• Refolved unanimoufly, That the fhop-tax is precifely fuch a measure as is defcribed in the preceding refolution, and that therefore the oppofition to it is a point in which all deferiptions of men ought to unite, and with which party prejudices ought to have no concern; and that it is the duty of every coníci entious citizen to join, as against an inpoft not only partial and inequitable in its principle, but in the highest degree dangerous and oppreffive in its operation. Refolved unanimoufly, That therefore we mot carneitly recommend to our fellow-fubjects at large firenuoully to perfevere in the excrtion of every conftitutional means for obtaining a repeal of that most oppreffive act; and to unite in one firm, fiber, and deliberate opinion, as to the neceffity of the immediately adopting fuch meafures as may afford a rational expectation of fecurity to their trade, and a well grounded hope for the return of public profperity. [The above refolutions, and four more of thanks, were ordered to be figned by the town-clerk, and published in all the papers.] Definitive Treaty of Peace between the Emperor of Germany and the States General, Nov. 8, 1785. I. There fhall be perpetual peace, and a conftant and fincere friend fhip between his imperial majesty, his heirs and fucceflors, and their high mightineffes the states general of the united provinces, their estates, provinces, and countries, and their refpective vaffals and subjects. 11. The treaty concluded at Munfter, January 30, 1648, fhall be the bafis of the prefent treaty; and all the ftipulations of the said treaty of Munfter fhall be preferv. ed, in as much as they shall not be affected by the prefent. III. It fhall be allowed hereaf ter, to the two contracting powers, to make fuch regulations as they fhall think advifable for the com merce and customs of their respec tive eilates. IV. The limits of Flanders fhall remain the fame as at the convention in the year 1664, and if any dificulty fhall arife, owing to the obfcurity of time, it fhall be fettled one month after the exchange of the ratification, by commifiaries, named by each of the contracting parties, to adjuft it. It is moreover agreed, that it fhall be fettled in a manner to be deemed reciprocally advantageous. V. The high contracting powers reciprocally engage not to conftruct any forts, or erect any batteries ! whofe fhot will reach from the one to to the other; and to demolish those which are already constructed in that manner. VI. Their high mightine fles fhall caufe to be regulated, in the moit convenient manner, and to the fatisfaction of the emperor, the flooding of the waters in his majesty's dominions in Flanders, and on the banks of the Maefe, in order to prevent, as much as poffible, the inundations. Their high mightinefles alfo content, that to that end there hall be made ufe of, under a reafonable rent, the neceffary land under their government. The fluices which fhall be conftructed for that purpofe on the territories of the itates general, fhall remain under their fovereignty; and they fhall not be conftructed in any place which will obftruct a defence of their frontiers. The most convenient fituations for the faid fluices fhall be refpectively named in the fpace of one month after the exchange of the ratification by commiffaries, who fhall alfo agree for thofe which are to be under the government of both powers. VII. Their high mightineffes acknowledge the full right of abfolute and independent fovereignty of his imperial majesty over all the part of Scheldt, from Antwerp to the limits of the country of Saftingen, conformable to the line drawn in 1664. The ftates-general renounce, in confequence, the right of levy ing any tax or impoft on that part of the Scheldt; alfo from interrupting, in any manner, the navigation and commerce of his imperial majesty's fubjects. The rest of the river beyond the line, drawn from the fea, fhall continue under the fovereignty of the states-general; alfo the canals of the Sas, the Swin, and the other neighbouring mouths of the fea, conformabic to the treaty of Munfter. VIII. Their high mightinelles fhall evacuate and demolish the forts. of Kruifchans, and of Frederick Henry, and fhall cede the territories to his imperial majesty. IX. Their high mightineffes, willing to give to the emperor a new proof of their defire to establish the most perfect intelligence between the two countries, confent to evacuate and fubmit to the difcretion of his imperial majeity, the forts of Lillo and Liefkenichoek, with the fortifications in their present condition; the ftates-general referving to themfelves the right of withdrawing the artillery and ammunition of all forts. X. The fulfilling the two preceding articles fhall take place fix weeks after the exchange of the ratification. XI. His imperial majefty renounces the pretenfions he had formed upon the banks and villages of Bladel and