Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

The following is translated from a Paris paper of the 28th of November, received at the office of the U.S. Gazette.

PARIS, November 28.

The following letter is addressed by the minister of the interior, to the members of the councils of commerce established in the seaports.

'The time has arrived, citizens, when commerce must resume its activity and receive all the development of which it is susceptible.

'It is the intention of government to hasten it by every means in the power of the administration: but their intentions would be frustrated, if any hazardous and precipitate measures should obstruct that commerce, the efforts of which they wish to second.

'It is important then to obtain such knowledge and information as may direct the administration; and it is for this purpose, that I apply to you to know your opinion relative to certain objects concerning commerce and interesting to the government on this subject.

'You are aware that ten years of revolution have changed our habits: have created new wants and formed new relations among the people. You will judge what is necessary, in our present situation, to study, and what principles and rules it will be proper to adopt for the direction of our conduct.

'To come more speedily and more directly to the point, I hasten to fix your attention upon the objects which, to me, appear the most important, and which require the most speedy determination.

'I invite you then to give, to the following questions, answers examined with precision and such as may present a conclusion.

'1st. Do you think it would be beneficial to commerce to re-establish the great companies which formerly existed, such as the India company, the African and Senegal companies, &c.? In case of the affirmative, under what form and upon what conditions would it be proper to revive them?

2d. What changes have taken place in our commercial relations with our American colonies? Does the new order of things, which has been introduced, and the present state of our cultivation require any new measures of administration more adapted to their circumstances?

3d. Are there in our navigation laws relative to foreign vessels, any regulations which tend to obstruct our intercourse with the nations in the North of Europe? What are the most proper means of increasing that intercourse and of rendering it more active?

4th. Does not the state of our commercial navigation require that some measures should be taken to favor maritime expeditions, by giving greater facility to the acquisition and construction of merchant vessels, to the procuring of hands, and the greatest economy in our navigation?

5th. Do the list of duties for 1791, and the laws and regulations which have since been adopted, and which are now in force allow the opportunity for any claim? and upon what are they founded?

6th. What are the obstacles which oppose our commerce in foreign countries, produced by their regulations and their imposts? Point out the countries, the objects and, at the same time, the reasons for opposing them.

7th. What are your ideas as to the most economical means for keeping your harbor in good order, for the direction of the works, and the management of this department?

'These, citizens, are the first points upon which I wish for accurate information, in order to fix the principles of administration which I have to propose to the government.

'You may observe, that among these questions, some are general, embracing the whole commercial interest of the nation, and others are particular and local; you will easily distinguish them, observing, nevertheless, that in order to second the intentions of the government all must aim at the same point, the public good, and the good of commerce in general.'