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such action or suit shall be commenced within six calendar months next after the fact committed, and not afterwards; and the defendant or defendants, shall and may plead the general issue, and give this act and the special matter in evidence; and if the act shall appear to have been done for the service of the public, or in pursuance of and by the authority of this act, or if any such action or suit shall be brought after the time herein before limited for bringing the same, then the jury shall find for the defendant or defendants; and upon such finding, or if the plaintiff or plaintiffs shall be nonsuited, or discontinue his or their action after the defendant or defendants shall have appeared, or if upon demurrer judgment shall be given against the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the defendant or defendants shall and may recover treble costs.

XLIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this act, so far as the same relates to the capture and forfeiture of ships and vessels belonging to the inhabitants of the above-mentioned colonies, shall, except in the cases herein-before mentioned, commerce and be in force from and after the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six ; and so far as the same relates to the capture and forfeiture of all other ships and vessels that shall be found going to trade in or at any of the said colonies, from and after the first day of February, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six; and so far as the same relates to the capture and forfeiture of all other ships and vessels that shall be found trading in or at any of the said colonies, or bound and trading from any port or place in the same, from and after the twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six; and shall continue to be in force so long as the said colonies respectively shall remain in a state of rebellion.

XLIV. Provided always nevertheless, and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in order to encourage all well affected persons in any of the said colonies to exert themselves

in suppressing the rebellion therein, and to afford a speedy protection to those who are disposed to return to their duty, it shall and may be lawful to and for any person or persons, appointed and authorised by his Majesty to grant a pardon or pardons to any number or description of persons, by proclamation, in his Majesty's name, to declare any colony or province, colonies or provinces, or any county, town, port, district, or place, in any colony or province, to be at the peace of his Majesty; and from and after the issuing of any such proclamation in any of the aforesaid colonies or provinces, or if his Majesty shall be graciously pleased to signify the same by his royal proclamation, then, from and after the issuing of such proclamation, this act, with respect to such colony or province, colonies or provinces, county, town, port, district, or place, shall cease, determine, and be utterly void; and if any captures shall be made, after the date and issuing of such proclamations, of any ships or vessels, and their cargoes, belonging to the inhabitants of any such colony or province, colonies or provinces, county, town, port, district, or place, or of any ships trading to or from such colony or province, colonies or provinces respectively, the same shall be restored to the owners of such ships or vessels, upon claim being entered, and due proof made of their property therein, and the captors shall not be liable to any action for seizing or detaining the said ships or vessels, or their cargoes, without proof being made that they had actual notice of such proclamation having been issued.

PART II

DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

1783-1821

24. Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and his Britannic Majesty1

September, 1783

Article I

His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz. New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, sovereign and independent States; that he treats with them as such; and for himself, his heirs and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof.

Article II

And that all disputes which might arise in future, on the subject of the boundaries of the said United States, may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are, and shall be their boundaries, viz. From the north-west angle of Nova-Scotia, viz. that angle which is formed by a line, drawn due north from the source of St. Croiz river to the Highlands; along the said Highlands which divide those rivers, that empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean, to the northwesternmost head of Connecticut river, thence down along the middle of that river, to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence, by a line due west on said latitude, until it strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of said river into lake Ontario, through the middle of said lake until it strikes the com

1 U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 8, pp. 80-83.

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