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hundred yards from the shore to the upper end thereof; thence along the middle of the river, keeping to the south of, and near, the islands called Cousson (or Tussin) and Presque Isle; thence up the river, keeping north of, and near, the several Gallop Isles, numbered on the map 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, and also of Tick, Tibbet's, and Chimney Islands; and south of, and near, the Gallop Isles, numbered 11, 12, and 13, and also of Duck, Drummond, and Sheep Islands; thence along the middle of the river, passing north of island No. 14, south of 15, and 16, north of 17, south of 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 28, and north of 26, and 27; thence along the middle of the river, north of Gull Island, and of the islands No. 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, Bluff Island, and No. 39, 44, and 45, and to the south of No. 30, 31, 36, Grenadier Island, and No. 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, and 48, until it approaches the east end of Well's Island; thence to the north of Well's Island, and along the strait which divides it from Rowe's Island, keeping to the north of the small islands No. 51, 52, 54, 58, 59, and 61, and to the south of the small islands numbered and marked 49, 50, 53, 55, 57, 60, and X, until it approaches the northeast point of Grindstone Island; thence to the north of Grindstone Island, and keeping to the north also of the small islands, No. 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78, and to the south of No. 62, 64, 66, 69, and 71, until it approaches the southern point of Hickory Island; thence passing to the south of Hickory Island, and of the two sinall islands lying near its southern extremity, numbered 79 and 80; thence to the south of Grand or Long Island, keeping near its southern shore, and passing to the north of Carlton Island, until it arrives opposite to the southwestern point of said Grand Island in Lake Ontario; thence passing to the north of Grenadier, Fox, Stony, and the Gallop Islands in Lake Ontario, and to the south of, and near, the islands called the Ducks, to the middle of the said lake; thence westerly, along the middle of said lake, to a point opposite the mouth of the Niagara River; thence to and up the middle of the said river to the Great Falls; thence up the Falls, through the point of the Horse Shoe, keeping to the west of Iris or Goat Island, and of the group of small islands at its head, and following the bends of the river so as to enter the strait between Navy and Grand Islands; thence along the middle of said strait to the head of Navy Island; thence to the west and south of, and near to, Grand and Beaver Islands, and to the west of Strawberry, Squaw, and Bird Islands, to Lake Erie; thence southerly and westerly, along the middle of Lake Erie, in a direction to enter the passage immediately south of Middle Island, being one of the easternmost of the group of islands lying in the western part of said lake; thence along the said passage, proceeding to the north of Cunningham's Island, of the three Bass Islands, and of the Western Sister, and to the south of the islands called the Hen and Chickens, and of the Eastern and Middle Sisters; thence to the middle of the mouth of the Detroit River, in a direction to enter the channel which divides Bois-Blanc and Sugar Islands; thence up the said channel to the west of Bois-Blanc Island, and to the east of Sugar, Fox, and Stony Islands, until it approaches Fighting or Great Turkey Island; thence along the western side, and near the shore of said last-mentioned island, to the middle of the river above the same; thence along the middle of said river, keeping to the southeast of, and near, Hog Island, and to the northwest of, and near, the island called Isle a la Pache, to Lake St. Clair; thence through the middle of said lake, in a direction to enter that mouth or channel of the river St. Clair, which is usually denominated the Old Ship Channel; thence along the middle of said channel, between Squirrel Island on the southeast, and Herson's Island on the northwest,

to the upper end of the last-mentioned island, which is nearly opposite to Point aux Chênes, on the American shore; thence along the middle of the river St. Clair, keeping to the west of, and near, the islands called Belle Riviere Isle, and Isle aux Cerfs, to Lake Huron; thence through the middle of Lake Huron, in a direction to enter the strait or passage between Drummond's Island on the west, and the Little Manitou Island on the east; thence through the middle of the passage which divides the two last-mentioned islands; thence turning northerly and westerly, around the eastern and northern shores of Drummond's Island, and proceeding in a direction to enter the passage between the Island of St. Joseph's and the American shore, passing to the north of the intermediate islands No. 61, 11, 10, 12, 9, 6, 4, and 2, and to the south of those numbered 15, 13, 5, and 1; thence up the said last-mentioned passage, keeping near to the island St. Joseph's, and passing to the north and east of Isle a la Crosse, and of the small islands numbered 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, and to the south and west of those numbered 21, 22, and 23, until it strikes a line (drawn on the map with black ink and shaded on one side of the point of intersection with blue, and on the other with red,) passing across the river at the head of St. Joseph's Island, and at the foot of the Neebish Rapids, which line denotes the termination of the boundary directed to be run by the sixth article of the treaty of Ghent.

Islands.

And the said Commissioners do further decide and declare, that all the islands lying in the rivers, lakes, and water communications, between the before-described boundary-line and the adjacent shores of Upper Canada, do, and each of them does, belong to His Britannic Majesty, and that all the islands lying in the rivers, lakes, and water communications, between the said boundary-line and the adjacent shores of the United States, or their territories, do, and each of them does, belong to the United States of America, in conformity with the true intent of the second article of the said treaty of 1783, and of the sixth article of the treaty of Ghent.

In faith whereof we, the Commissioners aforesaid, have signed this declaration, and thereunto affixed our seals.

