transport their effects wherever they please, with the safe conduct necessary to protect them, and their property, until they arrive at the ports designated for their embarkation. And all women and children, scholars of every faculty, cultivators of the earth, artisans, mechanics, manufacturers, and fishermen, unarmed and inhabiting the unfortified towns, villages, or places, and, in general, all others whose occupations are for the common subsistence and benefit of mankind, shall be allowed to continue their respective employments, and shall not be molested in their persons, nor shall their houses or goods be burnt or otherwise destroyed, nor their fields wasted by the armed force of the belligerents in whose power, by the events of war, they may happen to fall; but, if it be necessary that anything should be taken from them for the use of such belligerent, the same shall be paid for at a reasonable price.

"And it is declared that neither the pretence that war dissolves treaties, nor any other whatever, shall be considered as annulling or suspending this article; but, on the contrary, that the state of war is precisely that for which it is provided, and during which its provisions are to be sacredly observed as the most acknowledged obligations in the law of nations."

ARTICLE XXII. The usual rule is to be applied to personal property of the citizens of one State in the territory of the other; and as to real estate, the privileges of the most favored nation shall be reciprocally granted.

ARTICLE XXIII.-(Courts of justice to be open to citizens of either country.)" The citizens of either party shall have free access to the courts of justice, in order to maintain and defend their own rights, without any other conditions, restrictions, or taxes than such as are imposed upon the natives. They shall, therefore, be free to employ, in defence of their rights, such advocates, solicitors, notaries, agents, and factors as they may judge proper, in all their trials at law; and such citizens or agents shall have free opportunity to be present at the decisions and sentences of the tribunals in all cases which may concern them, and likewise at the taking of all examinations and evidences, which may be exhibited in the said trials."

ARTICLE XXIV. In respect to commerce and navigation, the most favored nation rule to be applied.

ARTICLE XXV.-The treaty to continue in force for five

years, and thereafter for twelve months after notice to terminate it.

ARTICLE XXVI.-Ratifications.

Signed by

GEORGE P. MARSH.

VISCONTI VENOSTA.1

RUSSIA, 1824.

CONVENTION RELATIVE TO NAVIGATION, FISHING, AND TRADING IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND TO ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE NORTHWEST Coast.

Concluded April 17, 1824. Ratifications exchanged at Washington, January 11, 1825. Proclaimed January 12, 1825.

ARTICLE I.-(Navigation and fisheries of the Pacific.)—" It is agreed that, in any part of the Great Ocean, or South Sea, the respective citizens or subjects of the high contracting Powers shall be neither disturbed nor restrained, either in navigation or in fishing, or in the power of resorting to the coasts, upon points which may not already have been occupied, for the purpose of trading with the natives, saving always the restrictions and conditions determined by the following articles."

ARTICLE II. (Illicit trade.)-"With a view of preventing the rights of navigation and of fishing exercised upon the Great Ocean by the citizens and subjects of the high contracting Powers from becoming the pretext for an illicit trade, it is agreed that the citizens of the United States shall not resort to any point where there is a Russian establishment, without the permission of the governor or commander; and that, recipro

1 Other treaties with Italy are a consular convention, 1868, superseded by the convention of 1878 and 1881 (see Consular Treaties); a convention for the extradition of criminals, 1868, with supplements in 1869 and 1884, (see Extradition Treaties); a declaration for the protection of trade-marks,

cally, the subjects of Russia shall not resort, without permission, to any establishment of the United States upon the northwest coast."

ARTICLE III-(Establishments to be formed by citizens of the United States or Russia.)-"It is moreover agreed that, hereafter, there shall not be formed by the citizens of the United States, or under the authority of the said States, any establishment upon the Northwest coast of America, nor in any of the islands adjacent, to the north of fifty-four degrees and forty minutes of north latitude; and that, in the same manner, there shall be none formed by Russian subjects, or under the authority of Russia, south of the same parallel.”

