I am led the more
into this opinion, when I recollect the assiduity exercised for several
months, in the year 1785, by the committee appointed by 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.
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