The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the General and Intendant of Guadaloupe, and its Dependencies.

GENTLEMEN,

The British Merchants residing in this government, take the liberty of representing to you, that by the 8th article of the definitive treaty of peace, they are allowed the term of 18 months, to commence from the day of the ratification of the said treaty, to recover their debts, and to transport their effects as well as their persons, in vessels that are allowed to come to these Islands for that purpose. This article does not seem to them susceptible of more than one meaning; nevertheless, your memorialists have been informed by Mr. William Woodbridge that you, Gentlemen, could not decide, whether by the word effects, was meant the produce of these islands; it is therefore, they humbly beg leave to observe to you, that if they are deprived of the liberty of exporting the produce of these islands, they think they cannot, in Justice, be compelled to take it in payment: but how then will they be paid? The greatest part of what is due to them, is in the hands of the planters, who have only the produce of their plantations to discharge their debts. How will they, otherwise, be enabled to fulfill their engagements in the time limited by the article of the treaty; and what will avail to the British merchants, the precaution that has been taken in their favour?

Your memorialists never imagin'd that there could have been the least restriction in the permission granted to them to transport their effects whether in the produce of these islands, European merchandizes, ready money, and in short all that belongs to them, and that may accrue from the recovering their debts, for such only is the meaning of the definitive treaty, and the word effects. This is the construction that will, and must be put upon it, as well in France, as in England, and every where else; in firm belief whereof, they have already ordered out the number of vessels they have judged necessary for the transportation of the produce they are to receive in payment of their debt, together with their moveables and persons.

Your memorialists thinking it very necessary to be upon a certainty in an affair of so much consequence to themselves, and their fellow subjects, beg leave to claim their just rights, and the privileges granted to them by virtue of the definitive treaty, to ship all their effects arising from the receipt of their debts, whether in cash, produce, or other commodities, that may be actually in their possession, during the time granted to the British subjects to settle their affairs; and that you will be pleased to take the same into your consideration, and to communicate to them, that determination which your Judgment and Integrity shall dictate.

SIGNED, WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE, and 21 English Merchants.

ANSWER.

We cannot give any positive answer to this Memorial, without receiving the King's Orders in relation thereto.

Basse-terre, Guadaloupe, August 14th, 1763.

Le President de Peinier.

Signed, Le Chevalier de Boullamaque.