The New York Journal, And Daily Patriotic Register

IN CONGRESS

Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 27, 1788.

LETTER from the honorable John Jay, Esq. Secretary for foreign affairs, dated the 17th of this month, enclosing a copy of an act of his most Christian Majesty's Council of State, for the encouragement of the commerce of France with the United States of America, passed the twenty-ninth of December, 1787, together with a copy of a letter on the subject of it, from his Majesty's Comptroller-general of Finance, to the hon. Mr. Jefferson, dated on the same day, was received and read—and an order taken, that the said enclosures be published by the authority of this board.

Extract from the minutes,
CHARLES BIDDLE, Sec.

Lettre de M. Lambert, conseiller d'Etat & au conseil royal de Finance & de commerce, controleur general des Finances, a M. Jefferson, ministre plenipotentiaire des Etats Unis d'Amerique pres de Sa Majeste Tres-Chretienne.

Versailles, 29 Decembre, 1787.

J'ai l'honneur, Monsieur, de vous envoyer une copie de l'arret qui vient d'etre rendu au conseil pour l'encouragement du commerce des Etats-Unis de l'Amerique en France. Je vous en ferai passer un certain nombre d'exemplaires, aussitot qu'il sera imprimé.

Vous y verrez que plusieurs faveurs considerables, qui n'avoient point encore ete promises au commerce Americain, ont ete ajoutees a celles que le roi vous avoit fait announcer par la lettre qui vous a ete ecrite le 22 Octobre de l'annee derniere.

Si dans l'intervalle, quelques droits ont ete percus contre les dispositions de cette lettre, ils seront restitues sur la representation des acquits.

J'ai donne ordre aussi que l'on verifiât les faits au sujet desquels on vous a rapporté que la decision du 24 May 1786, relativement au commerce du Tabac, n'avoit pas eu une entiere execution. Vous pouvez etre assure que, s'il s'en trouve qu'on se soit ecarté des engagemens pris avec la sanction du Roi, il sera scrupuleusement pourvu a y satisfaire.

Vous apprendrez encore avec plaisir que les mesures que j'ai prises pour prevenir l'interruption du commerce des tabacs ont eu un plein succes.

Cette marchandise ne sera point exceptée de celles auxquelles l'entrepot est accordé: La Ferme generale ne jouira d'aucune preference pour l'achat, & les proprietaires seront completement les maitres de leurs speculations, & d'en envoyer leurs tabacs par mer a l'etranger.

Il sera seulement pris des mesures pour prevenir les fraudes auxquelles l'entrepot pourroit servir de pretexte, & les chambres du commerce des ports seront consultées pour que les precautions necessaires ne soient pas incompatibles avec la liberté dont le commerce doit jouir dans ses operations.

Quoique l'approvisionnement actuel de la ferme generale se monte a environ trois années de sa consommation, j'ai engage cette compagnie a continuer d'acheter par année, a compter du 1 Janvier 1788, jusqu'a la fin de son bail, quatorze mille boucauds de tabac, directement apportés dans les ports de France sur batimens Francois ou Americains, & de justifier tous les quatre mois que cet achat sera monté au moins a quatre mille six cens soixante & neuf boucauds.

Quant aux prix, vous avez enti vous meme la necessité de les laisser libres; & cette liberté de prix a ete le premier objet des demandes faites par les negocians Americains & Francois, lors des réclamations qui se sont elevees contre le traité de M. Morris.

La resolution prise alors de forcer les approvisionnemens, qui oign a prix onereux au point qu'il en resulte que la ferme generale est maintenant approvisionnée pour trois années, montre combien l'interet des planteurs & negocians des Etats-Unis de l'Amerique a toujours ete precieux au Roi.

L'arret du conseil joint a cette lettre, & les autres dispositions dont j'ai l'honneur de vous faire part, confirment de plus en plus une verité si propre a resserrer tous les liens qui unissent les deux nations.

