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property shall have the right to recover the same by reimbursing in full the amount of the indemnity.

XIV. Whenever a British subject shall desire to introduce machinery, or establish a manufactory in the Regency of Tunis, he shall be bound to apply for and obtain the permission of the Bey for that purpose, and His Highness, in according such permission, shall specify in the body of the Decree or Concession the conditions upon which it has been granted, in order that the Decree shall serve, in case of litigation or of an infraction of any of the conditions, as a rule and a guidance for the equitable adjustment of the point or points at issue.

XV. The building and appurtenances of manufactories being immovable property, are subject to the conditions and stipulations relating to such property in general. But as a further security to the local Government and to the public revenue, it is moreover established and agreed that, upon the written requisition of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or of the President of the Municipal Council, to the Consul-General, or, in his absence, to his deputy, the fiscal officers shall have the right to ascertain, by personal inspection, that the manufactory has not been diverted from the purpose for which permission was given, and that the internal taxes and imposts levied upon raw materials, either previously to or after their being manufactured, are duly paid.

XVI. British subjects holding, or hereafter becoming possessed of property called anzal (leasehold), shall continue to enjoy the conditions which constitute and are attached to that description of property, and which conditions are hereby established and confirmed.

XVII. British subjects holding immovable property in the Regency of Tunis shall, in conforming to the local laws and regulations, exercise and enjoy the same immunities, privileges, and rights that are accorded to Tunisian proprietors; and for that purpose the right of British subjects to hold immovable property being derived from the enactments founded upon the organic laws (Aad-el-Aman) the said enactments are hereby confirmed; and their observance being considered necessary for the more efficient protection of the immovable property held as aforestated, it has been further agreed that they shall be maintained, as a greater security for the due performance of the conditions of the present Convention. And they shall be furthermore entitled to all the immunities, privileges, and exemptions accorded, or to be hereafter accorded, to the subjects or citizens of the most favoured nation.

This Convention has been written in triplicate, consisting in 17 Articles, besides the introduction, and contained in the preceding 19 pages, to be signed by both parties, and to be executed in the [1862-63. LIII.]

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manner explained and clearly set forth in its several provisions, having for object the duration, confirmation, and maintenance of amity between them.

Dated on Saturday, the 26th day of Rabi-el-Thany, 1280 of the Hedjira, corresponding to the 10th of October, in the year of our Lord 1863, at the Palace of the Goletta.

(L.S.) RICHARD WOOD.

(Signed in Arabic)

(L.S.) MOHAMED ESSADOK BEY.

(Countersigned by the Bey's Prime Minister.)

ADDITIONAL ARTICLE to the Treaty between Great Britain and the United States of April 7, 1862,* for the Suppression of the African Slave Trade.-Signed at Washington, February 17, 1863.

[Ratifications exchanged at London, April 1, 1863.]

WHEREAS by Article I of the Treaty between Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and The United States of America, for the suppression of the African Slave Trade, signed at Washington on the 7th of April, 1862, it was stipulated and agreed that those ships of the respective navies of the two High Contracting Parties which shall be provided with special instructions for that purpose, as thereinafter mentioned, may visit such merchant-vessels of the two nations as may, upon reasonable grounds, be suspected of being engaged in the African Slave Trade, or of having been fitted out for that purpose, or of having, during the voyage on which they are met by the said cruizers, being engaged in the African Slave Trade contrary to the provisions of the said Treaty; and that such cruizers may detain and send or carry away such vessels in order that they may be brought to trial in the manner thereinafter agreed upon: And whereas it was by the said Article further stipulated and agreed, that the reciprocal right of search and detention should be exercised only within the distance of 200 miles from the Coast of Africa, and to the southward of the 32nd parallel of north latitude, and within 30 leagues from the coast of the Island of Cuba: And whereas the two High Contracting Parties are desirous of rendering the said Treaty still more efficacious for its purpose; the Plenipotentiaries who signed the said Treaty have, in virtue of their full powers, agreed that the reciprocal right of visit and detention, as defined in

* Vol. LII. Page 50.

the Article aforesaid, may be exercised also within 30 leagues of the island of Madagascar, within 30 leagues of the island of Puerto Rico, and within 30 leagues of the island of San Domingo.

The present Additional Article shall have the same force and validity as if it had been inserted word for word in the Treaty concluded between the two High Contracting Parties on the 7th of April, 1862, and shall have the same duration as that Treaty. It shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at London in 6 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 Washington, the 17th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1863.

(L.S.) LYONS.

(L.S.) WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

CORRESPONDENCE relative to the relations between Great Britain and Abyssinia, and the Appointment of a British Consul (Captain Cameron).*—1861-1863.

SIR,

No. 1.-Earl Russell to Consul Cameron.

Foreign Office, February 2, 1861. YOUR first duty in arriving in Massowah, which you will consider as the head-quarters of your Consulate, will be to make yourself acquainted with the general state of political affairs in Abyssinia.

