his subjects shall have erected in the
bay of Honduras, and other places of the territory of Spain in that part of the
world, four months after the ratification of the present treaty; and his
Catholick Majesty shall not permit his Britannick Majesty's subjects, or their
workmen, to be disturbed or molested under any pretence whatsoever in the said
places, in their occupation of cutting, loading, and carrying away logwood; and
for this purpose, they may build, without hindrance, and occupy, without
interruption, the houses and magazines necessary for them, for their families,
and for their effects; and his Catholick Majesty assures to them, by this
article, the full enjoyment of those advantages and powers on the Spanish
coasts and territories, as above stipulated, immediately after the ratification
of the present treaty.
XVIII. His Catholick Majesty desists, as well for
himself as for his successors, from all pretension which he may have formed in
favour of the Guipuscoans, and other his subjects, to the right of fishing in
the neighbourhood of the island of Newfoundland.
XIX. The King of Great Britain shall restore to Spain
all the territory which he has conquered in the island of Cuba, with the
fortress of the Havannah; and this fortress, as well as all the other
fortresses of the said island, shall be restored in the same condition they
were in when conquered by his Britannick Majesty's arms, provided that his
Britannick Majesty's subjects who shall have settled in the said island,
restored to Spain by the present treaty, or those who shall have any commercial
affairs to settle there, shall have liberty to sell their lands and their
estates, to settle their affairs, recover their debts, and to bring away their
effects, as well as their persons, on board vessels which they shall be
permitted to send to the said island restored as above, and which shall serve
for that use only, without being restrained on account of their religion, or
under any other pretence whatsoever, except that of debts or of criminal
prosecutions: And for this purpose, the term of eighteen months is allowed to
his Britannick Majesty's subjects, to be computed from the day of the exchange
of the ratifications of the present treaty: but as the liberty granted to his
Britannick Majesty's subjects, to bring away their persons and their effects,
in vessels of their nation, may be liable to abuses if precautions were not
taken to prevent them; it has been expressly agreed between his Britannick
Majesty and his Catholick Majesty, that the number of English vessels which
shall have leave to go to the said island restored to Spain shall be limited,
as well as the number of tons of each one; that they shall go in ballast; shall
set sail at a fixed time; and shall make one voyage only; all the effects
belonging to the English being to be embarked at the same time: it has been
farther agreed, that his Catholick Majesty shall cause the necessary passports
to be given to the said vessels; that for the greater security, it shall be
allowed to place two Spanish clerks or guards in each of the said vessels,
which shall be visited in the landing places and ports of the said island
restored to Spain, and that the merchandize which shall be found therein shall
be confiscated.
XX. In consequence of the restitution stipulated in the
preceding article, his Catholick Majesty cedes and guaranties, in full right,
to his Britannick Majesty, Florida, with Fort St. Augustin, and the Bay of
Pensacola, as well as all that Spain possesses on the continent of North
America, to the East or to the South East of the river Mississippi. And, in general,
every thing that depends on the said countries and lands, with the sovereignty,
property, possession, and all rights, acquired by treaties or otherwise, which
the Catholick King and the Crown of Spain have had till now over the said
countries, lands, places, and their inhabitants; so that the Catholick King
cedes and makes over the whole to the said King and to the Crown of Great
Britain, and that in the most ample manner and form. His Britannick Majesty
agrees, on his side, to grant to the inhabitants of the countries above ceded,
the liberty of the Catholick religion; he will, consequently, give the most
express and the most effectual orders that his new Roman Catholic subjects may
profess the worship of their religion according to the rites of the Romish
church, as far as the laws of Great Britain permit. His Britannick Majesty
farther agrees, that the Spanish inhabitants, or others who had been subjects
of the Catholick King in the said countries, may retire, with all safety and
freedom, wherever they think proper; and may sell their estates, provided it be
to his Britannick Majesty's subjects, and bring away their effects, as well as
their persons without being restrained in their emigration, under any pretence
whatsoever, except that of debts, or of criminal prosecutions: the term limited
for this emigration being fixed to the space of eighteen months, to be computed
from the day of the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty. It is
moreover stipulated, that his Catholick Majesty shall have power to cause all
the effects that may belong to him, to be brought away, whether it be artillery
or other things.
XXI. The French and Spanish troops shall evacuate all
the territories, lands, towns, places, and castles, of his Most faithful
Majesty in Europe, without any reserve, which shall have been conquered by the
armies of France and Spain, and shall restore them in the same condition they
were in when conquered, with the same artillery and ammunition, which were
found there: And with regard to the Portuguese Colonies in America, Africa, or
in the East Indies, if any change shall have happened there, all things shall
be restored on the same footing they were in, and conformably to the preceding
treaties which subsisted between the Courts of France, Spain, and Portugal,
before the present war.
