Europe, one or more free ports, where they may bring and dispose of all the produce and merchandise of the thirteen United States; and his majesty will also continue to the subjects of the said states the free ports which have been and are open in the French Islands of America; of all which free ports, the said subjects of the United States shall enjoy the use, agreeable to the regulations which relate to them.

ARTICLE XXXIII.

The present treaty shall be ratified on both sides, and the ratifications shall be exchanged, in the space of six months, or sooner if possible.

In faith whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the above articles, both in the French and English languages; declaring, nevertheless, that the present treaty was originally composed and concluded in the French language. And they have thereto set their seals.-Done at Paris, the sixth day of February, 1778.

C. A. GERARD. [L. S.] B. FRANKLIN, [L. S.] SILAS DEANE, [L. s.] ARTHUR LEE. [L. s.]

Form of the passports and letters which are to be given to the ships and barks, according to the 27th article of this treaty.

To all who shall see these presents, Greeting. It is hereby made known, That leave and permission has been given to master and commander

of the ship called den

tons, or thereabouts, lying at present in the

port or haven of

that his ship has been visited, and before sailing, he shall make oath, before the officers who have the jurisdiction of maritime affairs, that the said ship belongs to one or more of the subjects of

The act whereof shall be put at the end of these presents; as likewise that he will keep, and cause to be kept by his crew on board, the marine ordinances and regulations, and enter, in the proper office, a list signed and witnessed, containing the names and surnames, the places of birth and abode of the crew of his ship, and of all who shall embark on board her, whom he shall not take on board without the knowledge and permission of the officers of marine. And in every port or haven, where he shall enter with his ship, he shall show this present leave to the officers and judges of the marine; and shall give a faithful account to them of what passed and was done during his voyage; and he shall carry the colours, arms and ensigns of the king, or United States, during his voyage.

In witness whereof we have signed these presents, and put the seal of our arms thereunto, and caused the same to be countersigned by

at

the

Anno Domini

day of

Full powers of Mr. Gerard, in French.*

THE TRANSLATION.

LEWIS, by the grace of God king of France and Navarre To all who shall see these presents, Greeting.

For

The Congress of the United States of America having, by their plenipotentiaries residing in France, proposed to form with us a defensive and eventual alliance; and willing to give the said states an efficacious proof of the interest we take in their prosperity, we have determined to conclude the said alliance. these causes, and other good considerations us thereunto moving, we, reposing entire confidence in the abilities and experience, zeal and fidelity for our service, of our dear and beloved Conrad Alexander Gerard, royal syndic of the city of Strasburg, secretary of our council of state, have nominated, commissioned and deputed, and by these presents signed with our hand, do nominate, commission and depute him our plenipotentiary, giving him power and special command to act in this quality, and confer, negotiate, treat and agree conjointly with the abovementioned plenipotentiaries of the United States, vested in like manner with powers in due form, to determine and conclude such articles, conditions, conventions, declarations, definitive treaty, and any other acts whatever, as he shall judge proper to answer the end which we pro

pose; promising, on the faith and word of a king, to agree to, confirm and establish for ever, to accomplish and execute punctually whatever our said beloved Conrad Alexander Gerard shall bave stipulated and signed, in virtue of the present power, without ever contravening it, or suffering it to be contravened, for any cause and under any pretext whatever; as likewise to cause our letters of ratification to be made in due form, and to have them in order, or to be exchanged at the time that shall be agreed upon. For such is our pleasure.

In testimony whereof we have set our seal to these presents.

Given at Versailles, the thirteenth day of January, in the year of grace, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight.

[L. S.]

LOUIS.

By the King.

GRAVIER DE VERGENNES.

TREATY OF ALLIANCE, EVENTUAL AND DEFENSIVE.

The most christian king, and the United States of North America, to wit, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, having this day concluded a treaty of amity and commerce, for the reciprocal advantage of their subjects and citizens, have thought it necessary to take into considera

tion the means of strengthening those engagements, and of rendering them useful to the safety and tranquillity of the two parties; particularly in case Great Britain, in resentment of that connexion and of the good correspondence which is the object of the said treaty, should break the peace with France, either by direct hostilities, or by hindering her commerce and navigation in a manner contrary to the rights of nations, and the peace subsisting between the two crowns. And his majesty and the said United States, having resolved, in that case, to join their counsels and efforts against the enterprises of their common enemy, the respective plenipotentiaries empowered to concert the clauses and conditions proper to fulfil the said intentions, have, after the most mature deliberation, concluded and determined on the following articles.

ARTICLE 1.

If war should break out between France and Great Britain, during the continuance of the present war between the United States and England, his majesty and the said United States shall make it a common cause, and aid each other mutually with their good offices, their counsels, and their forces, according to the exigence of conjunctures, as becomes good and faithful allies.

ARTICLE II.

The essential and direct end of the present defensive alliance is, to maintain effectually the liberty, so