The progress of the British conquests, which threatened all 1762. the distant possessions of the enemy, was arrested by preliminary articles of peace, which were signed and interchanged at Fon- Articles of tainebleau between the ministers of Great Britain, France, Spain, peace. and Portugal, on the third day of November.1 1763. ed at Paris. On the 10th of February a definitive treaty of peace was Treaty of signed at Paris; and soon after ratified. The acquisitions of peace signGreat Britain, both from France and Spain, on the continent of North America, established by this treaty, whether they be considered in relation to the political or commercial interests of the parent country, or in relation to the entire interests of the American colonies, merit particular attention. Every article, therefore, which has respect to America, is subjoined, in the words of the treaty. N. Scotia, Canada, G. Britain. under great By the second article, France renounces and guarantees to Great Britain all Nova Scotia or Acadia, and likewise Canada, the isle of Cape Breton, and all other islands in the gulf and river of St. Lawrence. By the third article, it is stipulated, that the French shall have the liberty of fishing and drying on a part of the island of Newfoundland, as specified in the thirteenth article of the treaty of Utrecht; and the French may also fish in the gulf French fishof St. Lawrence, so as they do not exercise the same but at the ery allowed distance of three leagues from all the coasts belonging to Great restrictions. Britain, as well those of the continent, as those of the islands in the said gulf. As to what relates to the fishery out of the said gulf, the French shall exercise the same, but at the distance of 15 leagues from the coasts of the Isle of Cape Breton. By the fourth article, Great Britain cedes to France, to serve as a shelter for the French fisherman, the islands of St. Peter and of Miquelon; and his most Christian majesty absolutely engages not ceded to to fortify the said island, nor to erect any other buildings thereon, but merely for the conveniency of the fishery; and to keep only a guard of fifty men for the police. By the sixth article it is stipulated, that the confines between the dominions of Great Britain and France on the continent of North America shall be British and irrevocably fixed, by a line drawn along the middle of the river French doMississippi, from its source, as far as the river Iberville, and from thence by a line drawn along the middle of this river, and of the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, to the sea; and to this purpose the most Christian king cedes in full right, and guarantees to his Britannic majesty the river and port of Mobile and every St. Peter & Miquelon France. Lines be tween the minions. of the Mis tions. 1763. thing that he possesses on the left side of the river Mississippi, except the town of New Orleans, and the island on which it is Navigation situated, which shall remain to France; provided, that the navisissippi free gation of the river shall be equally free to the subjects of Great to both na- Britain and France, in its whole breadth and length, from its source to the sea, and that part expressly, which is between the said island of New Orleans and the right bank of that river, as well as the passage both in and out of its mouth: and the vessels belonging to the subjects of either nation shall not be stopped, visited, or subjected to the payment of any duty whatsoever. The stipulations in favour of the inhabitants of Canada, inserted in the second article, shall also take place with regard to the inhabitants of the countries ceded by this article; that is, that the French in Canada may freely profess the Roman Catholic religion, as far as the laws of Great Britain permit; that they may enjoy their civil rights, retire when they please, and may dispose of their estates to British subjects. By the seventh article, it is stipulated, that Britain shall restore to France the islands of Guadaloupe, Marigalante, Desirade, and Martinico, in the West Indies, and of Belleisle, on the coast of France, with their fortresses; Provided, that the term of eighteen months be granted to his Britannic majesty's subjects, settled there and in other places hereby restored to France, to sell their estates, recover their debts, and to transport themselves and effects, without being restrained on account of their religion, or any pretence, except for debts, or criminal prosecutions. By the eighth article, France cedes and guarantees to Great Britain the Granada & islands of Granada and the Granadines, with the same stipulations in favour of their inhabitants, as are inserted in the second article for those of Canada: And the partition of the islands called St. Vincent, neutral is agreed and fixed, so that those of St. Vincent, Dominico, Dominico, and Tobago, shall remain in full right to England, and that of St. and Tobago Lucia shall be delivered to France in full right, the two crowns G. Britain. reciprocally guaranteeing to each other the partition so stipulated. By the sixteenth article, it is stipulated, that his