If it be just to give only the surplus of our commerce to our dearest allies, if they are only to be employed for its prosperity, or that of our cultivators, our workmen, and our colonies, for the advantage of the mother country, we should undoubtedly be very wrong to sacrifice the great interest of our navigation. That of the colonies, it is said, destroys more sailors than it makes, and generally, the Americans do not expect for their own a very rapid increase. It is true, that at this time they hasten towards the interior of the country, whither they are attracted by the rich lands, which requires cultivators. That navigation, besides, will be dearer than is expected. If timber is cheap, it is not so with workmanship, and the rigging is principally imported from Europe. Their sailors are better paid and fed, and their ships do not last as long as ours. If, If, say the Americans, ships are constructed at a cheaper rate, the French will buy some of them, and they will become French property. They affirm that as several other nations navigate at a cheaper rate, we ought not to fear them on that account. If I have ventured to give some ideas on the American trade, I have been encouraged by the Ministers of the King, and still more so by my love and attachment for the United States. These motives, which I have a right to offer, should be an excuse for pretensions on matters which I understand but little; this I have not to reproach myself with. I confess that the least merchant knows more than I do, and if some of my ideas appear just, they should have the greater weight; inasmuch as they are offered by one ignorant of the matter, they do not show to advantage. I do not offer a memorial, I only put together notes which have been required of me, upon some known facts, or some opinions from Americans, which my private relations have enabled me to hear. Whilst we facilitate our exportation for the prosperity of our commerce, of our manufactories, and for the purpose of securing a payment, we favor American importation. It will be necessary that in fostering our navigation, the interest of our merchants be combined with that of our manufactures and of our colonies, for the good of the kingdom. The Ministers of the King will know better than myself how to effect these objects; but there are two reflections which do not require much knowledge. The first is, that in losing time we do ourselves an irreparable injury; the second is, that it is very important that the Minister of the United States, and their Consul, also other American Envoys now in VOL. I.-19 France, should be consulted, and their talents and knowledge render their advice important, and their opinions will have much influence on the disposition of the people of the United States. FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE TO ROBERT MORRIS. Sir, Paris, January 10, 1784. On the 26th of last month I had the honor to address you a letter, enclosing some observations from me to the French Ministry, and answers from them to me, and also giving you an account of some measures which, in my private capacity, I thought it my duty to undertake. I have been much encouraged by your verbal opinion to Colonel Gouvion respecting L'Orient, which I had taken upon myself to recommend for a free port. A duplicate of my despatches, December the 26th, is going in this packet, whereby you may see that in the private applications I make Congress cannot by any means be in the least committed. Since my last letter I have had some conferences with the Ministry, enforcing what I had presented in the memorial. Enclosed you will find an original official letter from M. de Calonne, the Minister of Finance, wherein the affair of the free ports is finally settled, and some other parts of my observations are answered. I beg leave to submit to Congress the propriety of its being published in the newspapers, and for the facility of a translation I enclose a fair copy made out in a more legible hand. LA FAYETTE. FROM ROBERT MORRIS TO JOHN JAY. Office of Finance, September 30, 1784. Sir, I do myself the honor to enclose, for the inspection of Congress, a copy of a letter of the 14th of last month, from the Marquis de la Fayette; and with it I send the originals which were delivered by him to me. The unexampled attention to every American interest which this gentleman has exhibited, cannot fail to excite the strongest emotions in his favor; and we must, at the same time, admire the judgment which he has shewn in the manner of his applications, as well as the industry in selecting materials. There can be little doubt that his interest at his own Court must always prove beneficial to this country while the same cordiality shall continue which now subsists between him and the venerable Plenipotentiary now resident at Passy. I shall not hazard opinions upon the matters which have employed the attention of Monsieur de la Fayette as a negotiator from this country to that which gave him birth. It would be intruding sentiments which will suggest themselves. But while I feel the delicacy, and, perhaps, danger of asking from France the modification or abolition of particular duties, thereby establishing a precedent for similar requests on her part, I hope Congress will pardon a wish prompted by the general interests of commerce, that the statement of all those duties might be translated and published