Reufel. XII. Their high mightineffes renounce, on their part, all pretenfions on the village of Pottel, it being understood that the revenues of the abbey of Potel, fecularized by the ftates-general, cannot be reclaimed. XIII. There fhall be named, in the term of one month after the exchange of the ratification, commiffaries to furvey the limits of Brabant, and to agree on each part of the exchanges that can be made for their mutual advantage. XIV. His imperial majefly renounces all the rights and pretenfions which he had formed, or can form, in virtue of the treaty of 1763, upon the village of Maettricht, the county of Vroenhoven, the banks of St. Servas, and the country beyond the Maefe. XV. Their high mightineffes fhall pay to his imperial majesty the fum of nine millions five hundred thou thoufand forins, in the current money of Holland. XVI. Their high mightineffes having declared their intentions to indemnify fuch of his imperial ma jelly's fubjects who have fuffered by the inundations, engage to pay to his imperial majefly, for that purpofe, the fum of five hundred thou. fand florins. XVII. The payments of the fums ftipulated by the two preceding articles, fhall be made in the manner following:-Three months after the ratification of the prefent treaty, the fates-general will caufe to be paid into the imperial treafury of Bruffels, the fum of twelve hundred and fifty thousand Dutch florins; and every fix months after, a like fum, till the whole is completed. Thefe payments not to be ftopped or fufpended under any pretext whatfoever. XVIII. Their high mightineffes cede to his imperial majefly the ban of Aulne, fituated in the country of Dahlem, and its dependencies; the lordship of the ban of Blegnyle Trembleur, with St. Andre; the Jordfhip of 'i eneur, lordthip of Bombaye; the city and cattle of Dahlem, with its appurtenances and dependencies, except Ooft and Cadier. AIN. In exchange for the ceffions in article XVIII. his imperial majeity cedes to their high mighti. nelles the lordships of Viex-Fauquemont, Schin on the Guele, Strucht, with their appurtenances and dependencies; the lordship of Schaefburgh, with its dependencies; the limits of Auftrian Fauquemont, in which is fituated the convent of St. Gertach, and the villages of Cb. bicht and Papenhoven, with their dependencies, fituate in Auftrian Gueldres. His majesty renounces all his pretenfions to that part of the village of Schimmert, named Le Bies, with that part of the diftrict which has always furnished its contingent to their high mightinefies. His imperial majefty alfo renounces his pretenfions on thofe parts of the heaths and lands demanded on the fides of Haerlem, on thofe of Ubach, Broutfen, and Simplevelt; referving, neverthelefs, that the fubjects of his imperial majefty fhall have free liberty of communication and patlage through all toll-houfes and other barriers on the great road which runs through the limits of the bar of Kerkeureadt, as the fubjects of their high mightineffes fhall likewife be allowed the fame liberty through the rest of the road to the country of Ter Hyde. XX. For the ceffion of the forts Lillo and Liefkenfhoek, the em. peror cedes all the rights he may have to the villages called of Redemption, except three, viz. Falais, Argenteau, and Hermal, which their high mightinefles, on their parts, give up, and engage not to raife the Redemption money, as his majefty alfo engages not to do in the tipulated villages. XXI. it fhall be free for the inhabitants of the countries reciprocally ceded, to quit them, or to ftay, and they fhall have the free exercife of their religion. XXII. XXIII. Their high mightineffes give up to the emperor all their rights to the village of Berneau, in the country of Dahlem, which was not included in the partition of the country beyond the Maefe in 1661, and a village in the country of Fauquemont, alfo not included in the faid partition, is ceded to the republic. XXIV. In a month's time after the ratification, commiffioners shall be appointed to regulate the limits of the country beyond the Maefe, XXV. It XXV. It is agreed, that the recuniary debts between state and ftate are annulled, and what regards I private people is to be lettled by commithioners. XXVI. In a month after the ratification, commiffioners thall be appointed to fix the just contingent to be furnished in future by the statesgeneral towards the amount attached to the ancient charges of Brabant, which commiffioners fhall be obliged to finish that work in one year, and in the mean time things are to remain upon their old footing. XXVII. The two high contractting parties renounce, without any referve, all farther pretenfions that the one may have against the other. XXVIII, His Chriftian majefty is requefied by both parties to be come guarantee to this treaty. XXIX. This treaty fhall be ratified by his imperial majetty and their high mightineffes, and exchanged in