much on a poise to permit him to shift this weight out of his own scale into that of his adversaries, and that we must be contented to await the completion of the public expectation that there will be a change in this office, which change may give us another chance for effecting this desirable reformation. Incidents enough will arise to keep this object in our view, and to direct the attention to it as the only point on which the interests and harmony of the two countries (so far as this article of their commerce may influence) will ultimately find repose.

The committee met the next day. The only question agitated was, how best to relieve the trade under its double monopoly.

The committee found themselves supported by the presence and sentiments of the Count de Vergennes. They therefore resolved that the contract with Mr. Morris, if executed on his part, ought not to be annulled here, but that no similar one should ever be made hereafter; that so long as it continued, the Farmers should be obliged to purchase from twelve to fifteen thousand hogsheads of tobacco a year, over and above what they should receive from Mr. Morris, from such merchants as should bring it in French or American vessels, on the same condition contracted with Mr. Morris: providing, however, that where the cargo shall not be assorted, the prices shall be thirty-eight, thirty-six, and thirty-four livres, for the first, second, and third qualities of whichsoever the cargo may consist. In case of dispute about the quality, specimens are to be sent to the council, who will appoint persons to examine and decide on it. This is, indeed, the least bad of all the palliations which have been proposed; but it contains the seeds of perpetual trouble. It is easy to foresee that the Farmers will multiply difficulties and vexations on those who shall propose to sell to them by force, and that these will be making perpetual complaints, so that both parties will be kept on the fret.

If, without fatiguing the friendly dispositions of the Ministry, this should give them just so much trouble as may induce them to look to the demolition of the monopoly as a desirable point of rest, it may produce a permanent as well as a temporary good. This determination of the committee needs the King's orders to be carried into effect. I have been in hourly expectation of receiving official information that it is ultimately confirmed by him. But as yet it is not come, and the post will set out to-day. Should it arrive in time. I will enclose it. Should it not arrive, as I do not apprehend any

danger of its being rejected, or even altered materially, (seeing that M. de Vergennes approved of it, and M. de Calonne acquiesced,) I have supposed you would wish to be apprized of its substance, for a communication of which I am indebted to the M. de la Fayette, though you cannot publish it formally till you know it is confirmed by the King, yet an unauthoritative kind of notice may be given to the merchants to put them on their guard, otherwise the merchants here, having first knowledge of it, may, by their agents, purchase up all the tobacco they have on hand at a low price, and thus engross to themselves all the benefit.

In the same letter, of January 2d, I mentioned that the rice of Carolina, compared with that of the Mediterranean, was better and dearer. This was on my own observation, having examined both in the shops here, where they are retailed. Further inquiries give me reason to believe that the rice of Carolina, on its arrival, is fouler and cheaper, and that it is obliged to be cleaned here before it is saleable; that this advances the price, but, at the same time, the quality, also, beyond that of the Mediterranean. Whether the trouble of this operation discourages the merchant, or the price the consumer, or whether the merchants of Carolina have not yet learned the way to this market, I cannot tell. I find, in fact, that but a small proportion of the rice consumed here is from the American market. But the consumption of this article here is immense. If the growers of American rice would endeavor to adapt their preparation of it to the taste of this country, so as to give it, over the Mediterranean rice, the advantage of which it seems susceptible, it would very much increase the quantity for which they find sale. As far as I have been able to find, it is received here on a favorable footing.

I shall reserve my letter open to the last moment in hopes of being able to put into it the order of the King to the Farmers General.

I have the honor of enclosing a copy of their contract with Mr. Morris, to which the resolution of the committee refers; and to be, with sentiments of the most perfect respect, &c.,

TOBACCO CONTRACT.

Translation.

TH: JEFFERSON.

We, the undersigned Robert Morris, heretofore Superintendent of the Finances of the United States of America, residing in Philadel

phia, on the one part, and Le Normand, Receiver General of the Finances of the Generality of la Rochelle, residing in Paris, on the other part, have agreed, and have respectively treated with each other about the sale and purchase of sixty thousand hogsheads of tobacco, from nine to ten hundred weight, of the different growths of the continent of America, on the following terms and conditions, viz:

That I, Robert Morris, engage on my part: 1st. To ship and deliver at the several ports of France, hereafter specified, the whole at my hazard and risk, until the total delivery to the said Sieur Le Normand, the sixty thousand hogsheads of tobacco, in the space of the three successive years of 1785, 1786, 1787, at the rate of twenty thousand hogsheads per annum.