Britannic majesty shall cause all the fortifications to be demolished, which his subjects shall have erected in the bay of Honduras, and other places of the territory of Spain, in that part of the world. And British sub- his Catholic majesty shall not, for the future, suffer the subjects jects allow of his Britannic majesty, or their workmen, to be disturbed or logwood at molested, under any pretence whatsoever, in their occupation of Honduras. cutting, loading, and carrying away logwood; and for this pur the Granadines. confirmed to ed to cut pose they may build, without hindrance, and occupy, without interruption, the houses and magazines necessary for them, for their families, and for their effects; and his said Catholic majesty assures to them, by this article, the entire enjoyment of what is nounces Newfound above stipulated. By the seventeenth article, his Catholic majesty 1763. desists from all pretensions which he may have formed to the right of fishing about the island of Newfoundland. By the Spain reeighteenth article, it is stipulated, that the king of Great Britain clain to the shall restore to Spain all that he has conquered in the island of fishery of Cuba, with the fortress of Havana; and that fortress, as well as land. all the other fortresses of the said island, shall be restored in the same condition they were in when they were conquered by his Havana and Britannic majesty's arms. By the twentieth article, his Catholic conquests at majesty cedes and guarantees, in full right, to his Britannic Cuba remajesty, Florida, with the Fort St. Augustine, and the Bay of Spain. Pensacola; as well as all that Spain possesses on the continent of North America, to the east, or, to the southeast of the river Florida and Mississippi; and, in general, every thing that depends on the Spanish said countries and lands, with the sovereignty, property, and E. or S.E of possession, and all rights acquired by treaties, or otherwise, which the Missis sippi, ceded the Catholic king and the crown of Spain have had till now, over to G. Brithe said countries.1 stored to possessions tain. On the 7th of October, the king, taking into consideration the extensive and valuable acquisitions in America, secured to the crown by the late definitive treaty of peace, issued a proclamation, in which he published and declared, that, with the advice of his privy council, he had granted letters patent under the great seal, "to erect within the countries and islands, ceded and Four new confirmed to us by the said treaty, four distinct and separate ments. governments, styled and called by the names of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Granada." govern ment of The government of Quebec was declared to be "bounded on Governthe Labrador coast by the river St. John, and from thence by a Quebec. line drawn from the head of that river through the lake St. John to the south end of Lake Nepissing; from whence the said line, crossing the river St. Lawrence and the Lake Champlain in forty five degrees of north latitude, passes along the Highlands, which divide the rivers that empty themselves into the said river St. Lawrence from those which fall into the sea; and also along the north coast of the Bay de Chaleurs, and the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Cape Rosiers, and from thence crossing the mouth of the river St. Lawrence by the west end of the island of Anticosti, terminates at the aforesaid river St. John." The government of East Florida was declared to be "bound- E. Florida. ed to the westward by the Gulf of Mexico and the Apalachicola river; to the northward by a line drawn from that part of the said river where the Chatahouchee and Flint rivers meet to the 1 Anderson, iii. 339-343, where the Preliminary Articles of the Treaty are inserted entire; and iv. 1, 2, where the most material alterations or explanations of those articles, as settled by the Definitive Treaty, are inserted. 1763. W. Florida. Granada. Additions ernments of Scotia, and source of St. Mary's river, and by the course of the said river to the Atlantic Ocean; and to the eastward and southward by the Gulf of Florida, including all islands within six leagues of the sea coast." The government of West Florida was declared to be "bounded to the southward by the Gulf of Mexico, including all islands within six leagues of the sea coast, from the river Apalachicola to Lake Pontchartrain; to the westward by the said lake, the lake Maurepas, and the river Mississippi; to the northward by a line drawn due east from that part of the river Mississippi, which lies in thirty one degrees of north latitude, to the river Apalachicola, or Chatahouchee; and to the eastward by the said river." The government of Granada was declared to "comprehend the island of that name, together with the Granadines, and the islands of Dominico, St. Vincents, and Tobago." The king, at the same time, put all the coast, from the river to the gov. St. John's to Hudson's Straits, together with the islands of AntiNewfound- costi and Modelaine, and all other smaller islands, lying upon the land, Nova said coast, under the care and inspection of the