Paris, October 23, 1788.
Sir,—I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency on the subject of the Arret which has lately appeared for prohibiting the importation of whale oil and spermaceti, the produce of foreign fisheries. This prohibition being expressed in general terms, seems to exclude the whale oils of the United States of America, as well as of the nations of Europe. The uniform disposition, however, which his majesty and his ministers have shown to promote the commerce between France and the United States, by encouraging our productions to come hither, and particularly those of our fisheries, induces me to hope that these were not within their view at the passing of this Arret. I am led the more into this opinion, when I recollect the assiduity employed for several months, in the year 1785, by the committee appointed by government to investigate the objects of commerce of the two countries, and to report the encouragement of which it was susceptible. The result of that investigation, which his Majesty's Comptroller General did me the honor to communicate in a letter of the 22d of October, 1786, stating therein the principles which should be established for the future regulation of that commerce, and particularly distinguishing the article of whale oils by an abatement of the duties on them for the present, and a promise of farther abatement after the year 1790. The thorough re-investigation with which Monsieur de Lambert honored this subject, when the letter of 1786 was to be put into the form of an Arret, that Arret itself bearing date the 29th of December last, which ultimately confirmed the abatement of duty, present and future, and Hord declared that his Majesty reserved himself to grant other favors to that production, if, on further information, he shall find it for the interest of the two nations;—and finally, the letter in which M. Lambert did me the honor to enclose the Arret, and to assure me that the duties which had been levied on our whale oils contrary to the intention of our letter of 1786, should be restored. On a review of all these circumstances, I cannot but presume that it has not been intended to reverse in a moment views so maturely digested and uniformly pursued; and that the general expressions of the Arret of September the 28th, had within their contemplation the nations of Europe only. This presumption is further strengthened by having observed that in the treaties of commerce, made since the epoch of our independence, the jura gentis amici form conceded to other nations, are expressly restrained to those of the most favored European nations: his Majesty wisely foreseeing that it would be expedient to regulate the commerce of a nation, which brings nothing but raw materials to employ the industry of his subjects, very differently from that of the European nations, who bring mostly what has already passed through all the stages of manufacture. On these considerations, I take the liberty of asking information from your Excellency as to the intent of the late Arret; and if I have not been mistaken in supposing it did not mean to abridge that of December 29th, I would solicit an explanatory Arret , to prevent the misconstructions of it which will otherwise take place. It is much to be desired, too, that this explanation could be given as soon as possible, in order that it may be handed out with the Arret of September 28th. Great alarm will otherwise be spread among the merchants and adventurers in the fisheries; who, confiding in the stability of regulations, which his Majesty's wisdom had so long and well matured, have embarked their fortunes in speculations in this branch of business. The importance of the subject to one of the principal members of our Union, induces me to attend with great anxiety a re-assurance from your Excellency that no change has taken place in his Majesty's views on this subject; and that his dispositions to multiply, rather than diminish the combinations of interest between the two people, continue unaltered.
Commerce is slow in changing its channel. That between this country and the United States is as yet but beginning, and this beginning has received some checks. The Arret in question would be a considerable one, without the explanations I have the honor to ask. I am persuaded that a continuation of the dispositions which have been hitherto manifested towards us, will ensure effects, political and commercial, of value to both nations.
I have had too many proofs of the friendly interest your Excellency is pleased to take in whatever may strengthen the bands and connect the views of the two countries, to doubt your patronage of the present application, or to pretermit any occasion of repeating assurances of those sentiments of high respect and esteem with which I have the honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient, and most humble servant.
[TO MR. SHORT.]
Paris, November 2, 1788.
Dear Sir,— * * * * *
Our news from America is to the beginning of October. Pennsylvania had elected its two Senators for the new government, Robert Morris and a Mr. McCay. Morris had an arrival from China worth £150,000. An ill-understanding between Mr. Adams and Mr. Hancock, both proposed as Vice-Presidents, and every State likely to bring forward a candidate of their own, in which case, you know, the Senate will choose from among those possessing the greatest number of votes, if there be an equality of votes. A general hail storm about the 26th of August has done great mischief from New Hampshire to Virginia. It occasioned the price of tobacco there immediately to rise to 30s. The King of England has for some time been at death's door. His disease is dropsical, tending to the head. A perpetual delirium, with rare and doubtful lucid intervals, makes it strongly believed to be a regular hydrocephalus, in which case the skilful pronounce either his death or insanity. The parliament was to meet yesterday on its prorogation, and it was under contemplation that they should establish a regency. Here, the Notables are in session, but they have deservedly lost their popularity. It is evident that the court wishes to give to the tiers etat a double number of votes. The bureau of Monsieur voted this by a majority of one voice only. The other bureau rejected it almost unanimously. There is a great outcry against this, and the friends of the people and of justice will try the question over again in an assembly of all the bureaux—but there seem no hopes of success. This is the first event which has shown that there will be a combination of the nobles and clergy, and consequently it will throw the people decidedly into the scale of the King. This may end in liberty or despotism, at his will. I think that both he and his ministry are in favor of liberty, and that having twenty-three millions and a half of the people on their side, they will call the other half million to order, and show them that instead of being two thirds of the nation, they are but the forty-eighth.