6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 peare, and sincere friendship and concord; and whatever shall be so agreed and concluded, for Us and in our name, to sign, and to make a treaty or treaties, on what shall have been so agreed and concluded, and to transact every thing else that may belong to the happy completion of the aforesaid work, in as ample a manner and form, and with the same force and effect, as We ourselves, if we were present, could do and perform; engaging and promising, on our royal word, that We will approve, ratify and accept, in the best manner, whatever shall happen to be transacted and concluded by our said Plenipotentiary, and that We will never suffer any person to infringe or act contrary to the same, either in the whole or in part. In witness and confirmation whereof We have caused our great Seal of Great Britain to be affixed to these presents, signed with our royal hand. Given at our Palace at St. James's, the 12th day of November, 1762, in the third year of our reign. His Most Christian Majesty's Full Power. LEWIS, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, To all who shall see these presents, Greeting. Whereas the Preliminaries, signed at Fontainbleau the third of November of the last year, laid the foundation of the peace re-established between us and our most dear and most beloved good Brother and Cousin the King of Spain, on the one part, and our most de ir and most beloved good Brother the King of Great Britain, and our most dear and most beloved ood Bro her and Cousin the King of Portugal on the other, We have had nothing more at heart since that happy epoch, than to consolidate and strengthen in the most lasting manner, so salutary and so important a work, by a solemn and definitive treaty between Us and the said powers. For these causes, and other good considerations, Us thereunto moving, We, trusting entirely in the capacity and experience, zeal and fidelity for our service, of our most dear and well-beloved Cousin, Cæsar Gabriel de Choiseul, Duke of Praslin, Peer of France, Knight of our Orders, Lieutenant General of our Forces and of the province of Britany, Counsellor in all our Councils, Minister and Secretary of State, and of our Commands and Finances, We have named, appointed, and deputed him, and by these presents, signed with our hand, do name, appoint, and depute him our Minister Plenipotentiary, giving him full and absolute power to act in that quality, and to confer, negociate, treat and agree jointly with the Minister Plenipotentiary of our most dear and most beloved good Brother the King of Great Britain, the Minister Plenipotentiary of our most dear and most beloved good Brother and Cousin the King of Spain and the Minister Plenipotentiary of our most dear and most beloved good Brother and Cousin the King of Portugal, vested with full powers, in good form, to agree, conclude and sign such articles, conditions, conventions, declarations, definitive treaty, accessions, and other acts whatsoever, that he shall judge proper for securing and strengthening the great work of peace, the whole with the same latitude and authority that We ourselves might do, if We were there in person, even though there should be something which might require a more special order than what is contained in these presents, promising on the faith and word of a King, to approve, keep firm and stable for ever, to fulfil and execute punctually, all that our said Cousin, the Duke of Praslin, shall have stipulated, promised and signed, in virtue of the present full power, without ever acting contrary thereto, or permitting any thing contrary thereto, for any cause, or under any pretence whatsoever, as also to cause our letters of ratification to be expedited in good form, and to cause them to be delivered, in order to be exchanged within the time that shall be agreed upon. For such is our pleasure. In witness whereof, we have caused our Seal to be put to these presents. Given at Versailles the 7th day of the month of February, in the year of Grace 1763, and of our reign the forty-eighth. Signed Lewis, and on the fold, by the King, the Duke of Choiseul. Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax. His Catholick Majesty's full Power. DON CARLOS, by the grace of God, King of Castille, of Leon, of Arragon, of the two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Cordova, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Jaen, of the Algarves, of Algecira, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies, Islands and Continent, of the Ocean, Arch Duke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant and Milan, Count of Hapsburg, of Flanders, of Tirol and Barcelona, Lord of Biscay and of Molino, &c. Whereas preliminaries of a solid and lasting peace between this Crown, and that of France on the one part, and that of England and Portugal on the other, were concluded and signed in the Royal Residence of Fontainbleau, the 3d of November of the present year, and the respective ratifications thereof exchanged on the 22d of the same month, by Ministers authorised for that purpose, wherein it is promised, that a definitive treaty should be forthwith entered upon, having established and regulated the chief points upon which it is to turn: and whereas in the same manner as I granted to you, Don Jerome Grimaldi, Marquis de Grimaldi, Knight of the Order of the Holy Ghost, Gentleman of my Bed-chamber with employment, and my Ambassador Extraordinary to the Most Christian King, my full power to treat, adjust, and sign the before-mentioned preliminaries, it is necessary to grant the same to you, or to some other, to treat, adjust, and sign the promised definitive treaty of peace as aforesaid : therefore, as you the said Don Jerome Grimaldi, Marquis de Grimaldi, are at the convenient place, and as I have every day fresh motives, from your approved fidelity and zeal, capacity and prudence, to entrust to you this, and other-like concerns of my Crown, I have appointed you my Minister Plenipotentiary, and granted to you my full power, to the end, that, in my name, and representing my person, you may treat, regulate, settle, and sign the said definitive treaty of peace between my Crown and that of France on the one part, that of England and that of Portugal on the other, with the Ministers who shall be equally and specially authorised by their respective Sovereigns for the same purpose; acknowledging, as I do from this time acknowledge, as accepted and ratified, whatever you shall so treat, conclude, and sign; promising, on my Royal Word, that I will observe and fulfil the same, will cause it to be observed and fulfilled, as if it had been treated, concluded, and signed by myself. In witness whereof, I have caused these presents to be dispatched, signed by my hand, sealed with my privy seal, and countersigned by my under-written Counsellor of State, and first Secretary for the department of State and of War. Buen Retiro, the 10th of December, 1762. PAPERS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE TERRITORIES CEDED TO BRITAIN BY THE TREATY OF 1763.1 Lords of Trade (Egremont to Lords of Trade.) WHITEHALL May 5th 1763. His Majesty having brought the Negotiation with France & Spain to a happy Conclusion, and having given the necessary Orders for carrying into Execution the several Stipulations of the late Treaty, is now pleased to fix His Royal Attention upon the next important Object of securing to His Subjects, and extending the Enjoyment of the Advantages, which Peace has procured. This and the following papers contain an account of the steps taken by the British Government to provide a suitable constitution and policy of administration for Canada and the other recently acquired territories in North America. They furnish the basis for the Proclamation of Oct. 7th, 1763, as also for the Commission and the Instructions of the same date, given to General James Murray as Governor of the Province of Quebec. The papers are copied from the originals in the Public Record Office, and are, except where noted, from the series "America and the West Indies." The first is from vol. 268, p. 93. Murray's re 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 His Majesty therefore, upon the same Principle of Sollicitude for the Interests of His Colonies, which engaged him in a just & necessary War, in support of their Rights, and obliged him to insist on such Terms of Peace as he thought peculiarly calculated for the future Security of that important Object, directs me to transmit to Your Lordships herewith the Definitive Treaty of Peace; and I am commanded to signify to Your Lordships His Majesty's Pleasure, that You do, without Loss of Time, take into Your most serious Consideration, those Articles which relate to the Cessions made by their Most Christian & Catholick Majesties, & that You do report Your Opinion. By what Regulations, the most extensive Commercial Advantages may be derived from those Cessions, and How those Advantages may be rendered most permanent & secure to His Majesty's Trading Subjects. The Means of arriving at these desireable Ends, will perhaps be most distinctly pointed out, by considering, separately, the several Cessions stipulated by the Articles of Peace and examining the different Circumstances by which each Cession becomes more or less susceptible of the great Advantages of Commerce & Security above mentioned. North America naturally offers itself as the principal Object of Your Lordships Consideration upon this ccasion, with regard to which, I shall first obey His Majesty's Commands in proposing to Your Lordships some general Questions, before I proceed to desire You will furnish that Information, which His Majesty expects from Your Lordships, with regard to the Northern or Southern Parts of this Continent considered separately. The Questions which relates to North America in general, are, 1st What New Governments should be established & what Form should be adopted for such new Governments? and where the Capital, or Residence of each Governor should be fixed? 