governor of Newfoundland; annexed the islands of St. John's and Cape Breton or Isle Royale, with the lesser islands adjacent thereto, to the government of Nova Scotia; and annexed to the province of Georgia all the lands lying between the rivers Alatamaha and St. Mary's. Power giv assemblies. By the letters patent, constituting the new governments, the en to call king gave express power and direction to the governors of the new colonies, that, so soon as the state of the said colonies would admit, they should, with the advice and consent of the members of their several councils, summon general assemblies within their respective governments, in such manner and form, as was used and directed in those colonies and provinces in America, which were under the king's immediate government; he also gave power to the said governors, with the consent of the councils and the representatives of the people, to make laws for the public peace, welfare, and good government, as nearly as might be, agreeable to the laws of England, and under such regulations and restrictions, as were used in other colonies. Until such assemblies could be called, the governors, with consent of the council, were empowered to erect courts of judicature within the respective colonies. Lands to be granted to officers and soldiers. In testimony of the "royal sense and approbation of the conduct and bravery of the officers and soldiers" of the armies, "and to reward the same," the governors of the three new colonies on the continent, and all the other king's governors of the provinces on the continent of North America, were commanded and empowered to grant lands, without fee or reward, to such reduced officers as had served in America during the late war, and to such private soldiers as had been, or should be, disbanded in America, and were actually residing there, and should personally apply for the same, subject, at the expiration of ten years, to the same quitrents as other lands are subject to in the province within which they are granted, as also subject to the same conditions of cultivation and improvement.1 1763. No colony on the continent more immediately felt the happy Georgia. effects of this new establishment than Georgia. That young province had struggled with great difficulties through the want of credit from friends, and by the frequent molestations of enemies; but from this period it made rapid progress in population and in wealth. Its rich swamps attracted the attention of its neighbours as well as of strangers; and many settlements were made by Carolinians about Sunbury, and on the river Alatamaha.2 4 of the colo North Carolina contained about 95,000 white inhabitants ;3 Population Virginia, about 70,000 whites, and 100,000 negroes; Mary- nies. land, nearly 70,000 whites;5 Pennsylvania (supposed) 280,000 souls; New Jersey more than 60,000;7 Connecticut contained 141,000 whites, about 4500 blacks, and 930 Indians; Massa 1 Proclamation of the king. The orders to the governors were to grant to every person having the rank of a field officer, 5000 acres; to every captain, 3000; to every subaltern or staff officer, 2000; to every noncommissioned officer, 200; to every private man, 50. 2 Hewatt, ii. 264-266. This intelligent historian ascribes much of the growth of the colony to its governor, James Wright, "who wanted neither wisdom to discern, nor resolution to pursue, the most effectual means for its improvement." In addition to a paternal administration, he discovered the excellence of the low lands and river swamps, by the proper management and cultivation of which he acquired a plentiful fortune; and his successful example promoted at once emulation and industry among the planters. Judge Stokes, who resided a considerable time in Georgia, says, that under the long administration of Sir James Wright, the province made such a rapid progress in population, agriculture, and commerce, as "no other country ever equalled in so short a time." Constit. Brit. Col. 115. In 1763, the exports of Georgia consisted of 7500 barrels of rice, 9633lbs. indigo, 1250 bushels of Indian corn, which, together with deer and beaver skins, naval stores, provisions, timber, &c. amounted to £27,021 sterling. See TABLES. 3 Pres. Stiles, MS. "according to governor Dobbs," who found the number of white taxables in North Carolina to be 24,000. 4 Univ. Hist. xli. 556. "The population of Virginia is not near so numerous as might have been expected from so antient and flourishing a colony; nor are their towns of any considerable note. This last circumstance is owing to the vast commodiousness of water carriage, which every where presents itself to the plantations of private planters, and the scarcity of handicrafts. James Town is now scarcely to be mentioned, and Williamsburg is considerable only as being the seat of provincial government, and of learning." Ib. 5 Univ. Hist. xl. 474. By the " very accurate census of Maryland for the year 1755, the number of whites was 107,208. Dr. Stiles, from Gentleman's Magazine. See TABLES. 6 Ibid. xli. 26. 7 Ibid. xxxix. 368. 8 Dr. Stiles [MS.] says, in 1762, by census, 141,045 whites, and 4590 blacks. |
