PLK'.LISHI D WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN F F.N NO, Nn. 69. HIGII-STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA
[No. 13, of Vol. lII.]
R E
OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE,
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE
COD and WHALE FISHERIES.
[con T.I N U F.D.J
No. VIII.
JVI. JEFFERSON, Minister Plenipotentiary of the
United Stares.
SIR,
AS it is the intention of the King to favor, as much as poflible,
the commerce of the United States, I have the honor to com
municate to you the measures that have been taken on this fubjeft.
Bv a letter of the 9th January, 1784, to the Marquis de la
Fayette, I informed him that instead of two free ports promised
by the treaty with the United States, the King had determined
so them four, which has born done ; and I promised him
that I would dire# my attention to the custom-houses and du
ties which are p' ejudicial to commerce, observing however that this
object demanded long invt {ligations, which are not yet corn
pitted. By another letter I informed him, that his Majesty had
fuppreiTVd the duiies upon the exportation of brandy, and I ex
pe£fed t nis fnpo> eflion woul .1 be ufrful to the American com*
merre; I likewise promised him that the duties of the King
and the admiralty, payable by an American ve(T;l on her arrival
in a French port, should be diminish :d and reduced to a (ingle
duty, and regulated according to the number of masts and draught
of water, an . not by the uncertain estimation of measurement.
This reduttion requires a perfect knowledge o* all the duties paid
in our por s ; and as they aie of various kinds, the statements
which I have ordered o be made are not ready.
You know, fir, the King has appointed a committee for the
particular purpose of examining our commer rial connexions with
the United States, and that the Marquis de la F-ivette has pre
sented a conformable to the ide3s contained in your letter
.to the Count deVtgennes; but you will consider how impru
dent it would be to huzard by a change of fvftem, the product of
a branch of revenue which amounts to twenty-eight millions, up
on an article which i noi of thefirft neceflity—■ after a long dif
rufiion of every means'hat can beat present adopted to encourage
the importation of American tobacco, it has been refoNed not to
break the agreement made with Mr. Morris, but that after the
expiration of th's contrast, no similar one shall be made, wd
that in the mean while, the farmers general should be obliged to
purchase, annually, about fifteen thousand hogsheads of Ameri
can tobacco imported directly from the United States, in French
or American vessels at the fame price, on the fame conditions
■which have been stipulated by the contract with Mr. Morris.
You will remember, fir, that before a regulation could be made
in favor of (he importation of whale oil, the Marquis de
Fayette had taken a particular arrangement with Mr. Sangrain for
Ihe tale of this article, to the amount of eight hundred thousand
"Jivrcs, and that I had granted him palfports in ord.r to render
-♦his firft importation, free from all duties whatsoever. The fame
Mr. Sangrain, afterwards made an agreement with some met
chants of Bollon, to the yearly amount of four hundred thousand
Jivres, to la ft during fix years, for which his Majesty has granted
the fame favors which arc enjoyed by the Hanfe Towns.
This matter having been lately more extensively examined ;
the adminiflration to whom the committee communicated their
wish, agreeable to the Marquis de la Fayette's deman' 1 and your
opinion, entirely to abolish all duties upon oil, have found that
at prefent,they could not consent to it, on account of the engage
ments made with other powers. All that could be done was to
gran', during ten years, to the whale oil, fpermacaeti, and what
ever is comprehended within these denominations, imported from
the United States in French or American vessels, the fame favors,
the fame diminution of duties which ihc Hanfe Towns enjoy.
His Maiefty hopes that the commercial connexions between
the United States and France, will become so considerable as to
engage him to continue the effect of this provisional determina
tion ; and as it has been observed by the committee, that a great
fluty of fabrication has been hitherto piid upon the moll favored
■whale oil, and even upon the national, his Majesty consents to
abolish the duty of fabrication with iefpeft to the whale oil and
fpermacaeri, direttly imported from the United States in French
nr American bottoms, so that this oil and fpermac<cti shall not
J»ay, during ten years, any "ther duty but seven livres ten sols, and
ten sols, perlivre; this last augmentation of ten sols per livre,
shall cease in 1790.
It has also been determined that particular informations be fa
ken concerning the consumption of Carolina nee in France, and
that means be devised to encourage the importation of this ar
ticle.
Representations having been made concerning the considerable
duties laid upon the importation of pot-alh and pearl-afti, also
upon beaver-Huns and hair and raw leather, his Majesty has sup
pressed all duties whatsoever upon thofc articles, if imported of
the growth of the United States in French or American vessels.
He is likewise desirous of encouraging every article of American
fur.
His Majesty has moreover consented to abolish all duties upon
▼nafts, vards, keels for (hips, red cedar, green oak., and in a word,
rll kinds of wood fit for (hip-building imported from ths United
States in French or American veflels.
