PARIS, July 2, 1787.
I am sorry, my dear Sir, that your interest should be affected by the
ill behavior of Barrois; but when you consider the facts, you will be
sensible that I could not have indulged his indolence further without
increasing the injury to a more punctual workman. Stockdale, of London,
had asked leave to print my Notes. I agreed to it, and promised he
should have the plate of the map as soon as it should be corrected, and
the copies struck off for you and myself. He thereupon printed his
edition completely in three weeks. The printer, who was to strike off
two hundred and fifty maps for me, kept the plate but five days. It was
then delivered to Barrois, with notice that it could not be left longer
with him than should suffice to strike off his number. Repeated
applications for it by Mr. Short and my servant were only answered by
repeated promises and times of delivery fixed, no one of which was
performed. When I returned, he had been possessed of the plate upwards
of two months. I was astonished and confounded to be told it had not
been sent to Stockdale, and that his edition had been lying dead on his
hands three months. I sent to Barrois the very day of my return, to let
him know, that justice to Stockdale did not permit me to defer sending
him the plate any longer, yet I would wait five days, at the end of
which he must deliver me the plate, whether his maps were done or not.
I received no answer, but waited ten days. I then sent for the plate.
The answer was, he was not at home. I sent again the next day. Answer,
he was not at home. I sent the third day. Not at home. I then ordered
the messenger to go back, and wait till he should come home. This
produced an answer of two lines, _qu'il alloit soigner son ouvrier_? I
wrote him word in return to deliver the plate instantly. This I think
was on Saturday or Sunday. He told the messenger he would let me have
it the Thursday following. I took patience, and sent on the Friday, but
telling the messenger if he refused to deliver it, to inform him I
would be plagued no more with sending messages, but apply to the
police. He then delivered it, and I sent it off immediately to London.
He had kept it three months, of which three weeks were after my return.
I think, Sir, you will be satisfied that justice to Stockdale, justice
to myself who had passed my word for sending on the plate, and
sensibility to the shuffling conduct of Barrois, permitted me to act no
otherwise. But no matter. Let his ill behavior make no odds between you
and me. It will affect your interest, and that suffices to determine me
to order back the plate as soon as Stockdale has done with it. He will
not require more days than Barrois months, so that it will be here
before you can want it. But it must never go into Barrois' hands again,
nor of any person depending on him, or under his orders. The workman
who struck off the two hundred and fifty for me seems to have been
diligent enough. Either he, or any other workman you please of that
description, shall have it to strike what number you wish. I forgot to
observe, in its proper place, that when I was in the midst of my
difficulties, I did myself the honor of calling on you, as well to have
that of asking after your health on my return as of asking your
assistance to obtain the plate. Unluckily you were gone to Versailles,
so I was obliged to proceed as well as I could. It is no excuse for
Barrois to say he could not get his Imprimeur to proceed. He should
have applied to another. But as to you, it shall be set to rights in
the manner I have before stated. Accept my regret that you were in the
hands of so undeserving a workman, and one who placed me under the
necessity of interrupting a work which interested you. Be assured, at
the same time, of the sincerity of those sentiments of esteem and
respect with which I have the honor to be, dear Sir, your most
obedient, and most humble servant.
---------------------
[_The following observations appear to have been addressed to the Count
de Montmorin, about the 6th of July, 1787._]
Observations on the letter of Monsieur de Calonnes to Monsieur
Jefferson, dated Fontainebleau, October 22, 1786.
A committee was appointed, in the course of the last year, to take a
view of the subjects of commerce which might be brought from the United
States of America, in exchange for those of France, and to consider
what advantages and facilities might be offered to encourage that
commerce. The letter of Monsieur de Calonnes was founded on their
report. It was conclusive as to the articles on which satisfactory
information had been then obtained, and reserved, for future
consideration, certain others, needing further inquiry. It is proposed
now to review those unfinished articles, that they may also be
comprehended in the _Arret_, and the regulations on this branch of
commerce, be rendered complete.
