map of the said boundary, and particularizing the latitude and longitude of the northwest angle of Nova Scotia, of the northwesternmost head of Connecticut River, and of such other points of the said boundary as they may deem proper. And both parties agree to consider such map and declaration as finally and conclusively fixing the said boundary. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations or statements shall be made by them, or either of them, and such reference to a friendly sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated.

ARTICLE VI. Whereas by the former treaty of peace that portion of the boundary of the United States from the point where the forty-fifth degree of north latitude strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy to the Lake Superior, was declared to be "along the middle of said river into Lake Ontario, through the middle of said lake, until it strikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie, thence along the middle of said communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said lake until it arrives at the water communication into the Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said lake to the water communication between that lake and Lake Superior;" and whereas doubts have arisen what was the middle of the said river, lakes and water communications, and whether certain islands lying in the same were within the dominions of His Britannic Majesty or of the United States: In order, therefore, finally to decide these doubts, they shall be referred to two Commissioners, to be appointed, sworn and authorized to act exactly in the manner directed with respect to those mentioned in the next preceding article, unless otherwise specified in this present article. The said Commissioners shall meet, in the first instance, at Albany, in the State of New York, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall, by a report or declaration, under their hands and seals, designate the boundary through the said river, lakes and water communications, and decide to which of the two contracting parties the several islands lying within the said rivers, lakes and water communications, do respectively belong, in conformity with the true intent of the said treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. And both parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both or either of them refusing, declining or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations or statements shall be made by them, or either of them, and such reference to a friendly sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated.

ARTICLE VII. It is further agreed that the said two last-mentioned Commissioners, after they shall have executed the duties assigned to them in the preceding article, shall be, and they are hereby, authorized upon their oaths impartially to fix and determine, according to the true intent of the said treaty of peace of one thousand seven hundred and eightythree, that part of the boundary between the dominions of the two Powers which extends from the water communication between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, to the most northwestern point of the Lake of the Woods,

to decide to which of the two parties the several islands lying in the lakes, water communications and rivers, forming the said boundary, do respectively belong, in conformity with the true intent of the said treaty of peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three; and to cause such parts of the said boundary as require it to be surveyed and marked. The said Commissioners shall, by a report or declaration under their hands and seals, designate the boundary aforesaid, state their decision on the points thus referred to them, and particularize the latitude and longitude of the most north western point of the Lake of the Woods, and of such other parts of the said boundary as they may deem proper. Aud both parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both or either of them refusing, declining or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations or statements shall be made by them, or either of them, and such reference to a friendly sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated.

ARTICLE VIII. The several boards of two Commissioners mentioned in the four preceding articles shall respectively have power to appoint a Secretary, and to employ such surveyors or other persons as they shall judge necessary. Duplicates of all their respective reports, declarations, statements and decisions and of their accounts, and of the journal of their proceedings, shall be delivered by them to the agents of His Britannic Majesty and to the agents of the United States, who may be respectively appointed and authorized to manage the business on behalf of their respective Governments. The said Commissioners shall be respectively paid in such manner as shall be agreed between the two contracting parties, such agreement being to be settled at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty. And all other expenses attending the said Commissions shall be defrayed equally by the two parties. And in the case of death, sickness, resignation or necessary absence, the place of every such Commissioner, respectively, shall be supplied in the same manner as such Commissioner was first appointed, and the new Commissioner shall take the same oath or affirmation, and do the same duties. It is further agreed between the two contracting parties, that in case any of the islands mentioned in any of the preceding articles, which were in the possession of one of the parties prior to the commencement of the present war between the two countries, should, by the decision of any of the Boards of Commissioners aforesaid, or of the sovereign or State so referred to, as in the four next preceding articles contained, fall within the domin ions of the other party, all grants of land made previous to the commencement of the war, by the party having had such possession, shall be as valid as if such island or islands had, by such decision or decisions, been adjudged to be within the dominions of the party having had such possession.

ARTICLE XI. This treaty, when the same shall have been ratified on both sides, without alteration by either of the contracting parties, and the ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding on both parties, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington, in the space of four months from this day, or sooner if practicable.

In faith whereof we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty, and have thereunto affixed our seals.

Done, in triplicate, at Ghent, the twenty-fourth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.

Convention respecting fisheries, boundary, and restoration of slaves.

[Concluded October 20, 1818; ratifications exchanged at Washington January, 30, 1819; proclaimed January 30, 1819.]

The United States of America, and His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, desirous to cement the good understanding which happily subsists between them, have, for that purpose, named their respective Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

The President of the United States, on his part, has appointed, Albert Gallatin, their Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France; and Richard Rush, their Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of His Britannic Majesty:-and His Majesty has appointed the Right Honorable Frederick John Robinson, Treasurer of His Majesty's Navy, and President of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations; and Henry Goulburn Esq., one of His Majesty's Under Secretarys of State:—

Who, after having exchanged their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed to and concluded the following articles.