ARTICLE IV.-(Interior seas.)-"It is, nevertheless, understood that during a term of ten years, counting from the signature of the present convention, the ships of both Powers, or which belong to their citizens or subjects respectively, may reciprocally frequent without any hindrance whatever, the interior seas, gulfs, harbors, and creeks, upon the coast mentioned in the preceding article, for the purpose of fishing and trading with the natives of the country."

ARTICLE V. (Articles to be excepted from this commerce.)"All spirituous liquors, fire-arms, other arms, powder, and munitions of war of every kind, are always excepted from this same commerce permitted by the preceding article; and the two Powers engage, reciprocally, neither to sell, nor suffer them to be sold, to the natives by their respective citizens and subjects, nor by any person who may be under their authority. It is likewise stipulated that this restriction shall never afford a pretext, nor be advanced, in any case, to authorize either search or detention of the vessels, seizure of the merchandize, or, in fine, any measures of constraint whatever towards the merchants or the crews who may carry on this commerce; the high contracting Powers reciprocally reserving to themselves to determine upon the penalties to be incurred, and to inflict the punishments in case of the contravention of this article by their respective citizens or subjects."

ARTICLE VI.-(Ratifications.)-" When this convention shall have been duly ratified by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the one part, and, on the other, by His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias,

the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington in the space of ten months from the date below, or sooner if possible.

"In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this convention, and thereto affixed the seals of their

arms.

"Done at St. Petersburg the 17-5 April of the year of Grace one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.

"HENRY MIDDLETON.

"LE COMTE CHARLES DE NESSELRODE. "PIERRE DE POLETICA." 1

RUSSIA, 1854.

CONVENTION RELATIVE TO THE RIGHTS OF NEUTRALS AT SEA.

Concluded July 22, 1854. Ratifications exchanged at Washington, October 31, 1854, Proclaimed November 1, 1854.

"The United States of America and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, equally animated with a desire to maintain, and to preserve from all harm, the relations of good understanding which have at all times so happily subsisted between themselves, as also between the inhabitants of their respective States, have mutually agreed to perpetuate, by means of a formal convention, the principles of the right of neutrals at sea, which they recognize as indispensable conditions of all freedom of navigation and maritime trade."

ARTICLE I. (Free ships make free goods-Neutral property.) "The two high contracting parties recognize as permanent and immutable the following principles, to wit:

"1st. That free ships make free goods; that is to say, that the effects or goods belonging to subjects or citizens of a Power or State at war are free from capture and confiscation when found on board of neutral vessels, with the exception of articles. contraband of war.

"2d. That the property of neutrals on board an enemy's vessel is not subject to confiscation, unless the same be contraband

1 The ten years mentioned in article IV., having expired, Russia refused to renew the stipulations therein contained.

of war. They engage to apply these principles to the commerce and navigation of all such Powers and States as shall consent to adopt them on their part as permanent and immutable."

ARTICLE II.—(Understanding as to application of these principles.) The two high contracting parties reserve themselves. to come to an ulterior understanding as circumstances may require, with regard to the application and extension to be given, if there be any cause for it, to the principles laid down in the 1st article. But they declare from this time that they will take the stipulations contained in said article 1 as a rule, whenever it shall become a question to judge of the rights of neutrality."

ARTICLE III.—(Other nations may accede to this treaty.)—“ It is agreed by the high contracting parties that all nations which shall or may consent to accede to the rules of the first article of this convention, by a formal declaration stipulating to observe them, shall enjoy the rights resulting from such accession as they shall be enjoyed and observed by the two Powers signing this convention. They shall mutually communicate to each other the results of the steps which may be taken on the subject."

Signed by

W. L. MARCY.

EDOUARD STOECKL.

RUSSIA, 1867.

CONVENTION FOR THE CESSION OF THE RUSSIAN POSSESSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES.

Concluded March 30, 1867. Ratifications exchanged at Washington, June 20, 1867. Proclaimed June 20, 1867.

"The United States of America and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, being desirous of strengthening, if possible, the good understanding which exists between them, have, for that purpose, appointed as their Plenipotentiaries, the President of the United States, William H. Seward, Secretary of Statc; and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, the