XXII. All the papers, letters, documents, and archives,
which were found in the countries, territories, towns and places that are
restored, and those belonging to the countries ceded, shall be, respectively and
bon fide, delivered, or furnished at the same time, if possible, that
possession is taken, or, at latest, four months after the exchange of the
ratifications of the present treaty, in whatever places the said papers or
documents may be found.
XXIII. All the countries and territories, which may
have been conquered, in whatsoever part of the world, by the arms of their
Britannick and Most Faithful Majesties, as well as by those of their Most
Christian and Catholick Majesties, which are not included in the present
treaty, either under the title of cessions, or under the title of restitutions,
shall be restored without difficulty, and without requiring any compensations.
XXIV. As it is necessary to assign a fixed epoch for
the restitutions and the evacuations, to be made by each of the high
contracting parties, it is agreed, that the British and French troops shall
compleat, before the 15th of March next, all that shall remain to be executed
of the XIIth and XIIIth articles of the preliminaries, signed the 3d day of
November last, with regard to the evacuation to be made in the Empire, or
elsewhere. The island of Belleisle shall be evacuated six weeks after the
exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, or sooner if it can be
done. Guadeloupe, Desirade, Mariegalante Martinico, and St. Lucia, three months
after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, or sooner if it
can be done. Great Britain shall likewise, at the end of three months after the
exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, or sooner if it can be
done, enter into possession of the river and port of the Mobile, and of all
that is to form the limits of the territory of Great Britain, on the side of
the river Mississippi, as they are specified in the VIIth article. The island
of Goree shall be evacuated by Great Britain, three months after the exchange
of the ratifications of the present treaty; and the island of Minorca by
France, at the same epoch, or sooner if it can be done: And according to the
conditions of the VIth article, France shall likewise enter into possession of
the islands of St Peter, and of Miquelon, at the end of three months after the
exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty. The Factories in the East
Indies shall be restored six months after the exchange of the ratifications of
the present treaty, or sooner if it can be done. The fortress of the Havannah,
with all that has been conquered in the island of Cuba, shall be restored three
months after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, or sooner
if it can be done: And, at the same time, Great Britain shall enter into
possession of the country ceded by Spain according to the XXth article. All the
places and countries of his most Faithful Majesty, in Europe, shall be restored
immediately after the exchange of the ratification of the present treaty: And
the Portuguese colonies, which may have been conquered, shall be restored in
the space of three months in the West Indies, and of six months in the East
Indies, after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, or
sooner if it can be done. All the fortresses, the restitution whereof is
stipulated above, shall be restored with the artillery and ammunition, which
were found there at the time of the conquest. In consequence whereof, the
necessary orders shall be sent by each of the high contracting parties, with
reciprocal passports for the ships that shall carry them, immediately after the
exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty.
XXV. His Britannick Majesty, as Elector of Brunswick
Lunenbourg, as well for himself as for his heirs and successors, and all the
dominions and possessions of his said Majesty in Germany, are included and
guarantied by the present treaty of peace.
XXVI. Their sacred Britannick, Most Christian,
Catholick, and Most Faithful Majesties, promise to observe sincerely and bon
fide, all the articles contained and settled in the present treaty; and they
will not suffer the same to be infringed, directly or indirectly, by their
respective subjects; and the said high contracting parties, generally and
reciprocally, guaranty to each other all the stipulations of the present
treaty.
XXVII. The solemn ratifications of the present treaty,
expedited in good and due form, shall be exchanged in this city of Paris,
between the high contracting parties, in the space of a month, or sooner if
possible, to be computed from the day of the signature of the present treaty.
In witness whereof, we the underwritten their Ambassadors
Extraordinary, and Ministers Plenipotentiary, have signed with our hand, in
their name, and in virtue of our full powers, have signed the present
definitive treaty, and have caused the seal of our arms to be put thereto. Done
at Paris the tenth day of February, 1763.
(L.S.) Bedford, C.P.S.
(L.S.) Choiseul, Duc de Praslin.
(L.S.) El Marq. de Grimaldi.
SEPARATE ARTICLES
I. Some of the titles made use of by the contracting
powers, either in the full powers, and other acts, during the course of the
negociation, or in the preamble of the present treaty, not being generally
acknowledged; it has been agreed, that no prejudice shall ever result therefrom
to any of the said contracting parties, and that the titles, taken or omitted
on either side, on occasion of the said negociation, and of the present treaty,
shall not be cited or quoted as a precedent.