The committee having; likewise rep r esented that there wasa du.
Tv of five per cent, on the purchase of foreign built (hips, and thai
this riiitv was prejudicial to the sale of American velfels, his ma
yfly has brrn olrafed to exempt from all dutirs, the purchase o;
ihms which shall be proved to be built in the United States.
Great duties having formerly been laid upon all (hrubs, trees
snd feed, his Majesty has abolished these duties, when the above
articles (hall be imported in French or American veflVls.
It having been represented that the State of Virginia had or-
thr arms for her militia to be made in France, an order is
j»?flcd, that the prohibitions which hitherto have prevented the
importation of arms and gunpowder, as well as the duties laid
r:pon these articles when exported by permiflion, shall be abo
lilhrd; and that whenever the United States shall think it ex
t-'-oirnt to export from France, arms, guns and gunpowder, they
< >all have full permiflion, provided iliefe articles are exported in
Frrnch or American veflels, and they lhall be liable only to a ve-
ry <mall dntv, in order to facilitate the calculation of exports.
Lafily, his Majrftv has received with the fame favor, the appli
cations made tothr Committee for the fuDpreflion of the heavy
duues actually paid upon books and papers of all kiuds : The
PORT
Fontainblcau, OElobcr 22, 1786.
Saturday, June i i, 1791-
King abolilhes all these duties when the above articles shall be
exported to the United States in French or American veilels. "
It is with great pleasure, Sir, that I inform you of the dispo
sitions oi hw-Majelty ; they area new tcftimony of his great de
fireto eftabli (h the most intimate commercial conneflions between
the two nations, and ot the favorable attention he will always pay
to any propoial madein thename of the United States of America.
I have the honor of being, with fmcere attachment,
Si r ,
Your most humble, and
Most obedient servant,
P. S. Your nation will undoubtedly receive with plealure, the
information of the facilities which the King has just granted to the
exportation of the wines <<f Bourdeaux, Guienne, and Touraine,
and the suppression of the duties granted by different arrets ot
Council, of which the Marquis de la Fayette will give you notice.
(To be continued.)
FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
O D
ODE VI
N BIDDETH ADIEU, WITH A LAST PIECE OF ADVICE
Joh
to Reviewers.
SALT of the Earth ! Ye stimuli to Fame !
Of rising Genius, kind and bfft Manure !
Ah! can I, can I, without tears, endure
The fad neceflity to name,
And my last, last, adieu, proclaim ?
How doth fad memory, with recurrence vain,
Call up to view past scenes of dear delight ;
Now gone, nay vanifh'd, from my wifhful fight ;
When, reckiefs of the filthy joy of gain,
I did, with micicle toil, and woful pain,
Much weariness and sweat of brain,
Sing forth, to you, the monitory strain !
Now, as wiih swan-like notes, my kind monition's fail,
Let me relate one much improving tale.
THE TALE.
An Irishman, with body half o'er-bent,
On all fides looking, thro'a market went. —•
It happen'd, that as Teague proceeded,
Quite undetermined what he greatest needed,
He saw paraded, with enjoyment big,
Full many a heavy hog, and roasting pig.
With cautious touch, on one he placed hii hand,
And foftly uttered forth this kind demand—
" If I should bear you to my home away,
" How long, confin'd, in prison must I stay ?"
Scar c was the question ended, but, " squeak ! squeak !"
The Pig affrighten'd crics.
44 A ha, a ha, a week, a week"
The Irishman replies—
44 Ifthatisall I'll off a couple bear,
44 Ana by St. Patrick ! flay two weeks, my dear."
*********
Now I expect, with deep bent brow,
To fee your countenances lower ;
And hear you a(k— 41 Why whence, and where, and how,
44 Can this viletale, on us, improvement shower ?"
Yes, I cxpett that each will tell his brother ;
And this respond to that and thdt to t'other—
44 I can't fee how this ftcry will apply—
44 No, on my foul, I can't—not /—nor I; nor /.'*
My dear, dear friends, to lead you thro' the wood
Sav, don't you think that John is very good ?
Well then—why this isall that's meant—
It's true, the story don't apply at all—
But then, if with the wisdom John hath to you lent,
You hard should study, tho' your wit be small,
I do not doubt but on the sense you'd fall.
This is the meaning—as you write for pav,
Tho greatest nonsense swell the impartial page,
Still write, remark, teview, and dash away,
The joy, and wonder, of a flupid age.
life other's wisdom ; if you can, sense shew ;
Hut, if you can't, by all means, fltll review.
Savannah, (Georgia) May 19.
Addreft of the Citizens of Savannah , and the
Inhabitants of its Vicinity,
To the Prejidcnt of the United States.
