government to
investigate the objects of commerce of the two countries, and to report
the encouragements of which it was susceptible; the result of that
investigation, which his Majesty's Comptroller General did me the
honor to communicate, in a letter of the 22nd of October, 1786, stating
therein the principles which should be established for the future
regulation of that commerce, and particularly distinguishing the article
of whale-oils by an abatement of the duties on them for the present,
and a promise of farther abatement after the year 1790; the thorough
re-investigation with which Monsieur de Lambert honored this subject
when the letter of 1786 was to be put into the form of an _Arret_; that
_Arret_ itself, bearing date the 29th of December last, which ultimately
confirmed the abatements of duty present and future, and declared
that his Majesty reserved to himself to grant other favors to that
production, if, on further information, he should find it for the
interest of the two nations; and finally, the letter in which Monsieur
de Lambert did me the honor to enclose the _Arret_, and to assure me,
that the duties which had been levied on our whale-oils, contrary to the
intention of the letter of 1786, should be restored. On a review, then,
of all these circumstances, I cannot but presume, that it has not
been intended to reverse, in a moment, views so maturely digested, and
uniformly pursued; and that the general expressions of the _Arret_ of
September the 28th had within their contemplation the nations of Europe
only. This presumption is further strengthened by having observed, that
in the treaties of commerce, made since the epoch of our independence,
the _jura gentis amicissimcae_ conceded to other nations, are expressly
restrained to those of the 'most favored European nation': his Majesty
wisely foreseeing that it would be expedient to regulate the commerce of
a nation, which brings nothing but raw materials to employ the industry
of his subjects, very differently from that of the European nations,
who bring mostly what has already passed through all the stages of
manufacture.

On these circumstances, I take the liberty of asking information from
your Excellency, as to the extent of the late _Arret_: and if I have not
been mistaken in supposing it did not mean to abridge that of December
the 29th, I would solicit an explanatory _Arret_, to prevent the
misconstruction of it, which will otherwise take place. I