Gazette Of The United States

LONDON, March 28.
FRENCH COMMERCE.

The Committee of Agriculture and commerce in France have proposed to the National Assembly the following Decree relative to the privileges of the East India Company, which was ordered to be printed.

The National Assembly, considering that the liberty of the sea is the universal tie of nations; that shackles on commerce tend to check genius, and throw a damp upon industry; that the system of monopoly, while it gives strength to a small part of the body politic, leaves the greatest part torpid and inert; decree as follows;

I. The exclusive privileges of commerce to India and China, granted to a company by the Arrets of Council of the 14th of April 1785, and the 27th of September 1786, are hereby revoked.

II. From henceforth every Citizen of France shall have free liberty to trade to India, China, and all other places, contained in the exclusive privileges of the company, without the necessity of any passport or permission, provided always the Ordinances and Edicts of the Admiralty be attended to.

III. All vessels employed in trading to India, China, and other countries beyond the Cape of Good Hope, shall, by a pass, certify their return at Port L'Orient.

IV. All commodities of the growth of India and China shall be liable to a tax of five per cent. ad valorem; and those of the growth of the Isles of France and Bourbon, to a tax of four per cent.

V. The India Company shall be exempted from such tax on all commodities and merchandize lying in the Company's warehouse at L'Orient; and also on those merchandizes imported from India on the account of the Company.