no further vifitation, but all vifitation or fearch shall be made before-hand, and all prohibited goods fhall be stopped on the spot before the fame be put on board, unless there are manifeft tokens or proofs of fraudulent practice; nor fhall either the perfons or goods of the subjects of his Moft Christian Majesty, or the United States, be put under any arreft or molested by any other kind of embargo for that cause, and only the fubject of that State to whom the faid goods have been or shall be prohibited, and who shall prefume to fell or alienate fuch fort of goods, hall be duly punished for the offence.

ARTICLE XXIX.

The two contracting parties grant mutually the liberty of having each in the ports of the other confuls, vice-confuls, agents and commiffaries, whofe functions shall be regulated by a particular agreement.

And the more to favour and facilitate the commerce which the fubjects of the United States may have with France, the most Christian King will grant them in Europe one or more free ports, where they may bring and difpofe of all the produce and merchandize of the Thir

teen

teen United States; and his Majesty will also continue to the fubjects of the faid States, the free ports which have been and are open in the French islands of America, of all which free ports the faid fubjects of the United States fhall enjoy the ufe, agreeable to the regulations which relate to them.

ARTICLE XXXI.

The prefent Treaty fhall be ratified on both fides, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in the space of fix months, or fooner, if poffible.

IN FAITH WHEREOF the refpective Plenipotentiaries have figned the above articles both in the French and English languages; declaring, nevertheless, that the prefent Treaty was originally composed and concluded in the French language, and they have thereto affixed their seals.

DONE at PARIS, this Sixth Day of February, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Eight.

Form of the Passports and Letters which are

to be given to the Ships and Barques according to the Twenty-fifth Article of this Treaty.

To all who shall fee thefe prefents, Greeting.

IT is hereby made known, that leave and permiffion has been given to

master and commander of the fhip called

burthen

of the town of

tons or thereabouts, lying at

prefent in the port and haven of

and bound for

and laden with

after that this fhip has

been vifited, and before failing, he fhall make oath before the officers who have the jurifdiction of maritime affairs, that the faid ship belongs to one or more of the fubjects of the act whereof fhall be put at the end of these prefents; as likewife that he will keep and caufe to be kept by his crew on board, the marine ordinances and regulations, and enter in the proper office a lift, figned and witneffed, containing the names and firnames, the places of birth and abode of the crew of his ship, and of all who

fhalf

fhall embark on board her, whom he fhall not take on board without the knowledge and permiffion of the Officers of the Marine; and in every port or haven where he fhall enter with his fhip, he fhall fhew his present leave to the Officers and Judges of the Marine; and fhall give a faithful account to them of what paffed and was done during his voyage; and he fhall carry the colours, arms and enfign of the King or United States during his voyage. In witness whereof we have figned these presents, and put the feal of our arms thereunto, and caufed the fame to be counterfigned by

day of

at

the

Anno Domini

TREATY

TREAT Y OF ALLIANCE,

EVENTUAL and DEFENSIVE.

LOUIS, by the Grace of GoD, King of France and Navarre,

To all who fhall fee thefe prefents, Greeting:

THE Congress of the United States of North-America having by their Plenipotentiaries refiding in France, propofed to form with us a defenfive and eventual alliance: Willing to give the faid States an efficacious proof of the intereft we take in their profperity, we have determined to conclude the faid alliance. For thefe caufes, and other good confiderations thereto moving, We, repofing entire confidence in the capacity and experience, zeal and fidelity for our Service, of our dear and beloved Conrad Alexander Gerard, Royal Syndic of the City of Strafbourg, Secretary of our Council of State, have nominated, commiffioned and deputed, and by these prefents, figned with our band, do nominate, commiffion and depute him our Plenipotentiary, giving him power and fpecial command to act in this quality, and confer, negociate,, treat and agree conjointly with the abovementioned Plenipotentiaries of the United States, invested in the

like