2dly What Military Establishm' will be sufficient? What new Forts should be erected and which, if any, may it be expedient to demolish? 3dy In what Mode least Burthensome and most palatable to the Colonies can they contribute towards the Support of the Additional Expence, port said to be which must attend their Civil & Military Establishment, upon the Arrangement which Your Lordships shall propose? inclosed in letter of 20. July 1762. Egremont in Amherst's let Under the first of those Heads, Viz What new Governments shall be established? It will be proper to examine, what Priviledges are reserved to His Majesty's New Subjects by the Terms of their Capitulations; I therefore send Your Lordships herewith the Capitulation of Quebec & Montreal. It may also be a proper Object of Consideration, how far it is expedient Burton's April to retain, or depart from the Forms of Government which His Most Chris26, 1762, In tian Majesty had established in those Colonies; and in order to furnish ter to Egre- Your Lordships with those Lights, which may enable You to form a just mont 15 June Opinion on this Head, I send here with Copies of the several Reports of 1762 enclosure Gov's Murray Burton & Gage. No 20 A & 97. Gage's-Enclosure No. 38 March 20, 1762 in Amherst's to Egremont of 12 May, 1762 A. & W. I. Vol. 97. The Second Question, which relates to the Security of North America, seems to include Two Objects to be provided for; The first is, the Security of the whole against any European Power; The next is the Preservation of the internal Peace & Tranquility of the Country against any Indian Disturbances. Of those Two Objects, the latter appears to call more immediately for such Regulations & Precautions as Your Lordships shall think proper to suggest &c*. Tho' in order to succeed effectually in this Point, it may become necessary to erect some Forts in the Indian Country, with their Consent, yet His Majesty's Justice & Moderation inclines Him to adopt the more eligible Method of conciliating the Minds of the Indians by the Mildness of His SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 Canada & and. Forida. Government, by protecting their Persons & Property & securing to them. all the Possessions, Rights and Priviledges they have hitherto enjoyed, & are entitled to, most cautiously guarding against any Invasion or Occupation of their Hunting Lands, the Possession of which is to be acquired by fair Purchase only; and it has been thought so highly expedient to give them the earliest and most convincing Proofs of His Majesty's Gracious and Friendly Intentions on this Head, that I have already received and transmitted the King's Commands to this Purpose to the Governors of Virginia, the Two Carolinas & Georgia, and to the Agent for Indian Affairs in the Southern Department, as Your Lordships will see fully in the inclosed Copy of my Circular Letter to them on this Subject. Having thus executed the King's Commands, with regard to such Questions as relate to North America in general, I am to signify to Your Lordships His Majesty's further Pleasure that You do take into Consideration the following Queries, which concern some Parts of that Continent in particular. The first and most important Object is the Fishery, with regard to which Your Lordships will furnish all the Lights you possibly can in order to shew, Whether the French had made any Incroachments with regard to the Fishery, contrary to what is stipulated, on this Head by the Treaty of Utrecht? How those Incroachments may be most easily prevented by such timely Precautions, as may most effectually obviate all Disputes between the Subjects of both Crowns, in those Parts & preserve Peace & Tranquility there for the future. What Inconvenience or Disadvantage may arise to His Majesty's Northern Colonies, or to the Fishery in those Parts, from the Vicinity of S' Pierre & Michelon, ceded to France, under certain Restrictions by the 6th Article of the Definitive Treaty? And by what Precautions may that Inconvenience be most effectually guarded against, either with respect to Our Fishery, or a Contraband Trade with Our Colonies. Can Your Lordships furnish any Lights with regard to the Climate or Soil of the Inland Parts of Florida, which tho' hitherto neglected and useless, are said to be extremely fertile ? Is there any Reason to believe that the Mouth of the