ARTICLE V. Whereas it was agreed by the first article of the treaty of Ghent, that "all territory, places, possessions whatsoever taken by either party from the other during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of this treaty, excepting only the islands hereinafter mentioned, shall be restored without delay; and without causing any destruction, or carrying away any of the artillery or other public property originally captured in the said forts or places which shall remain therein upon the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, or any slaves or other private property;" and whereas under the aforesaid article the United States claim for their citizens, and as their private property, the restitution of, or full compensation for all slaves who, at the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the said treaty, were in any territory, places, or possessions whatsoever directed by the said treaty to be restored to the United States, but then still occupied by the British forces, whether such slaves were, at the date aforesaid, on shore, or on board any British vessel lying in waters within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States; and whereas differences have arisen whether, by the true intent and meaning of the aforesaid article of the treaty of Ghent, the United States are entitled 5627-VOL. 5—22

to the restitution of, or full compensation for all or any slaves as above described, the high contracting parties hereby agree to refer the said differences to some friendly sovereign or State to be named for that purpose; and the high contracting parties further engage to consider the decision of such friendly sovereign or State, to be final and conclusive on all the matters referred.

ARTICLE VI. This convention, when the same shall have been duly ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of their Senate, and by His Britannic Majesty, and the respective ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding and obligatory on the said United States and on His Majesty; and the ratifications shall be exchanged in six months from this date, or sooner, if possible.

In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have thereunto affixed the seal of their arms.

Done at London this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

Convention for indemnity under award of Emperor of Russia as to true construction of first article of treaty of December 24, 1814.

[Concluded June 30 (July 12), 1822; ratifications exchanged at Washington January 10, 1823; proclaimed January 11, 1823.]

In the name of the Most Holy and Indivisible Trinity.

The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, having agreed, in pursuance of the fifth article of the convention concluded at London on the 20th day of October, 1818, to refer the differences which had arisen between the two Governments, upon the true construction and meaning of the first article of the treaty of peace and amity concluded at Ghent on the 24th day of December, 1814, to the friendly arbitration of His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, mutually engaging to consider his decision as final and conclusive. And his said Imperial Majesty having, after due consideration, given his decision upon these differences in the following terms, to wit:

"That the United States of America are entitled to claim from Great Britain a just indemnification for all private property which the British forces may have carried away; and, as the question relates to slaves more especially, for all the slaves that the British forces may have carried away from places and territories of which the treaty stipulates the restitution, in quitting these same places and territories.

"That the United States are entitled to consider as having been so carried away, all such slaves as may have been transferred from the abovementioned territories to British vessels within the waters of the said territories, and who for this reason may not have been restored.

"But that if there should be any American slaves who were carried away from territories of which the first article of the treaty of Ghent has not stipulated the restitution to the United States, the United States are not entitled to claim an indemnification for the said slaves."

Now, for the purpose of carrying into effect this award of His Imperial Majesty, as arbitrator, his good offices have been farther invoked to assist in framing such convention or articles of agreement between the United States of America and his Britannic Majesty as shall provide the mode of ascertaining and determining the value of slaves and of other private property, which may have been carried away in contravention of the treaty of Ghent, and for which indemnification is to be made to the citizens of the United States, in virtue of His Imperial Majesty's said award, and shall secure compensation to the sufferers for their losses, so ascertained and determined. And His Imperial Majesty has consented to lend his mediation for the above purpose, and has constituted and appointed Charles Robert Count Nesselrode, His Imperial Majesty's Privy Councellor, member of the Council of State, Secretary of State directing the Imperial Department of Foreign Affairs, Chamberlain, Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Vladimir of the first class, Knight of that of the White Eagle of Poland, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stephen of Hungary, of the Black and of the Red Eagle of Prussia, of the Legion of Honor of France, of Charles III of Spain, of St. Ferdinand and of Merit of Naples, of the Annunciation of Sardinia, of the Polar Star of Sweden, of the Elephant of Denmark, of the Golden Eagle of Wirtemberg, of Fidelity of Baden, of St. Constantine of Parma, and of Guelph of Hannovre; and John Count Capodistrias, His Imperial Majesty's Privy Counsellor, and Secretary of State, Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Vladimir of the first class, Knight of that of the White Eagle of Poland, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stephen of Hungary, of the Black and of the Red Eagle of Prussia, of the Legion of Honour of France, of Charles III of Spain, of St. Ferdinand and of Merit of Naples, of St. Maurice and of St. Lazarus of Sardinia, of the Elephant of Denmark, of Fidelity and of the Lion of Zahringen of Baden, Burgher of the Canton of Vaud, and also of the Canton and of the Republic of Geneva, as his Plenipotentiaries to treat, adjust, and conclude such articles of agreement as may tend to the attainment of the above-mentioned end, with the Plenipotentiaries of the United States and of His Britannic Majesty, that is to say:

On the part of the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, Henry Middleton, a citizen of the said United States, and their Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias; and on the part of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honorable Sir Charles Bagot, one of His Majesty's most Honorable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the most honorable Order of the Bath, and His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias;

And the said Plenipotentiaries, after a reciprocal communication of their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE I. For the purpose of ascertaining and determining the amount of indemnification which may be due to citizens of the United States under the decision of His Imperial Majesty, two Commissioners and two