The subjects of His Most Christian Majesty and those of the United States, who shall prove that they belong to the body of the respective nations, by the certificate of the consul or vice consul of the district, mentioning their names, surnames, and place of their settlement, as inscribed in the register of the consulate, shall not lose, for any cause whatever in the respective domains and States, the quality of subjects of the country of which they originally were, conformably to the eleventh article of the treaty of amity and commerce, of the 6th of February, 1778, of which the present article shall serve as an interpretation in case of necessity, and the said subjects respectively shall enjoy in consequence exemption from all personal service in the place of their settlement. ARTICLE XV. If any other nation acquires, by virtue of any convention whatever, either in France or in the United States, a treatment more favorable with respect to the consular pre-eminences, powers, authority, and privileges, the consuls, vice consuls, and agents of His Most Christian Majesty, or the United States, reciprocally shall participate therein, agreeably to the terms stipulated by the second, third, and fourth articles of the treaty of amity and commerce, concluded between His Most Christian Majesty and the United States. ARTICLE XVI. The ratification of the present convention shall be given in proper form and exchanged on both sides, within the space of six months, or sooner if possible. In faith whereof, we, the underwritten, Ministers Plenipotentiaries of His Most Christian Majesty, and the United States of North America, have signed the present convention, and have thereto affixed the seal of our arms. Done at Versailles, the 29th of July, one thousand seven hundred and eightyfour. GRAVIER DE VERGENNES. B. FRANKLIN. * * * * * TO COUNT DE MERCY ARGENTEAU. Passy, July 30th, 1784. Sir,