PARIS, September 8, 1787.
SIR,--I had the honor of addressing your Excellency on the 3d of July,
some observations on the letter of Monsieur de Calonnes, of October
22d, 1786, relative to the commerce of France with the United States of
America; of proposing to it some small amendments, and of expressing a
wish that it might be put into such a form as would secure its
execution. Monsieur de Villedeuil, then Comptroller General was pleased
to inform me that the Farmers General had received orders on the first
of April, 1787, to conform themselves to the decisions notified in that
letter, and that on the 5th of the same month they had given orders not
to levy "sur les _huiles_ et autres produits de la _peche Americane_
que les droits mentionnes dans la lettre." This expression, restrained
to the produce of the _fisheries_, with recent information received
from the American agent at Havre, make me apprehensive that the ancient
duties are still demanded on all other objects, and induce me to repeat
to your Excellency my request that the letter of M. de Calonnes may be
put into such form as will insure its execution and stability. In my
letter of July 25th, I took the liberty of proposing that timely
measures might be adopted for encouraging the direct importation of the
tobacco of the United States into this Kingdom when the order of Bernis
should be expired, and that in the meantime that order might be
strictly executed. A great accumulation of tobaccos in the seaports of
France, and a refusal of the Farmers General to purchase any more, on
the pretence that they have purchased the whole quantity required by
government, excites discontent among the merchants. It is their opinion
that the Farms have not complied with the order of Bernis. As the
government was pleased to desire the publication of that order to
induce the merchants to bring tobaccos here, it would be very
satisfactory to make known also the execution of that order. If the
Farms can verify that they have strictly executed it, all discontent
will cease and the merchants become sensible that the present glut is
occasioned by their importing too much. On the other hand, if it shall
appear, from the list of purchases made by the Farms, or from other
evidence, that they have not purchased the whole quantity on the
conditions prescribed by government, they will doubtless be instructed
to do it, and that too without delay, as the duration of the contract
with Mr. Morris, and of the order of Bernis, formed on that, will soon
expire.
A parcel of gazettes and magazines sent to me from America, for my own
use, and detained in the syndic chamber, obliges me to trouble your
Excellency for an order for their delivery.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and
respect, your Excellency's most obedient, and most humble servant.