II. It has been agreed and determined, that the French
language made use of in all the copies of the present treaty, shall not become
an example which may be alledged, or made a precedent of, or prejudice, in any
manner, any of the contracting powers; and that they shall conform themselves,
for the future, to what has been observed, and ought to be observed, with
regard to, and on the part of powers, who are used, and have a right, to give
and to receive copies of like treaties in another language than French; the
present treaty having still the same force and effect, as if the aforesaid
custom had been therein observed.
III. Though the King of Portugal has not signed the
present definitive treaty, their Britannick, Most Christian, and Catholick
Majesties, acknowledge, nevertheless, that his Most Faithful Majesty is
formally included therein as a contracting party, and as if he had expressly
signed the said treaty: Consequently, their Britannick, Most Christian, and
Catholick Majesties, respectively and conjointly, promise to his Most Faithful
Majesty, in the most express and most binding manner, the execution of all and
every the clauses, contained in the said treaty, on his act of accession.
The present Separate Articles shall have the same force as
if they were inserted in the treaty.
In witness whereof, We the underwritten Ambassadors
Extraordinary, and Ministers Plenipotentiary of their Britannick, Most
Christian and Catholick Majesties, have signed the present separate Articles,
and have caused the seal of our arms to be put thereto.
Done at Paris, the 10th of February, 1763.
(L.S.) Bedford, C.P.S.
(L.S.) Choiseul, Duc de Praslin.
(L.S.) El Marq. de Grimaldi.
His Britannick Majesty's full Power.
GEORGE R.
GEORGE the Third, by the grace of God, King of Great
Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and
Lunenbourg, Arch-Treasurer, and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, c. To
all and singular to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas, in order
to perfect the peace between Us and our good Brother the Most Faithful King, on
the one part, and our good Brothers the Most Christian and Catholick Kings, on
the other, which has been happily begun by the Preliminary Articles already
signed at Fontainebleau the third of this month; and to bring the same to the
desired end, We have thought proper to invest some fit person with full
authority, on our part; Know ye, that We, having most entire confidence in the
fidelity, judgment, skill, and ability in managing affairs of the greatest
consequence, of our right trusty, and right entirely beloved Cousin and
Counsellor, John Duke and Earl of Bedford, Marquis of Tavistock, Baron Russel
of Cheneys, Baron Russel of Thornhaugh, and Baron Howland of Streatham,
Lieutenant-general of our forces, Keeper of our Privy Seal, Lieutenant and
Custos Rotulorum of the counties of Bedford and Devon, Knight of our most noble
order of the Garter, and our Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to our
good Brother the Most Christian King, have nominated, made, constituted and
appointed, as by these presents, we do nominate, make, constitute, and appoint
him, our true, certain, and undoubted Minister, Commissary, Deputy, Procurator
and Plenipotentiary, giving to him all and all manner of power, faculty and
authority, as well as our general and special command (yet so as that the
general do not derogate from the special, or on the contrary) for Us and in our
name, to meet and confer, as well singly and separately, as jointly, and in a
body, with the Ambassadors, Commissaries, Deputies, and Plenipotentiaries of
the Princes, whom it may concern, vested with sufficient power and authority
for that purpose, and with them to agree upon, treat, consult and conclude,
concerning the re-establishing, as soon as may be, a firm and lasting peace,
and sincere friendship and concord; and whatever shall be so agreed and
concluded, for Us and in our name, to sign, and to make a treaty or treaties,
on what shall have been so agreed and concluded, and to transact every thing
else that may belong to the happy completion of the aforesaid work, in as ample
a manner and form, and with the same force and effect, as We ourselves, if we
were present, could do and perform; engaging and promising, on our royal word,
that We will approve, ratify and accept, in the best manner, whatever shall
happen to be transacted and concluded by our said Plenipotentiary, and that We
will never suffer any person to infringe or act contrary to the same, either in
the whole or in part. In witness and confirmation whereof We have caused our
great Seal of Great Britain to be affixed to these presents, signed with our
royal hand. Given at our Palace at St. James's, the 12th day of November, 1762,
in the third year of our reign.
His Most Christian Majesty's Full Power.