fix weeks, if posible, from this day. Signed, (L. S.) COMTE DE MERCY D'ARGENTEAU. have penfions at the charge of the country. VI. The major and the greffier of the town and high court of Dahlem, as alfo of the lordships ceded to his imperial majesty, who are not continued in their employments, fhall receive a reasonable compenfation, or have the liberty of selling their places, under the approbation of the government of the Netherlands, which fhall also be obferved on the part of their high mightineffes. VII. The places which have been reciprocally ceded fhall be delivered up without any expence to the country. VIII. This regards the ceffions with refpect to which every thing is to be done, according to the treaty of partition of 1661. IX. This is relating to the convention refpecting the convent of St. Gerlach, belonging to the places ceded to their high mightinefles in the 16th article. This convention to be added to the treaty, and to be of the fame value. Agreed the 8th of November, and figned by the plenipotentiaries ESTEVENON DE BERKENRODE. of the contracting parties and gua (L. S) (L. S.) GERARD BRANSTEN. And as plenipotentiary of his Chriftian ma jetty, (L. S.) COMTE DE VERGENNES. To this definitive treaty a fepa. rate convention was added, containing nine articles concerning certain arrangements and condi tions. Article I. II. III, and IV. regard the rights to raife men in the places reciprocally ceded, V. The officers and others on duty in the country of Dahlem fhall from committing any act of hoftility, on any account whatever, that they will do every thing for the reciprocal fupport of their mutual honour and advantage, &c. II. The Chriftian king and the ftates-general promife to contribute all in their power to their respective fecurity, and to preferve themfelves in tranquillity, peace, and neutrality, as alfo the actual poffeffion of all their eftates, domains, franchises, and liberties, and to protect each other from any hoftile attack in all parts of the world; and in order the more pofitively to fix the extent. of the guarantee with which his majefty has charged himfelf, it is exprefly ftipulated, that it fhall comprehend the treaty of Munter of 1648, and of Aix-la-Chapelle of 1748, except the derogations which the faid treaties have undergone, or may undergo in future. III. In confequence of the above engagement, the contracting parties hall unite for the prefervation of peace, and in cafe either of them are threatened with an attack, the other fhall ufe his good offices to prevent hoftilities. IV. But if the faid good offices fhall prove ineffectual, his Chriflian majefty and their high mightineffes engage from this time to affift each other both by fea and land, for which purpofe his Chriftian majeftly fhall furnish the ftates-general with 10,000 men infantry, 2000 men cavalry, 12 fail of the line, and fix frigates; and their high mightinelles, in cafe of a marine war, or in cafe his majefty fhall meet with any hoftilities by fea, fhall furnish fix fhips of the line and three frigates; and in cafe of an attack up on the French territory, the ftatesgeneral thall furnith their contingent of troops in money, which that be cftimated by a feparate arti cle or convention, uniefs they prefer furnishing them in kind; the estimate to be made on the footing of 5000 men infantry, and 1000 men cavalry. V. The power which furnishes the fuccours, whether in fhips or men, fhall pay and fupport them, wherever they may be employed by the ally, and whether the fhips or troops remain a long or a short time in the ports of the party requiring the fuccours, the faid party is to furnish them with what they may want, at the fame rate as if they belonged to them; nevertheless the faid fhips and troops are not, in any refpect, to be maintained at the expence of the requiring party, although they are, during the whole war in which the faid party may be engaged, to be entirely at their dif polal, and under the command of their own chief, but in all opera tions to be entirely under cominand of the chief of the requiring party. VI. The Chriftian king and the ftates-general engage to keep the fhips and troops complete and well armed, infomuch that as foon as cither of the powers may have furnifhed the required fuccours ftipulated in the 4th article, they fhall caufe a number of fhips and frigates to be armed equal to what they have furnifled, to be ready to replace fuch as may be loft by the accidents of war or the fea. VII. In cafe the ftipulated fuccours fhail be infuthcient for the de fence of the requiring party, and to procure a proper peace, they fhall be augmented according to the neceffities of the requiring party; nay, the contracting parties fhall affift each other with all their forces if neceffary; but it is agreed that at any rate the contingent of troops to be furnished by the states-general fhall not exceed 20,000 men intan, try's |