e freely, and communicated fully,
knowing I was in a public character. I could, however, only prepare a
disposition to meet our oil merchants. On the article of tobacco, I was
more in possession of my ground; and put matters into a train for
inducing their government to draw their tobaccos directly from the
United States, and not, as heretofore, from Great Britain. I am now
occupied with the new ministry here, to put the concluding hand to the
new regulations for our commerce with this country, announced in the
letter of Monsieur de Calonnes, which I sent you last fall. I am in
hopes, in addition to those, to obtain a suppression of the duties on
tar, pitch and turpentine, and an extension of the privileges of
American _whale_ oil, to their _fish_ oils in general. I find that the
quantity of cod-fish oil brought to L'Orient, is considerable. This
being got off hand (which will be in a few days) the chicaneries and
vexations of the Farmers on the article of tobacco, and their elusions
of the order of Bernis, call for the next attention. I have reasons to
hope good dispositions in the new ministry towards our commerce with
this country. Besides endeavoring, on all occasions, to multiply the
points of contact and connection with this country, which I consider as
our surest mainstay under every event, I have had it much at heart to
remove from between us every subject of misunderstanding or irritation.
Our debts to the King, to the Officers, and the Farmers, are of this
description. The having complied with no part of our engagements in
these, draws on us a great deal of censure, and occasioned a language
in the Assemblee des Notables, very likely to produce dissatisfaction
between us. Dumas being on the spot in Holland, I had asked of him some
time ago, in confidence, his opinion of the practicability of
transferring these debts from France to Holland, and communicated his
answer to Congress, pressing them to get you to go over to Holland, and
try to effect this business. Your knowledge of the ground, and former
successes, occasioned me to take this liberty without consulting you,
because I was sure you would not weigh your personal trouble against
public good. I have had no answer from Congress; but hearing of your
journey to Holland, have hoped that some money operations had led you
there. If it related to the debts of this country, I would ask a
communication of what you think yourself at liberty to communicate, as
it mi