J'ai l'honneur d'etre avec un tres-sincère & inviolable attachement, Monsieur, votre tres-humble & tres-obéissant serviteur.

Signé LAMBERT.

LETTER from M. LAMBERT, Counsellor of State and of the Council Royal of Finance and Commerce, Comptroller General of Finance, to Mr. Jefferson, Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States of America at the Court of Versailles.

Versailles, December 29, 1787.

I HAVE the honor, Sir, to send you a copy of an arret passed in council, for the encouraging the commerce of the United States of America in France. I shall furnish you with a number of others as soon as they shall be printed.

You will therein see that several considerable favors, not before promised to the American commerce, have been added to those which the king announced to you, in the letter addressed to you on the 22d of October of the last year.

If in the mean time any duties have been levied, contrary to the intentions of that letter, they shall be repaid on sight of the vouchers.

I have also ordered a verification of the facts whereon it was represented to you, that the decision of the 24th of May, 1786, relative to the commerce of tobacco, had not been fully executed. Be assured that if it shall appear that engagements have been evaded, which were taken under the sanction of the king, effectual provision shall be made for their scrupulous fulfilment.

You will learn also with pleasure that the measures I have taken to prevent the interruption of the commerce of tobacco, have had full success.

This commodity shall not be excepted from among those to which the right of entrepot is given. The farmers general shall have no preference in the purchases, the proprietors shall be perfectly masters of their speculations, and free to export their tobaccoes by sea to foreign countries.

Measures only must be taken to prevent those frauds to which the entrepot might serve as a pretext; and the chambers of commerce for the ports shall be consulted, in order that the precautions necessary for this purpose, may not be in a form incompatible with that liberty which commerce ought to enjoy in its operations.

Although the present stock of the farmers general amounts to above three years consumption, I have engaged that company to continue to purchase yearly from the first day of January, 1788, to the end of their lease, fourteen thousand hogsheads of tobacco, brought direct into the ports of France in French or American bottoms, and to shew at the end of every four months, that their purchases amount to four thousand six hundred and sixty-six hogsheads.

As to the prices, you have been sensible yourself of the necessity of leaving them free; and this freedom of price was the principal object of the applications of the American and French merchants when they complained of the contract of Mr. Morris.

The determination then taken to force the purchases of tobacco, though at high prices, insomuch that the farmers general now find themselves possessed of three years provision, shews that the interest of the planters and merchants of the United States of America have ever been precious to the King.

The arret of council herein enclosed, and the other regulations which I have the honor of communicating to you, are a further confirmation of a truth tending so much to strengthen the bands which unite the two nations.

I have the honor to be, with a sincere and inviolable attachment, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant.

Signed, LAMBERT.

ARRET DU CONSEIL D'ETAT DU ROI.

Pour l'encouragement du Commerce de France avec les Etats-Unis de l'Amerique.

Du 29 Decembre, 1787.

Extrait des Registres du Conseil d'Etat.

LE ROI voulant encourager le commerce de ses sujets avec les etats Unis de l'Amerique, & faciliter entre deux nations des relations reciproquement utiles; Sur le rapport du sieur Lambert, conseiller d'etat, & ordinaire au conseil royal des finances & du commerce, controleur general des finances, Sa Majeste etant en son conseil a ordonné & ordonne ce qui suit:

ARTICLE PREMIER.

LES huiles de baleine, & le permaceti qui proviendront de la peche des citoyens & habitans des Etats Unis de l'Amerique, & seront apportes en France directement sur Vaisseaux Francois ou sur Vaisseaux des Etats Unis, continueront a n'etre soumis qu'a un droit de sept livres dix sous par barrique du poids de cinq cens vingt livres, & les fanons de baleine n'y seront qu'a un droit de six livres treize sous quatre deniers par quintal, avec les dix sous pour livre en us de l'un & l'autre droit, lesquels dix sous pour livre cesseront au dernier Decembre mil sept cent quatre-vingt-dix; Se reservant, a Sa Majeste, d'accorder de plus grandes faveurs aux produits de la peche de la baleine exercee par les Pecheurs des Etats-Unis de l'Amerique, qui seront apportes en France par Vaisseaux Francois ou des Etats Unis, dans le cas ou d'apres les renseignemens que Sa Majeste fait recueillir, elle le jugeroit convenable aux interets des deux nations.

