PARIS, August 1, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--I am to thank you for the laws and newspapers sent me by the
M. de Chateaufort. Your favor of April 4th, has also been duly
received. I am happy to find that the idea of diverting the rice trade
from England to France is thought to be impracticable. A journey which
I made from Marseilles lately, in Lombardy, in order to acquire
information relative to their rice, has corrected the misinformation
which the retailers of rice in this capital had given me. I am
satisfied that the rice of Lombardy is of a different species from
yours. The exportation of it in the husk being prohibited, I could not
bring with me but as much as my pockets would hold, which I have sent
to your society of agriculture. It may serve to raise seed from. I have
taken measures for a couple of sacks, but I do not make sure of them,
nor rely so much on their quality as on the parcel I brought myself. I
have written so fully on this subject to Mr. Drayton, that, without
repeating it here, I will take the liberty of referring you to that
letter. I have endeavored to prevail upon the merchants in this country
to engage in the rice trade. I enclose you the proposals of Messrs.
Berard & Co., for that effect. They are a very solid house. One of them
resides here. Their principal establishment is at L'Orient, where they
would prefer receiving consignments of rice; but they will receive them
anywhere else, and should suppose Honfleur the best port, and next to
that Bordeaux. You observe they will answer bills to the amount of
twelve or fifteen livres the French quintal, if accompanying the bill
of lading, and will pay the surplus of the proceeds as soon as
received. If they sell at Havre or Rouen, they may receive ready money,
and of course pay the balance soon; if they sell at Paris, it must be
on a year's credit (because this will be to the retailers). The money,
therefore, will be received later, but it will be at least six livres
the quintal more; a difference well worth waiting for. I know of no
mercantile house in France of surer bottom.
Affairs in Europe seem to threaten war. Yet I think all may be settled
without it. The Emperor disapproves of the concessions made to the
Netherlands by their governors, but called for deputies to consult on
the matter. They have sent deputies without power to yield a jot, and
go on arming. From the character of their Sovereign, it is probable he
will avail himself of this deputation to concede their demands. The
affairs of Holland are so thoroughly embroiled, that they would
certainly produce a war if France and England were in a condition for
it. But they are not, and they will, therefore, find out some
arrangement either perpetual or temporary to stop the progress of the
civil war begun in that country. A spirit of distrust in the government
here, and confidence in their own force and rights, is pervading all
ranks. It will be well if it awaits the good which will be worked by
the provincial assemblies, and will content itself with that. The
parliament demand an assembly of the States; they are supported by the
ministers of the nation, and the object of asking that assembly is to
fix a constitution, and to limit expenses. They refuse to register any
edict for a new tax. This has so far lessened the credit of government,
that the purse of the money lender is shut. They speak here as freely
as Junius wrote. Yet it is possible that in the event of war, the
spirit of the nation would rise to support a cause which is approved--I
mean that of Holland.
I have had the Messrs. Le Coulteux sounded on the subject of lending
money. I had before tried the same thing with others. But nothing is to
be obtained for persons on our side the water. They have no confidence
in our laws. Besides, all the money men are playing deeply in the
stocks of the country. The spirit of "_agiotage_" (as they call it) was
never so high in any country before. It will probably produce as total
deprivation of morals as the system of law did. All the money of France
is now employed in this, none being free even for the purposes of
commerce, which suffers immensely from this cause.
Before I conclude, I must add, on the subject of rice, that, what
cannot arrive here a month before the carême, would miss its sale, and
must therefore go to another market. The merchant, however, to whom it
is consigned, will be competent to this measure whenever he finds it a
necessary one. I beg leave to be presented very respectfully to Mrs.
Izard and your family, and to assure you of the sincere sentiments of
esteem and attachment with which I am, dear Sir, your friend and
servant.