SIR,
\\JKEN, having accom pliflied the great ob
* * jetfts of a war, marked in its progress with
events that astonished while they inftrutfted the
world, yon had again returned to the domeflic
enjoyments of life, to which you were known to
be io strongly attached, there was little proba
bility, in the common order of things, that the
people of Georgia, however ardently they mio-lit
defne, fnould ever be indulged, the happineft!
of 3 personal interview with you—but i'ummon
ed again, as you were, from your retirement, by
the united voice and the obvious welfare of your
country,you did not hesitate t > furnifhone more
proof that, in companion to the great duties of
social life, all objects of a private nature are with
you but iecpndary considerations : And to this
your ruling palfion of love for your country it is
rhat we owe the opportunity now afforded of
congratulating you on your fafe arrival in the
city of Savannah—an office we the committee,
49
De COLONNE
E S.
JOHN.
[Whole No. 2 2 I.]
under the warmed impreflions of fenfibiiity and
attachment, execute in the name and behalf of a
refpeetable and grateful number of citizens.
History furnifhes instances of some eminently
qualified for ihe field, and of others endued with
talents adequate to the intricate affairs of State ;
but you, Sir, have enriched the annals of Ameri
ca with a proof, to be sent abroad to all mankind,
that, however rare the alfociation, the virtues
and talents of soldier and republican statesmen
will sometimes dwell together, and both charac
ters derive additional lultre from a subserviency
to the precepts of Religion.
Roused by oppreflion at home, and inspired by
example from America, the people of enlighten
ed nations in Europe are now beginning to allerc
their rights : And it is observable that those
brave men, the fubjedls of foreign powers, who
were votaries to our cause, and companions' in
your victories, are always found foremoft in the
struggle for just and equal government.
You have now, Sir, an opportunity of viewing
a State which, from its exposed situation, has
been peculiarly affedted by the calamities of war,
but which, under the influence of a happy go
vernment, will rife fact ro that rank of prosperi
ty and importance to which her natural advan
tages so justly entitle her, and which will enable
her to reflect back upon the union all the bene
fits derived from it.
We fliall always take a deep concern, in com
mon with the other citizens of the United States,
in whatever regards your personal welfare and
happiness. We make it our prayer to Almighty
God that you may be long continued to your
country her Ornament and Father, and that it
may be more and more exemplified in you. Sir,
that to know how to conquer, and to improve the
advantages of conquelt into blessings to a com
munity, are faculties sometimes bellowed on the
fame mortal.
In the name and behalf of a number of
citizens of Savannah, and its Vicinitv,
convened for the Reception of the
Preftdent,
N. W. JONES, 1
LACHN. M'INTOSH, |
JOSEPH CLAY, The Commhtee
JOHN HOUSTOUN, |
JOSEPH HABERSHAM, J
THE PRESIDENT': ANSWER.
To the Citizens oj Savannah, and the Inha
bitants of its Vicinity.
GENTLEMEN,
I AM extremely happy in the occasion now af
forded me to express my sense of your good
ness, and to declare the sincere and afFedtionate
gratitude which it inspires.
The retrofpedl of paftfcenes, as it exhibits the
virtuous character of our country, enhances the
happiness of the present hour, and gives the nioffc
pleasing anticipation of progreflive prosperity.
The individual fatisfa&ion to be derived from
this grateful reflexion niuft be enjoyed in a pe
culiar degree by the deserving citizens of Geor
gia—a State no less distinguished by its services
than by its fufFerings in the cause of freedom.
That the city of Savannah may largely par
take of every public benefit which our free and
equal government can dispense, and that the
happiness of its vicinity may reply to the bell
wilhes of its inhabitants, is my sincere prayer.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Charleston, May 28.
A T a meeting of the citizens and inhabitants
in the City-Hall, on Friday the 27th inrt.
.Amold 11s Vanderhorft, £fq, was recjuefted to
take the chair, aud Mr. David Alexander to adt
as feci etary, when the following resolutions were
adopted:
Whereas the establishment of a branch of the
National Bank in this city, would be of great
and general advantage to'every class of inhabi
tants in the ilrtte: Therefore,
hefolved, 1 hat it be recommended to all per
sons to lubferibe for a share or shares in the pro
pol'ed National Bank, and to the fubferibers to
use their endeavors to procure the establishment
of a branch thereof in this city, and that the un
der-named gentlemen, to wit, Mefl'rs. Nathaniel
Iluflell, i hoinas Stewart, Robert Hazlehurft,
r.dward Darrell, William Crafts, Joseph Vefey,
IMvid Kamfay, Daniel Hall, John Edwards, James
1 heus, Samuel Smith, William Thayer, and John
*'