Done in quadruplicate at Utica, in the State of New York, in the United States of America, this eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two.

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TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN, CONCLUDED JULY 12, 1822; RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED JANUARY 10, 1823; PROCLAIMED JANUARY 11, 1823.

The United States Britain agree to refer certain peror of Russia.

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 Great and Ireland, having agreed, in pursuance of the fifth article difceues to the Emof the convention concluded at London on the 20th day of October, 1818, to refer the differences which had arisen betwen 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:

His Majesty's award.

United States en

cation for certain slaves.

"That the United States of America are entitled to claim from Great Britain a just indemnification for all private property which titled to indemnifi 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 above-mentioned 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 No indemnification States are not entitled to claim an indemnification for the for certain slaves. said slaves."

Russian tentiaries.

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 conPlenipo- Stituted 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, Heury Middleton, a citizen Plenipotentiary of of the said United States, and their Envoy Extraordinary the United States. 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 Plenipotentiary of Sir Charles Bagot, one of His Majesty's most Honorable Great Britai 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.

Full powers.

Arbitrators and

appointed.

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 to be Commissioners and two Arbitrators shall be appointed in the manner following, that is to say: One Commissioner and one Arbitrator shall be nominated and appointed by the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and one Commissioner and one Arbitrator shall be appointed by His Britannic Majesty. And the two Commissioners and two Arbitrators, thus appointed, shall meet and hold their sittings as a board in the city of Washington. They shall have power to appoint a secretary, and before proceeding to the other, business of the commission, they shall, respectively, take the following oath (or affirmation) in the presence of each other; which oath or affirmation, being so taken, and duly attested, shall be entered on the record of their proceedings, that is to say: "I, A. B., one of the Commissioners (or Arbitrators, as the case may be) appointed in pursuance of the convention concluded at St. Petersburg on the day of June, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, between His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, the United States of America, and His Britannic Majesty, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will diligently, impartially, and carefully examine, and, to the best of my judgment, according to justice and equity, decide all matters submitted to me as Commissioner (or Arbitrator, as the case may be) under the said conven

tion."

30th 12th

July.

Oath or affirmation

Vacancies.

All vacancies occurring by death or otherwise shall be filled up in the manner of the original appointment, and the new Commissioners or Arbitrators shall take the same oath or affirmation, and perform the same duties.

ARTICLE II.

Average value.

If, at the first meeting of this board, the Governments of the United States and of Great Britain shall not have agreed upon an average value, to be allowed as compensation for each slave for whom indemnification may be due: then, and in that case, the Commissioners and Arbitrators shall conjointly proceed to examine the testimony which shall be produced under the authority of the President of the United States, together with such other competent testimony as they may see cause to require or allow, going to prove the true value of

In case they do not agree, &c.

slaves at the period of the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty of Ghent; and, upon the evidence so obtained, they shall agree upon and fix the average value. But in case that the majority of the board of Commissioners and Arbitrators should not be able to agree respecting such average value, then, and in that case, recourse shall be had to the arbitration of the Minister or other Agent of the mediating Power accredited to the Government of the United States. A statement of the evidence produced, and of the proceedings of the board thereupon, shall be communicated to the said Minister or Agent, and his decision, founded upon such evidence and proceedings, shall be final and conclusive. And the said average value, when fixed and determined by either of the three before mentioned methods, shall, in all cases, serve as a rule for the compensation to be awarded for each and every slave, for whom it may afterwards be found that indemnification is due.

Commissioners to

for the examination of claims

ARTICLE III.

When the average value of slaves shall have been ascertained and fixed, the two Commissioners shall constitute a board for the constitute a board examination of the claims which are to be submitted to them, and they shall notify to the Secretary of State of the United States that they are ready to receive a definitive list of the slaves and other private property for which the citizens of the United States claim indemnification; it being understood and hereby agreed that the commission shall not take cognizance of, nor receive, and that His Britan nic Majesty shall not be required to make, compensation for any claims for private property under the first article of the treaty of Gheut not contained in the said list. And His Britannic Majesty hereby engages to cause to be produced before the commission, as material towards as certaining facts, all the evidence of which His Majesty's umber of slaves car Government may be in possession, by returns from His Majesty's officers or otherwise, of the number of slaves carried away. But the evidence so produced, or its defectiveness, shall not go in bar of any claim or claims which shall be otherwise satisfactorily authenticated.

Evidence of the

ried away.

ARTICLE IV.

Commissioners to

The two Commissioners are hereby empowered and required to go into an examination of all the claims submitted, thro' the examine claims. above-mentioned list, by the owners of slaves or other property, or by their lawful attorneys or representatives, and to deter mine the same, respectively, according to the merits of the several cases, under the rule of the Imperial decision hereinabove recited, and having reference, if need there be, to the explanatory documents hereunto annexed, marked A and B. And, in considering such claims, the Commis sioners are empowered and required to examine, on oath or affirmation, all such persons as shall come before them touching the real number of the slaves, or value of other property, for which indemnification is claimed; and, also, to receive in evidence, according as they may think consistent with equity and justice, written depositions or papers, such depositions or papers being duly authenticated, either according to exist ing legal forms, or in such other manner as the said Commissioners shall see cause to require or allow.

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