LEWIS, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, To
all who shall see these presents, Greeting. Whereas the Preliminaries, signed
at Fontainebleau the third of November of the last year, laid the foundation of
the peace re-established between us and our most dear and most beloved good
Brother and Cousin the King of Spain, on the one part, and our most dear and
most beloved good Brother the King of Great Britain, and our most dear and most
beloved good Brother and Cousin the King of Portugal on the other, We have had
nothing more at heart since that happy epoch, than to consolidate and
strengthen in the most lasting manner, so salutary and so important a work, by
a solemn and definitive treaty between Us and the said powers. For these
causes, and other good considerations, Us thereunto moving, We, trusting
entirely in the capacity and experience, zeal and fidelity for our service, of
our most dear and well-beloved Cousin, Csar Gabriel de Choiseul, Duke of
Praslin, Peer of France, Knight of our Orders, Lieutenant General of our Forces
and of the province of Britany, Counsellor in all our Councils, Minister and
Secretary of State, and of our Commands and Finances, We have named, appointed,
and deputed him, and by these presents, signed with our hand, do name, appoint,
and depute him our Minister Plenipotentiary, giving him full and absolute power
to act in that quality, and to confer, negociate, treat and agree jointly with
the Minister Plenipotentiary of our most dear and most beloved good Brother the
King of Great Britain, the Minister Plenipotentiary of our most dear and most
beloved good Brother and Cousin the King of Spain and the Minister
Plenipotentiary of our most dear and most beloved good Brother and Cousin the
King of Portugal, vested with full powers, in good form, to agree, conclude and
sign such articles, conditions, conventions, declarations, definitive treaty,
accessions, and other acts whatsoever, that he shall judge proper for securing
and strengthening the great work of peace, the whole with the same latitude and
authority that We ourselves might do, if We were there in person, even though
there should be something which might require a more special order than what is
contained in these presents, promising on the faith and word of a King, to
approve, keep firm and stable for ever, to fulfil and execute punctually, all
that our said Cousin, the Duke of Praslin, shall have stipulated, promised and
signed, in virtue of the present full power, without ever acting contrary
thereto, or permitting any thing contrary thereto, for any cause, or under any
pretence whatsoever, as also to cause our letters of ratification to be
expedited in good form, and to cause them to be delivered, in order to be
exchanged within the time that shall be agreed upon. For such is our pleasure.
In witness whereof, we have caused our Seal to be put to these presents. Given
at Versailles the 7th day of the month of February, in the year of Grace 1763,
and of our reign the forty-eighth. Signed Lewis, and on the fold, by the King,
the Duke of Choiseul. Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax.
His Catholick Majesty's full Power.
DON CARLOS, by the grace of God, King of Castille, of Leon,
of Arragon, of the two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of
Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of
Cordova, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Jaen, of the Algarves. of Algecira. of
Gibraltar. of the Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies, Islands and
Continent, of the Ocean, Arch Duke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant and
Milan, Count of Hapsburg, of Flanders, of Tirol and Barcelona, Lord of Biscay
and of Molino, c. Whereas preliminaries of a solid and lasting peace between this
Crown, and that of France on the one part, and that of England and Portugal on
the other, were concluded and signed in the Royal Residence of Fontainbleau,
the 3rd of November of the present year, and the respective ratifications
thereof exchanged on the 22d of the same month, by Ministers authorised for
that purpose, wherein it is promised, that a definitive treaty should be
forthwith entered upon, having established and regulated the chief points upon
which it is to turn: and whereas in the same manner as I granted to you, Don
Jerome Grimaldi, Marquis de Grimaldi, Knight of the Order of the Holy Ghost,
Gentleman of my Be-chamber with employment, and my Ambassador Extraordinary to
the Most Christian King, my full power to treat, adjust, and sign the before-mentioned
preliminaries, it is necessary to grant the same to you, or to some other, to
treat, adjust, and sign the promised definitive treaty of peace as aforesaid:
therefore, as you the said Don Jerome Grimaldi, Marquis de Grimaldi, are at the
convenient place, and as I have every day fresh motives, from your approved
fidelity and zeal, capacity and prudence, to entrust to you this, and other-like
concerns of my Crown, I have appointed you my Minister Plenipotentiary, and
granted to you my full power, to the end, that, in my name, and representing my
person, you may treat, regulate, settle, and sign the said definitive treaty of
peace between my Crown and that of France on the one part, that of England and
that of Portugal on the other, with the Ministers who shall be equally and
specially authorised by their respective Sovereigns for the same purpose;
acknowledging, as I do from this time acknowledge, as accepted and ratified,
whatever you shall so treat, conclude, and sign; promising, on my Royal Word,
that I will observe and fulfil the same, will cause it to be observed and
fulfilled, as if it had been treated, concluded, and signed by myself. In
witness whereof, I have caused these presents to be dispatched, signed by my
hand, sealed with my privy seal, and countersigned by my under-written
Counsellor of State, and first Secretary for the department of State and of
War. Buen Retiro, the 10th day of December, 1762.
(Signed)
I THE KING.
(And lower)
Richard Wall
SOURCES: Treaty of Paris,
The Avalon Project, accessed May 11, 2026; Treaty of
Paris, treatyofparis.org, accessed May 11, 2026; The London Magazine or
Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer, Vol. 32 For the Year 1763, pp. 149-56