II.

Les autres huiles de poisson, & les poissons secs ou sales provenant de meme de la peche des citoyens & habitans des Etats-Unis, & apportes de meme directement en France par leurs Vaisseaux ou par Vaisseaux Francois, ne payeront autres ni plus forts droits que ceux auxquels sont ou seront soumis, dans le meme cas, les huiles & poissons de la meme espece, provenant de la peche des villes hanseatiques ou des autres nations les plus favorisées.

III.

La fabrication des chandelles ou bougies de permaceti ou blanc de baleine, sera permise en France comme celle des autres chandelles & bougies.

IV.

Les grains, froments, seigle, riz, pois, feves, lentilles, graines, les farines, les arbres & arbustes, les potasses, connues sous le nom de pot-ash and pearl-ash, les peaux & poils de castor, les cuirs en poil, les fourrures and pelleteries, & les bois de construction apportes des Etats Unis directement en France sur Vaisseau Francois ou des Etats Unis, ne seront soumis qu'a un droit d'un huitieme pour cent de la valeur.

V.

Tout navire qui ayant ete construit dans les Etats Unis, sera ensuite vendu en France, ou acheté par des Francois, sera exempt de tous droits, a la charge de justifier que ledit navire a ete construit dans les Etats Unis.

VI.

Les therebentines, brais & goudrons, provenant des Etats Unis de l'Amerique, apportes directement en France par Vaisseaux Francois ou des Etats Unis, ne payeront qu'un droit de deux & demi pour cent de la valeur, & seront les droits, mentionnés, tant au present article qu'en l'article IV. exempts de toute addition de sous pour livre.

VII.

La sortie des armes de toute espece & de la poudre a tirer pour les Etats Unis de l'Amerique, sera toujours permise sur Vaisseaux Francois ou des Etats Unis, en payant, a l'egard des armes, un droit d'un huitieme pour cent de la valeur, & la poudre, en ce cas, sera exempte de tous droits en prenant un acquit a caution.

VIII.

Les papiers de toute espece, meme ceux destines pour tenture & domotierie, les cartons & les livres, seront exempts de tous droits a leur embarquement, pour les Etats Unis, sur Vaisseaux Francois ou des Etats Unis, & jouiront, en ce cas, de la restitution des droits de fabrication sur les papiers & cartons.

IX.

Les droits d'Amirauté sur les Vaisseaux des Etats Unis, entrant ou sortant des ports de France, ne pourront etre percus que conformément a l'edict du mois de juin dernier, pour les cas qui y sont portes, & aux lettres-patentes du 10 janvier 1770, pour les objets auxquels il n'auroit pas ete pourvu par ledit edict; Se reservant au surplus a Sa Majeste, de faire connoitre ses intentions sur la maniere dont ledits droits seront percus, soit a raison du tonnage des Vaisseaux ou autrement; comme aussi de simplifier ledits droits d'amirauté, & de les regler autant qu'il sera possible sur le principe de la reciprocité, aussitot que les travaus ordonnés par Sa Majeste, aux termes de l'article XXVI dudit edict du mois de juin dernier, seront achevés.

X.

L'entrepot de toutes les productions & merchandises des Etats Unis, sera permis pour six mois dans tous les ports de France ouverts au commerce des colonies: & ne sera ledit entrepot soumis qu'a un droit d'un huitieme pour cent.

XI.