Catahocke River is, or might be easily made Commodious for Shipping, or, that a Harbour may be found in the Southern Parts of the Peninsula of Florida? What particular Advantages might arise from such a Harbour, or from that of Pensacola or Mobile, or from any other, on that part of the Coast of North America lately ceded to His Majesty, which bounds the Gulph of Mexico to the North. The general Queries with regard to North America, having taken in all the Points of Information wanted, relative to the Louisiana & the Illinois, I shall only add, that His Majesty desires to have Your Lordships Opinion whether any immediate Advantages may be derived from the free Navigation of the Mississippi, and how they are to be improved & extended? Having thus gone thro' the several Points relative to N. America, upon which His Majesty desires to have the Opinion of Your Lordships, the obvious Application of most of the same Queries to the other Cessions made to His Majesty by the Peace, makes it unnecessary to repeat them, it will be sufficient therefore to desire that Your Lordships will report for His Majesty's Information, Your Opinion, with regard to the most effectual Means of improving and securing the Commercial Advantages, which may be derived from the Conquered Islands and from Senegal. With regard to the latter I am to inform Your Lordships, that His Majesty has thought proper to accept the Proposal of the African Committee made in the Peti 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 tion of which I send You Copy inclosed, and Orders are already given to the Governor of Senegal to have a Detachment under a proper Officer to keep Possession of that Place till the African Committee shall be prepared to take Possession thereof. Your Lordships will report Your Opinion of this Arrangement, and suggest whatever may occur to You for the Advantage of this Part of the African Trade. In Order to supply Your Lordships with all the Materials in my Office, which can in any Shape assist You, in making Your Report as ample, and as satisfactory as possible, I inclose herewith Copies of Accounts transmitted by the King's Command from Colonels Scott & Worge, as also the Capitulation of Martinico, Grenade having surrendered under the same Terms, which had been granted to that Island. As it must require some time to examine & deliberate upon the several Points which are referred to Your Lordships in this Letter, it is the King's Pleasure, that without waiting to make a full Answer to the whole You do, as soon as possible, report your Opinion upon such Points as shall appear to you most pressing, that proper Directions mav be given, without Loss of Time, with regard to the Arrangements immediately necessary for the New Acquisitions. I am &c. EGREMONT1 endorsed Dra' to the Lords of the Trade May 5th 1763 Letter of Reference concerning the Advantages procured by the Treaty of Peace, the Regulations proper to be made relating to the Indians & the Establishment of New Governments in the ceded Provinces & Islands -Directing them to point out the necessary Arrangements.— with an Inclosure A Enclosure in letter of 5. May 1763o — Definitive Treaty Capitulation of Quebec. in B. Gen' Townshend's Sept. 20. 1759 } transmitted by S' Jeff. Amherst. Capitulation of Martinico. in Gen' Monckton's of Feb. 9. & 27. 1762 Gov' Scott's Letter. Gov Scott's Report. Grenada. July 7. 1762 Grenada. Jan' 19. 1763. Gov. Worge's Report. Senegal Jan' 11. 1762. Mem' of Committee of Merchants trading to Africa, & Estimate Circular, March 16., to Gov of Virginia, Two Carolinas, & Georgia, & endorsed List of Papers sent to Board of Trade-May 5: 1763 : Inclosure in N° 7- 1 Charles, Earl of Egremont succeeded Wm. Pitt as Secretary of State for the Southern Department, Oct. 9th, 1761. At this time there were two Principal Secretaries of State, one for the "Northern" and the other for the "Southern" Department, these distinctions referring to the division between them of British foreign affairs in Europe. The American Colonies came under the attention of the senior secretary, being usually the secretary for the Southern Department. In Jan. 1768, a third Secretary of State was appointed to take charge of Colonial affairs; but, with the virtual loss of the American Colonies, this office was abolished in 1782. Thereafter a new division was made into the Home and Foreign Departments. The colonies came under the care of the former department until 1801, when they were transferred to that of the Secretary for War, a new department established in 1794. From 1801 to 1854 this department was known as that of the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. 2 The enclosures mentioned in this list are not found with the letter of 5th May; but those relating to Canada are already given in this volume. |