Holland cedes to Great Britain the Colonies of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice. Convention between H. B. M. and the United Provinces of the Netherlands, relating to their colonies, signed in London on the 13th of August, 1814. ARTICLE I. ས His Britannic Majesty engages to restore to the Prince Sovereign of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, within the time which shall be specified, here below, the colonies, factories and establishments of which Holland was in possession at the beginning of the late war, that is to say, on the 1st of January, 1803, in the seas and continents of America, Africa and Asia, with the exception of the Cape of Good Hope and of the establishments of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice, which the High Contracting Parties reserve the right to dispose of by a supplementary convention which shall be adjusted at once in conformity with the mutual interests of both parties, and more especially in relation to the stipulations contained in articles 6 and 9 of the treaty of peace concluded between His Britannic Majesty and His Most Christian Majesty on the 30th of May, 1814. FIRST ADDITIONAL ARticle. 3. To defray, jointly with Holland, and in equal parts, all the ulterior expenses which may be determined and agreed upon by common consent by the High Contracting Parties and their allies, with the object of consolidating and definitely establishing, in a satisfactory manner, the union of the Netherlands and Holland under the rule of the House of Orange, the quota to be furnished by Great Britain not to exceed three million pounds sterling. In consideration of the engagements above mentioned, the Prince Sovereign of the Netherlands consents to cede in all sovereignty to His Britannic Majesty the Cape of Good Hope and the establishments of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice, on condition, however, that the subjects of H. R. M., the Prince Sovereign, who own property in said colonies or establishments, shall be at liberty (saving the regulations which shall be agreed upon in a supplementary convention) to navigate and trade between said establishments and the territories of said Prince Sovereign in Europe. Done in London on the 13th of August, 1814. (K. S.) CASTLEREAGH. (L. S.) H. FAGEL. |