A Royal Commission (1784)

BY KING CHARLES THIRD

(ANONYMOUS TRANSLATION, 1832)

DON CARLOS, by the grace of God King of Castile, of Leon, of Arragon, of the two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Cordova, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Jaen, of the Algarves, of Algecira, of Gibraltar, of the Canary islands, of the East and West Indies, Islands, find Terra Firma, of the Ocean sea, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, and Milan, Count of Apsburgh, of Flanders, Tirol, and Barcelona, Lord of Biscay and of Molina, &c. Whereas there are many and very extensive territories in North America appertaining to my crown, and bordering on others of the United States of the same America, it is very convenient to establish and fix the respective limits, and to regulate those other points on which, between friendly Powers and nations, it is always convenient and necessary to have established regulations, in order to obviate all differences: The good correspondence and harmony which subsists between us and the said United States of North America, and the intercourse and commerce which our respective subjects have with each other, requiring that the boundaries which shall continue in future should be regulated in the most positive and notorious manner: Wherefore, having entire satisfaction and confidence in you, Don Diego de Gardoqui, commissary (ordenader) of my armies, charged with my affairs near the Congress of the said States, on account of your capacity, understanding, and zeal, I have conferred upon you full power, that, with the person or persons whom the said States and their Congress shall equally authorize, you treat, adjust, and sign, whatever articles, compacts, and conventions, may be conducive to the regulations of the points herein alluded to, and of others which shall be conducive to the enjoyment of those important and beneficial objects. And that there may always be and subsist a good understanding, friendship, and union, between the crown of Spain and the United States of North America, I promise, on my royal word, to approve, ratify, and fulfil, and cause to be observed and fulfilled, exactly and entirely, whatsoever shall be by you stipulated and signed.

In faith whereof, I have caused to be despatched these presents, signed with my hand, sealed with my privy seal, and certified by my underwritten Councillor of State, my first Secretary for the Despatches of State, at St. Ildefonso, the 27th of September, 1784.

I THE KING.

JOSEPH MONINO.

(edited by Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Clair Clarke, Washington, 1832), I, 248.