the whole expenses shall exceed this rate, then the excess of expense shall be defrayed jointly by the two Governments in equal moieties. ARTICLE XI. The High Contracting Parties agree to consider the result of the proceedings of the Commission provided by this Convention as a full, perfect and final settlement of any and every claim upon either Government within the description and true meaning of Articles I. and II.; and that every such claim, whether or not the same may have beeu presented to the notice of, made, preferred or laid before the said Commission, shall, from and after the conclusion of the proceedings of the said Commission, be considered and treated as finally settled, concluded and barred. ARTICLE XII. The present convention shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by the President of the French Republic, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington, at as early a day as may be possible within nine months from the date hereof. In testimony whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention, in the English and French languages, in duplicate, and hereunto affixed their respective seals. Done at the city of Washington, the fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty. [SEAL.] [SEAL.] WILLIAM MAXWELL EVARTS. Convention for the extension of the term of the claims commission established under the convention of January 15, 1880, to July 1, 1883. [Concluded July 19, 1882; ratifications exchanged at Washington December 29, 1882; proclaimed December 29, 1882.] The United States of America and the French Republic, being persuaded that the labors of the Commission for the settlement of the claims of citizens of either country against the Government of the other, which was organized under the convention between the two Governments signed at Washington the fifteenth day of January, 1880, cannot be concluded within the term fixed by that convention, have deemed it expedient to conclude a supplementary convention extending the term of duration of said Commission for a further period, and have named as their respective plenipotentiaries to that end as follows: The President of the United States, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Secretary of State of the United States; and The President of the French Republic, Théodore-Justin-Dominique Roustan, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of France at Washington, Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, etc., etc.; Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following article: SOLE ARTICLE. The term of two years fixed by the second paragraph of Article VIII. of the convention between the United States and the French Republic, concluded January 15, 1880, within which the Commissioners appointed thereunder shall be bound to examine and decide upon every claim presented to them, is hereby extended to July first, 1883. Notning in this agreement contained shall extend or alter the terms fixed in the first paragraph of said Article VIII. for the presentation of claims, but the same shall remain as therein fixed. If the proceedings of the Commission shall be interrupted by the death, incapacity, retirement or cessation of the functions of any one of the Commissioners, then the period for which the term of the Commission is hereby extended shall not be held to include the time during which such interruption may actually exist. The present convention shall be ratified and the ratifications exchanged at Washington at as early a day as may be practicable. In testimony whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention, in the English and French languages, in duplicate, and have hereunto affixed their respective seals. Done at the city of Washington the nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two. [SEAL.] [SEAL.] FRED K T. FRELINGHUYSEN. Convention for the further extension of the term of the claims commission established under the convention of January 15, 1880, to April 1, 1884. [Concluded February 8, 1883; ratifications exchanged at Washington June 25, 1883 proclaimed June 25, 1883.] The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic, being persuaded that the labors of the Commission for the settlement of the claims of citizens of either country against the Government of the other, which was organized under the convention between the two Governments signed at Washington the fifteenth day of January, 1880, and which was extended to July first, 1883, by the supplementary convention of July 19th, 1882, cannot be concluded by July 1st, 1883, have deemed it expedient to conclude another supplementary convention extending the term of duration of said Commission for a further period, and have named as their respective plenipotentiaries to that end, as follows: The President of the United States, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen. Secretary of State of the United States, and the President of the French Re public, Théodore Justin Dominique Roustan, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of France at Washington, Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, etc. etc. Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles: ARTICLE I. The term of two years fixed by the second paragraph of Article VIII. of the convention between the United States and the French Republic, concluded January fifteenth, 1880, within which the Commissioners appointed thereunder shall be bound to examine and decide upon every claim presented to them which was extended to July 1st, 1883, by the supplementary convention of July 19th, 1882, is hereby extended to the first day of April, A. D. 1884. Nothing in this agreement contained shall extend or alter the terms fixed in the first paragraph of said Article VIII. for the presentation of claims, but the same shall remain as therein fixed. If the proceedings of the Commission shall be interrupted by the death, or incapacity of any one of the Commissioners, then the period for which the term of the Commission is hereby extended shall not be held to include the time during which such interruption may actually exist. ARTICLE II. No testimony or evidence either in support of or in answer to any claim shall be presented to, or received by the Commission after the first day of July 1883. The present convention shall be ratified and the ratifications exchanged at Washington at as early a day as may be practicable. In testimony whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention in the English and French languages, in duplicate, and have hereunto affixed their respective seals. Done at the City of Washington the eighth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three. [SEAL.] [SEAL.] FRED'K T. FRELINGHUYSEN. GREAT BRITAIN. Treaty of amity, commerce and navigation. [Concluded November 19, 1794; ratification exchanged at London October 28, 1795; proclaimed February 29, 1796.] His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, being desirous, by a treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, to terminate their differences in such a manner, as, without reference to the merits of their respective complaints and pretentions, may be the best calculated to produce mutual satisfaction and good understanding; and also to regulate the commerce and navigation between their respective countries, territories and people, in such a manner as to render the same reciprocally beneficial and satisfactory; they have, respectively, named their Plenipotentiaries, and given them full powers to treat of, and conclude the said treaty, that is to say: His Britannic Majesty has named for his Plenipotentiary, the Right Honorable William Wyndham Baron Grenville of Wotton, one of His Majesty's Privy Council, and