like manner with powers in due form, to determine, conclude and fign fuch articles, conditions, conventions, declarations, definitive treaty, and any other acts whatever, as he fhall judge proper to answer the end which we propefe; promifing on the faith and word of a King, to agree to, confirm and establish for ever, to accomplifh and execute punctually, whatever our faid dear and beloved Conrad Alexander Gerard shall have Stipulated and figned in virtue of the prefent power, without ever contravening it, or fuffering it to be contravened for any cause and under any pretext whatever; as likewife to caufe our letters of ratification to be made in due form, and to have them delivered in order to be exchanged at the time that shall be agreed upon. For fuch is our pleasure. In teftimony whereof We have fet our feal to thefe prefents. Given at Verfailles, the thirtieth day of the month January, in the year of grace one thousand ferven hundred and feventyeight, and the fourth of our reign.

THE

T R E A T Y.

HE Moft Chriftian King and the United

TH

States of North America, to wit, NewHampshire, Maffachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennfylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, NorthCarolina, and Georgia, having this day concluded a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, for the reciprocal advantage of their subjects and citizens, have thought it neceffary to take into confideration the means of ftrengthening those engagements, and of dering them useful to the fafety and tranquility of the two parties; particularly in cafe Great Britain, in refentment of that connection, and of the good corres pondence 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 fubfifting between the two Crowns. And his Majesty and the faid United States having refolved in that Ff

cafe

cafe to join their councils and efforts against the enterprizes of their common enemy ;

The respective Plenipotentiaries impowered to concert the claufes and conditions proper to fulfil the faid intentions, have, after the most mature deliberation, concluded and determined on the following articles.

ARTICLE I.

IF war fhould break out between France and Great-Britain during the continuance of the prefent war between the United States and England, his Majefty and the said United States hall make it a common cause, and aid each other mutually with their good offices, their councils, and their forces, according to the exigence of conjunctures, as becomes good and faithful allies th

The effential and direct end of the prefent defenfive alliance is, to maintain effectually the liberty, fovereignty, and independence, absolute and unlimited, of the faid United States, as well in matters of government as of commerce.

its

ARTICLE III.

The two contracting parties fhall, each on own part, and in the manner it may judge

most

most proper, make all the efforts in its power againft their common enemy, in order to attain the end proposed.

ARTICLE IV.

The contracting parties agree, that in cafe either of them should form any particular en terprize in which the concurrence of the other may be defired, the party whofe concurrence is defired, fhall readily and with good faith join to act in concert for that purpose, as far as circumstances and its own particular fituation will permit; and in that cafe, they shall regulate by a particular convention, the quantity and kind of fuccour to be furnished, and the time and manner of its being brought into action, as well as the advantages which are to be its compenfation.'

ARTICLE V.

If the United States fhould think fit to attempt the reduction of the British

power remaining in the northern parts of America, or the Iflands of Bermudas, thofe countries of iflands, in cafe of fuccefs, fhall be confederated with, or dependent upon, the faid United States.

ARTICLE VI.

1

The Most Christian King renounces for ever the poffeffion of the Islands of Bermudas, as well as of any part of the Continent of NorthAmerica, which before the Treaty of Paris, in 1763, or in virtue of that treaty, were acknowledged to belong to the Crown of Great-Britain, or to the United States, heretofore called British Colonies, or which are at this time, or have lately been, under the power of the King and Crown of Great-Britain.

ARTICLE VII.

If his Moft Chriftian Majefty fhall think proper to attack any of the islands situated in the Gulph of Mexico, or near that Gulph, which are at present under the power of GreatBritain, all the faid ifles, in cafe of fuccefs, fhall appertain to the Crown of France.

ARTICLE VIII.

Neither of the two parties fhall conclude either truce or peace with Great-Britain, without the formal confent of the other first obtained; and they mutually engage not to lay down their arms, until the independence of the United States shall have been formally or tacitly

affured,