for the government of those who may form expeditions to those different parts now opened to us. I have the honor to be, &c., ROBERT MORRIS. FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE TO ROBERT MORRIS. Sir, Philadelphia, August 14, 1784. Enclosed you will find some letters from M. de Calonne, and also one from the Marshal de Castries, with a return of duties now paid in the French free ports. The whole of which I have the honor to lay before you, and shall be happy in any commands you may have for me on these important matters. I have the honor to be, &c., LA FAYETTE. FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE TO M. DE CALONNE. Paris, January 31, 1784. Sir, In our last conversation I submitted to you some questions of American merchants, of which you took a note; and your favorable disposition for the American commerce, and the quick decisions it produces, have reanimated my hopes. Whilst the English parties are disputing we may repair the delays of which you have so sensibly felt the inconvenience. The four free ports are granted; and you destine the public buildings there to serve as magazines for the Americans. It were much to be wished that neither of the four ports may be deprived of this advantage, and the compensation for the use of these magazines should be as low as possible. But what ought particularly to be fixed, is a list of the fees of office, of anchorage, and of the admiralty. All these fees or duties, which, in fact, are always collected in a vague and troublesome manner, are not so useful to the King as inconvenient to the individual, and if it is of moment to fix them as low as possible, it will, I believe, be still of more importance to make a sacrifice of them altogether. Seeing the difficulties which would attend a commerce with France, Messrs. Wadsworth & Carter, very rich Americans, had given up all ideas of the kind. I shewed them your letter, and they determined to make the experiment; they bought silks and other articles to send by a vessel which was to sail from L'Orient, but the demesnes of Monsieur laying on the road, they were obliged either to pay the duties, which would have eat up all the profits, or to take a circuitous route, (as they did,) and thereby lose the opportunity and increase the expense. These gentlemen wish to send to America forty thousand bottles of champagne, and it would be convenient to ship them at Brest, where one of their vessels will stop on its return from England. They ask if they should meet with difficulties, and what duties they shall be obliged to pay for the entrance and clearance of their vessel. Mr. Nesbit, merchant at L'Orient, informs me that Mr. Pignon told him Virginia tobacco is, to be taken at 45, and Maryland tobacco at 40; he is forced to lose on what he has already received; but his friends have given him orders that their tobacco shall go from America to foreign ports. This monopoly of tobacco is a great misfortune for the commerce of America, but since the Farmers General must buy it, I cannot conceive what views they can have in discouraging the Americans from bringing it directly here, when the same quality sells at a higher price in the other ports of Europe. Messrs. Wadsworth and Carter, of whom the whole army of M. de Rochambeau can speak to you, have made an observation to me which is very just: that England diminishes the duties on the articles of export to America, and if France did the same, for example on looking-glasses and all that branch of the glass manufacture, they would have the advantage over the English manufactures. When I receive your answer to these observations, I will acquaint the American merchants with all that concerns them; they are reanimated by your activity and decision, and it is very opportunely you have stepped in, to turn the current which carried the whole of the American commerce to England. I am, &c., LA FAYETTE. FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE TO M. DE CALONNE. Sir, Paris, February 10, 1784. Being on the point of writing to America, I could wish my accounts to continue favorable. After opening of free ports, it would be finishing your work to fix, or perhaps to abolish, the duties of the admiralty, of anchorage, pilotage, and other obstructions to commerce, which I had the honor to mention to you in my former letter. It would be of importance to assure the Americans of a market for their tobacco; I have forwarded some complaints to you, and I foresee bad consequences from the commission given by the Farmers of Virginia tobacco. At present it is brought from the Ukraine, and in general, instead of buying that of America, the Farmers take the other at a low price and of a very bad quality. You have been so generous with respect to free ports, that it would be indiscreet to give a new idea of that kind; but many of the Americans have told me, that if privileges were granted to the Havre, it would give a superiority to the manufactures of Normandy, and facilitate the vent of the articles fabricated at Paris. Vessels loaded in England, tempted by the commodiousness and the vicinity of the port, would call and take in some French productions. The observations I have the honor to make to you, sir, must be attributed to my desire not to forget any American representations. Accept the homage of my gratitude, and of the respect with which I am, &c., LA FAYETTE. |