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 *'
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