Pour favoriser l'exportation des armes, des quincailleries, des bijouteries, des bonneteries, de laine & de coton, des gros lainages, des petites draperies & des etoffes de coton de toute espece, & autres marchandises de fabrique Françoise, qui seront envoyées aux Etats Unis de l'Amerique sur Vaisseaux Francois ou des Etats Unis, Sa Majeste se reserve d'accorder des encouragemens, qui seront incessamment reglez en son Conseil, selon la nature de chacune desdites marchandises.

XII.

Quant aux autres marchandises non denominees au present arret, apportees directement en France des Etats Unis, sur leurs Vaisseaux ou sur Vaisseaux Francois, ou portées de France auxdits Etats-Unis, sur Vaisseaux Francois ou des Etats Unis, & a l'egard de toutes conventions de Commerce quelconques, veut & ordonne Sa Majeste, que les citoyens des Etats-Unis jouissent en France des memes droits, privileges & exemptions que les sujets de Sa Majeste, sauf l'execution des dispositions portées par l'article IX ci-dessus.

XIII.

Sa Majeste accorde aux citoyens & habitans des Etats Unis, tous les avantages dont jouissent ou pourront jouir a l'avenir les Nations etrangeres les plus favorisées dans ses Colonies de l'Amerique, & de plus Sa Majeste assure auxdits citoyens & habitans des Etats-Unis, tous les privileges & avantages dont ses propres sujets de France jouissent ou pourront jouir en Asie & dans les Echelles qui y conduisent, pourvu toutefois que leurs batimens ayent ete armés & expédiés dans un des ports des Etats-Unis.

Mande & ordonne Sa Majeste a Monseigneur le Duc de Penthièvre amiral de France, aux sieurs intendans & commissaires departis dans les provinces, au Commissaire departi pour l'observation des ordonnances dans les admiralités, aux officiers des admiralités, maitres des ports, juges des traictes, & tous autres qu'il appartiendra, de tenir la main a l'execution du present reglement, lequel sera en registre au Greffe desdites admiralités, lu, publié & affiché par tout ou besoin sera.

Fait au Conseil d'Etat du Roi, Sa Majeste y etant, a Versailles le vingt neuf Decembre mil sept cent quatre-vingt-sept.

Signe Le Cte. De LA Luzerne.

An ACT of the King's Council of State, for the encouragement of the commerce of France with the United States of America.

December 29, 1787.

Extract from the records of the Council of State.

THE KING, desirous of encouraging the commerce of his subjects with the United States of America, and of facilitating between the two nations connexions reciprocally useful: having heard the report of the sieur Lambert, counsellor of state, and of the royal council of finance, and commerce, comptroller general of finance, his majesty being in his council, has ordained and does ordain as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Whale-oils and permaceti, the produce of the fisheries of the citizens and inhabitants of the United States of America, which shall be brought into France directly in French vessels or in those of the United States, shall continue to be subjected to a duty only of seven livres ten sous the barrel of five hundred and twenty pounds weight, and whale fins shall be subjected to a duty of only six livres thirteen sous four deniers the quintal with the ten sous per livre on each of the said duties; which ten sous per livre shall cease on the last day of December one thousand seven hundred and ninety; his majesty reserving to himself to grant further favors to the produce of the whale fisheries carried on by the fishermen of the United States of America, which shall be brought into France in French vessels or in those of the United States, if, on the information which his majesty shall cause to be taken thereon, he shall judge it expedient for the interest of the two nations.

II.

The other fish-oils and dry or salted fish, the produce in like manner of the fisheries of the citizens and inhabitants of the United States, and brought also directly into France, in their, or in French vessels, shall not pay any other or greater duties than those to which the oils and fish of the same kind, the produce of the fisheries of the Hanseatic towns, or of other the most favoured nations, are or shall be subject in the same case.

III.

The manufacture of candles and tapers of permaceti, shall be permitted in France, as that of other candles and tapers.

IV.

Corn, wheat, rye, rice, peas, beans, lentils, flax-seed and other seeds, flour, trees and shrubs, pot-ash and pearl-ash, skins, and fur of beaver, raw hides, furs and peltry, and timber brought from the United States directly into France, in French vessels or in those of the United States, shall not be subject but to a duty of one eighth per cent. on their value.