His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and the President of the said United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, hath appointed for their Plenipotentiary, the Honorable John Jay, Chief Justice of the said United States, and their Envoy Extraordinary to His Majesty; Who have agreed on and concluded the following articles: ARTICLE IV. Whereas it is uncertain whether the river Mississippi extends so far to the northward as to be intersected by a line to be drawn due west from the Lake of the Woods, in the manner mentioned in the treaty of peace between His Majesty and the United States: it is agreed that measures shall be taken in concert between His Majesty's Government in America and the Government of the United States, for making a joint survey of the said river from one degree of latitude below the falls of St. Anthony, to the principal source or sources of the said river, and also of the parts adjacent thereto; and that if, on the result of such survey, it should appear that the said river would not be intersected by such a line as is above mentioned, the two parties will thereupon proceed, by amicable negotiation, to regulate the boundary line in that quarter, as well as all other points to be adjusted between the said parties, according to justice and mutual convenience, and in conformity to the intent of the said treaty. ARTICLE V. Whereas doubts have arisen what river was truly intended under the name of the river St. Croix, mentioned in the said treaty of peace, and forming a part of the boundary therein described; that question shall be referred to the final decision of commissioners to be appointed in the following manner, viz: One commissioner shall be named by His Majesty, and one by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and the said two commissioners shall agree on the choice of a third; or if they cannot so agree, they shall each propose one person, and of the two names so proposed, one shall be drawn by lot in the presence of the two original Commissioners. And the three Commissioners so appointed shall be sworn, impartially to examine and decide the said question, according to such evidence as shall respectively be laid before them on the part of the British Government and of the United States. The said Commissioners shall meet at Halifax, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. They shall have power to appoint a Secretary, and to employ such surveyors or other persons as they shall judge necessary. The said Commissioners shall, by a declaration, under their hands and seals, decide what river is the river St. Croix, intended by the treaty. The said declaration shall contain a description of the said river, and shall particularize the latitude and longitude of its mouth and of its source. Duplicates of this declaration and of the statements of their accounts, and of the journal of their proceedings, shall be delivered by them to the agent of His Majesty, and to the agent of the United States, who may be respectively appointed and authorized to manage the business on behalf of the respective Governments. And both parties agree to consider such decision as final and conclusive, so as that the same shall never thereafter be called in question, or made the subject of dispute or difference between them. ARTICLE VI. Whereas it is alleged by divers British merchants and others His Majesty's subjects, that debts, to a considerable amount, which were bona fide contracted before the peace, still remain owing to them by citizens or inhabitants of the United States, and that by the operation of various lawful impediments since the peace, not only the full recovery of the said debts has been delayed, but also the value and security thereof have been, in several instances, impaired and lessened, so that, by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, the British creditors cannot now obtain, and actually have and receive full and adequate compensation for the losses and damages which they have thereby sustained: It is agreed, that in all such cases, where full compensation for such losses and damages cannot, for whatever reason, be actually obtained, had and received by the said creditors in the ordinary course of justice, the United States will make full and complete compensation for the same to the said creditors: But it is distinctly understood, that this provision is to extend to such losses only as have been occasioned by the lawful impediments aforesaid, and is not to extend to losses occasioned by such insolvency of the debtors or other causes as would equally have operated to produce such loss, if the said impediments had not existed; nor to such losses or damages as have been occasioned by the manifest delay or negligence, or wilful omission of the claimant. For the purpose of ascertaining the amount of any such losses and damages, five Commissioners shall be appointed and authorized to meet and act in manner following, viz: Two of them shall be appointed by His Majesty, two of them by the President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and the fifth by the unanimous voice of the other four; and if they should not agree in such choice, then the Commissioners named by the two parties shall respectively propose one person, and of the two names so proposed, one shall be drawn by lot, in the presence of the four original Commissioners. When the five Commissioners thus appointed shall first meet, they shall, before they proceed to act, 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, viz: I, A. B., one of the Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the sixth article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation, between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will honestly, diligently, impartially and carefully examine, and to the best of my judgment, according to justice and equity, decide all such complaints, as under the said article shall be preferred to the said Commissioners: and that I will forbear to act as a Commissioner, in any case in which I may be personally interested. Three of the said Commissioners shall constitute a board, and shall have power to do any act appertaining to the said Commission, provided that one of the Commissioners named on each side, and the fifth Commissioner shall be present, and all decisions shall be made by the majority of the voices of the Commissioners then present. Eighteen months from the day on which the said Commissioners shall form a board, and be ready to proceed to business, are assigned for receiving complaints and applications; but they are nevertheless authorized, in any particular cases in which it shall appear to them to be reasonable and just, to extend the said term of eighteen months for any term not exceeding six months, after the expiration thereof. The said Commissioners shall first meet at Philadelphia, but they shall have power to adjourn from place to place as they shall see cause. The said Commissioners in examining the complaints and applications so preferred to them, are empowered and required, in pursuance of the true intent and meaning of this article, to take into their consideration all claims, whether of principal or interest, or balances of principal and interest, and to determine the same respectively, according to the merits of the several cases, due regard being had to all the circumstances thereof, and as equity and justice shall appear to them to require. And the said Commissioners shall have power to examine all such persons as shall come before them, on oath or affirmation, touching the premises; and also to receive in evidence, according as they may think most consistent with equity and justice, all written depositions, or books, or papers, or copies, |