When M. de Calonne first agreed to reduce the duties to what he
has declared, I had great hopes the commodity could bear them, and
that it would become a medium of commerce between France and the United
States. I must confess, however, that my expectations have not been
fulfilled, and that but little has come here as yet. This induces me
to fear, that it is so poor an article, that any duty whatever will
suppress it. Should this take place, and the spirit of emigration once
seize those people, perhaps an abolition of all duty might then come too
late to stop, what it would now easily prevent. I fear there is danger
in the experiment; and it remains for the wisdom of his Majesty and his
ministers to decide, whether the prospect of gain to the revenue, or
establishing a national fishery, may compensate this danger. If the
government should decide to retain the duty, I shall acquiesce in it
cheerfully, and do every thing in my power to encourage my countrymen
still to continue their occupation.
The actual session of our several legislatures would render it
interesting to forward immediately the regulations proposed on our
commerce; and the expiration of the order of Bernis, at the close of
this month, endangers a suspension and derangement in the commerce of
tobacco, very embarrassing to the merchants of the two countries.
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