1. The letter promised to diminish the "Droits du Roi et d'amirauté,"
payable by an American vessel entering into a port of France, and to
reduce what should remain into a single duty, which shall be regulated
by the draught of the vessel, or her number of masts. It is doubted
whether it will be expedient to regulate the duty in either of these
ways. If by the draught of water, it will fall unequally on us as a
nation; because we build our vessels sharp-bottomed, for swift sailing,
so that they draw more water than those of other nations, of the same
burthen. If by the number of masts, it will fall unequally on
individuals; because we often see ships of one hundred and eighty tons,
and brigs of three hundred and sixty. This, then, would produce an
inequality among individuals, of six to one. The present principle is
the most just, to regulate by the burthen. It is certainly desirable,
that these duties should be reduced to a single one. Their names and
numbers perplex and harass the merchant more than their amount; subject
him to imposition, and to the suspicion of it when there is none. An
intention of general reformation in this article, has been accordingly
announced, with augmentation as to foreigners. We are in hopes, that
this augmentation is not to respect us; because it is proposed as a
measure of reciprocity, whereas, in some of our States, no such duties
exist, and in the others, they are extremely light; because we have
been made to hope a diminution, instead of augmentation; and because
this distinction cannot draw on France any just claims from other
nations; the _Jura gentis amicissimcæ_, conferred by her late treaties,
having reference expressly to the nations of Europe only; and those
conferred by the more ancient ones, not being susceptible of any other
interpretation, nor admitting a pretension of reference to a nation
which did not then exist, and which has come into existence under
circumstances, distinguishing its commerce from that of all other
nations. Merchandise received from them, takes employment from the poor
of France; ours gives it; theirs is brought in the last stage of
manufacture; ours in the first; we bring our tobaccos to be
manufactured into snuff, our flax and hemp into linen and cordage, our
furs into hats, skins into saddlery, shoes and clothing; we take
nothing till it has received the last hand.
2. Fish oils. The Hanseatic treaty was the basis on which the
diminution of duty on this article was asked and granted. It is
expressly referred to as such, in the letter of Monsieur de Calonnes.
Instead, however, of the expression, "huile et graisse de baleine et
d'autres poissons," used in that treaty, the letter uses the terms,
"huiles de baleine, spermaceti, et tout ce qui est compris sous ces
dénominations." And the Farmers have availed themselves of this
variation, to refuse the diminution of duty on the oils of the _vache
marine_, _chein de mer_, _esturgeon_, and other fish. It is proposed,
therefore, to re-establish in the _Arret_, the expression of the
Hanseatic treaty, and to add, from the same treaty, the articles
"baleine coupée et fanon de baleine."
The letter states these regulations as finally made by the King. The
merchants, on this supposition, entered into speculations. But they
found themselves called on for the old duties, not only on other fish
oils, but on the whale oil. Monsieur de Calonnes always promised that
the _Arret_ should be retrospective to the date of the letter, so as to
refund to them the duties they had thus been obliged to pay. To this,
attention is prayed in forming the _Arret_. His Majesty having been
pleased, as an encouragement to the importation of our fish oils, to
abolish the _Droits de fabrication_, it is presumed that the purpose
announced, of continuing those duties on foreign oils, will not be
extended to us.
3. Rice. The duty on this is only seven and a half deniers the quintal,
or about one-quarter per cent. on its first cost. While this serves to
inform a government of the quantities imported, it cannot discourage
that importation. Nothing further, therefore, is necessary on this
article.
4. Pot-asse. This article is of principal utility to France, in her
bleacheries of linen, glass works, and soap works; and the potash of
America, being made of green wood, is known to be the best in the
world. All duty on it was therefore abolished by the King. But the city
of Rouen levies on it a duty of twenty sols the quintal, which is very
sensible in its price, brings it dearer to the bleacheries near Paris,
to those of Beauvais, Laval, etc., and to the glass works, and
encourages them to give a preference to the potash or soude of other
nations. This is a counteraction of the views of the King, expressed in
the letter, which it is hoped will be prevented.
5. Turpentine, tar and pitch, were not decided on, on the former
occasion. Turpentine (_terebenthine_) pays ten sols the quintal, and
ten sols the livre, making fifteen sols the quintal; which is ten per
cent. on its prime cost. Tar (_goudron brai gras_) pays eight livres
the _leth_ of twelve barrels, and ten sols the livre, amounting to
twenty sols the barrel; which is twelve and a half per cent. on its
prime cost. Pitch (_brai sec_) pays ten sols the quintal, and ten sols
the livre, making fifteen sols the quintal; which is twenty per cent.
on its prime cost. Duties of from ten to twenty per cent. on articles
of heavy carriage, prevent their importation. They eat up all the
profits of the merchant, and often subject him to loss. This has been
much the case with respect to turpentine, tar and pitch, which are
principal articles of remittance for the State of North Carolina. It is
hoped, that it will coincide with the views of government, in making
the present regulations, to suppress the duties on these articles,
which, of all others, can bear them best.