It was become tolerably
evident, at the date of this letter, that the terms offered to the
_Nantuckois_ would not produce their emigration to Dunkirk; and that it
would be safest, in every event, to offer some other alternative, which
might prevent their acceptance of the British offers. The obvious one
was, to open the ports of France to their oils, so that they might still
exercise their fishery, remaining in their native country, and find a
new market for its produce, instead of that which they had lost. The
article of whale-oil was, accordingly, distinguished in the letter of
M. de Calonne, by an immediate abatement of duty, and promise of further
abatement, after the year 1790. This letter was instantly sent
to America, and bid fair to produce there the effect intended, by
determining the fishermen to carry on their trade from their own homes,
with the advantage only of a free market in France, rather than remove
to Great Britain, where a free market and great bounty were offered
them. An _Arret_ was still to be prepared, to give legal sanction to the
letter of M. de Calonne.
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