V.

Vessels built in the United States, and sold in France, or purchased by Frenchmen, shall be exempt from all duties, on proof that they were built in the United States.

VI.

Turpentine, tar and pitch, the produce of the United States of America, and brought directly into France in French vessels, or in those of the United States, shall pay only a duty of two and a half per cent. on their value, and the duties mentioned, as well in this as in the fourth article, shall be exempt from all addition of sous per livre.

VII.

The exportation of arms of all sorts, and of gun powder, for the United States of America, shall be always permitted in French vessels, or in those of the United States, paying for the arms a duty of one eighth per cent. on their value; and gunpowder in that case shall be exempt from all duty on giving a cautionary bond.

VIII.

Papers of all sorts, even paper hangings and coloured papers, paste board and books, shall be exempt from all duties, on their embarkation for the United States of America, in French vessels, or in those of the United States, and shall be entitled in that case, to a restitution of the fabrication duties on paper and paste board.

IX.

The admiralty duties on the vessels of the United States entering into, or going out of the ports of France, shall not be levied but conformably with the edict of the month of June last, in the cases therein provided for, and with the letters patent of the tenth of January, 1770, for the objects for which no provision shall have been made by the said edict: his majesty reserving to himself moreover, to make known his intentions as to the manner in which the said duties shall be levied, whether in proportion to the tonnage of the vessels, or otherwise, as also to simplify the said duties of the admiralty, and to regulate them as far as shall be possible on the principles of reciprocity, as soon as the orders shall be completed, which were given by his majesty according to the twenty-sixth article of the said edict of the month of June last.

X.

The entrepot of all the produce and merchandize of the United States, shall be permitted for six months in all the ports of France open to the commerce of the colonies: and the said entrepot shall not be subject but to a duty of one eighth per cent.

XI.

To favour the exportation of arms, hardwares, jewellers wares, hosiery, of wool and cotton, coarse cloths, small drapery and cotton stuffs of every sort, and other merchandizes of French manufacture, which shall be sent to the United States of America in French vessels or in those of the United States, his majesty reserves to himself to grant encouragements, which shall be soon regulated in his council, according to the nature of each of the said merchandizes.

XII.

As to the other merchandizes not denominated in the present arret, brought directly into France from the United States, in their vessels or in French vessels, or carried from France to the said United States, in French vessels or in those of the United States, and with regard to all commercial conventions whatsoever, his majesty wills and ordains that the citizens of the United States shall enjoy in France the same rights, privileges and exemptions as the subjects of his majesty, saving the execution of the dispositions contained in the ninth article above.

XIII.

His majesty grants to the citizens and inhabitants of the United States, all the advantages which the foreign nations the most favoured enjoy, or may hereafter enjoy in his colonies in America, and moreover his majesty assures to the said citizens and inhabitants of the United States, all the privileges and advantages which his own subjects of France enjoy or may enjoy in Asia and in the factories which lead thither, provided however that their vessels shall have been armed and cleared out from one of the ports of the United States.

Orders and commands his majesty to the lord duke of Penthievre admiral of France, to the sieurs intendants and commissaries sent into the provinces, to the commissary sent for the observance of the ordinances in the admiralty jurisdictions, to the officers of the admiralty jurisdictions, masters of the ports, judges of the customs, and all others whom it may concern, to see that the present regulation be carried into execution, the which shall be registered in the clerk's office of the said admiralty jurisdictions, read, published and posted up wherever it shall be necessary.

Done at the King's council of state, his majesty being present, at Versailles the twenty nine December one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven.

Signed Le Cte. De LA Luzerne.

Published by order of Congress.

JOHN JAY.

* This term includes bonnets, stockings, socks, under waistcoats, drawers, gloves, and mittens, as sold by the bonnetiers.