Her Majesty's Government are so imperfectly informed in regard to what may have happened in that country since the death of your predecessor, that I am unable to lay down any very precise rules for the guidance of your conduct.

The civil war which prevailed at that time may have been brought to a conclusion decidedly favourable to one or other of the contending parties, or it may still prevail with the alternate success of either.

It seems to Her Majesty's Government undesirable that you should avow yourself the partizan of either of the contending parties if the contest is still going on. Whatever interest Her Majesty's Government may have in Abyssinia can best be advanced by the tranquillity of the country; but if the British Agent becomes the partizan of one side, the rivalry of European interests, which, however disavowed by the Governments of Europe, is almost invariably * Laid before Parliament, 1865, 1866.

found to exist on the part of their Agents in such countries as Abyssinia, will stimulate foreign Agents to declare a partizanship for the other, and thus a civil contest will be promoted and encouraged, which would otherwise die out of itself, or very shortly be brought to a conclusion by the decided preponderance of a victorious party.

The principles, therefore, on which you should act, are- -abstinence from any course of proceeding to which a preference for either party should be imputable to you; abstinence from all intrigues to set up an exclusive British influence in Abyssinia; and, lastly, the promotion of amicable arrangements between the rival candidates for power.

Her Majesty's Government are aware that religious rivalry has contributed its share to promote dissension in Abyssinia, but such rivalry should receive no countenance from a British Agent; on the contrary, his study should be to extend as far as possible general toleration of all Christian sects, as being most consistent with the doctrines of Christianity and with sound policy. The British Government claim no authority to set up or advocate in a foreign country one sect of Christianity in preference to another; all that they would urge upon the rulers of any such country is, to show equal favour and toleration to the professors of all Christian sects.

But although it is not desirable that you should engage in a contest with the Agent of any other Power for superiority of influence, or that you should openly exhibit suspicion or jealousy of his proceedings, or of the influence which he may be supposed to have acquired, it will be your duty closely to watch any proceedings which may tend to alter the state of possession either on the seacoast or in the interior of the country, and you will keep her Majesty's Government at home, and Her Majesty's Governor-General of India, fully informed of all matters of interest which may come under your observation, sending your despatches under flying seal in the one case through Her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in Egypt, and in the other through the Political Agent at Aden.

In addition to matters of a political or commercial nature, you will pay particular attention to any traffic in slaves which may be carried on within your district, and report fully upon the same; and you will further avail yourself of any suitable opportunity to impress upon any native rulers who may directly or indirectly encourage or permit such a traffic the abhorrence in which it is held by the British Government, and the dislike with which any parties who may have recourse to it are likely to be regarded in this country. I am, &c.

C. D. Cameron, Esq.

RUSSELL.

No. 2.-Earl Russell to Consul Cameron.

SIR, Foreign Office, November 13, 1861. THE Queen having learnt that the King of Abyssinia paid a ransom for the late Mr. Consul Plowden, and Her Majesty being desirous of making some acknowledgment for the kindness shown by the King to one of her officers, she has directed that a suitable present should be sent through you to the King; and I therefore transmit to you a rifle and a pair of revolver pistols, which you will deliver to the King as soon after your arrival in Abyssinia as you have an opportunity of doing so. C. D. Cameron, Esq.

SIR,

I am,

No. 3.-Earl Russell to Consul Cameron.

&c.

RUSSELL.

Foreign Office, February 22, 1862. WITH reference to my despatch of the 13th of November last, transmitting some articles as presents from the Queen to King Theodore of Abyssinia, as an acknowledgment of his kindness in ransoming the remains of the late Mr. Plowden, I have to acquaint you that it has since appeared to me to be desirable that I should address a letter to King Theodore in Her Majesty's name to accompany the presents, and at the same time to announce your appointment, and introduce you to the King.

I accordingly inclose a letter which I have written to King Theodore, and which you will deliver to him, accompanied by suitable expressions of friendship on the part of Her Majesty's Government. If the presents should have been given to him before you receive this despatch, you will still deliver my letter, and make the best explanation in your power of its not having arrived sooner.

C. D. Cameron, Esq.

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(Inclosure.)—Earl Russell to King Theodore of Abyssinia. Foreign Office, February 20, 1862. THE Queen my Sovereign has been informed by her servants in the East of the exertions which your Highness kindly made to recover the remains of her late Consul, Mr. Plowden, and of your generosity in declining to accept repayment of the sum of money which you paid for that purpose. Her Majesty commands me to assure your Highness that she views your conduct in regard to this affair as a proof of friendship towards herself and the British nation, of which she is duly sensible.

In order more particularly to manifest Her Majesty's thankfulness for these your Highness's services, and to show her regard and friendship for you personally, Her Majesty requests your acceptance of a rifle and a pair of revolver pistols as a present from herself.

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