2d. I moreover engage to assort each annual complement in the following proportions, viz:

One fourth part James and York river tobacco, half Potomac and Rappahannock, and the other fourth in Maryland tobacco, one third of which at least fit for smoking; the whole of the first qualities fit for France.

3d. I also oblige myself to ship the sufficient quantity in vessels, which shall be American in preference to French; that the aforesaid quantity of twenty thousand hogsheads shall arrive in the ports of Bordeaux, Havre de Grace, Dieppe, and Morlaix, in the following proportions, viz: seven thousand hogsheads to Bordeaux, seven thousand to Havre de Grace, three thousand to Dieppe, and three thousand to Morlaix. Observing that the proportion of Maryland tobacco fit for smoking shall of preference be comprehended in equal proportions in the parcels sent to Morlaix, Bordeaux, and Havre.

And in case where any shipments shall exceed in one year the aforesaid distribution, the excess shall be carried in augmentation to Havre de Grace.

4th. The tobacco shipped and delivered in conformity to the aforesaid, shall be paid for by the said Sieur Le Normand to me at the price of thirty-six livres Tournois for each hundred weight marc weight; and the said Sieur Le Normand shall discharge the amount of each cargo within a month after the delivery to Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co., my bankers in Paris, deducting, however, two livres Tournois for each hundred marc weight, for the reimbursement of a million advance, which the said Sieur Le Normand has put into

the hands of the aforesaid Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co., to hold at my disposal, as appears by their receipt at foot of the present contract.

5th. I consent that the two thousand hogsheads, of which I have given advice, by my letter of 27th October, to the said Sieur Le Normand, of the purchase and speedy loading for the port of Havre de Grace, shall make part of my first delivery for this year, and shall be paid for to me at the price of thirty-six livres Tournois, with the deduction of two livres Tournois per hundred weight, as is specified in the preceding article.

6th. For the mode of delivering the tobacco. It shall be taken out of the hogsheads, and none shall be rejected but what is damaged; then the tobacco shall be weighed on the quay, and received at the weight it really weighed without any deduction whatever; and until it is weighed, it shall be at my risk and expense.

7th. The damaged tobacco shall be cut and sent to some other place, if my correspondents shall think proper, otherwise it shall be burned in their presence.

And I, Le Normand, accept in general, and submit to all the clauses and conditions mentioned in the seven foregoing articles; and as a preliminary to the present contract, I have remitted the sum of a million of livres Tournois, mentioned in the 4th article, to Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co., as appears by their receipt annexed at the foot of the present contract, for the said sum to be reimbursed conformably to said article. I moreover consent:

1st. That in case that the vessels employed in this business shall become subject to greater or new duties or taxes than what the French vessels coming from France pay, the aforesaid duties shall be charged to me.

2d. That all the duties which hereafter or posterior to the present treaty may be put either on exportation from America, or on the importation into France, shall be charged to me, and in consequence . I will be accountable to Mr. R. Morris for those which may happen in America, on the exportation, at the rate of 5liv. 5s. Tournois for each hard dollar, and this upon an authentic certificate that the duty is imposed.

3d. I engage that the Farmers General shall not make, either directly or indirectly, any purchases of tobacco in America, and, consequently, if I have occasion for a greater quantity of tobacco, it shall be furnished to me on the same price and conditions.

Done in five parts, at Paris, four of which to be sent to America by the English and French packets, the fifth to be deposited in the hands of Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co.

At Paris, 11th January, 1785.

Signed at Philadelphia, 10th April, 1785.

LE NORMAND, Receiver General of Finances.

ROBERT MORRIS.

Certified to be true and conformable to the original in my hands, at Paris, 20th February, 1788. LE NORMAND.

We, the undersigned, acknowledge to have received from Mr. Le Normand, Receiver General of the Finances of the Generality of la Rochelle, the sum of one million livres Tournois, in effects to our satisfaction, which we promise to hold at the disposal of Mr. Robert Morris, heretofore Superintendent General of the Finance of the United States of America, after the absolute acceptation of the present treaty, a duplicate of which has been placed in our hands. At Paris, 11th January, 1785.

LE COUTEULX & CO.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, May 31, 1786.

Sir,

A safe opportunity occurring by the way of London, I have it now in my power to transmit you the sequel of the papers relative to Algiers, which could not be in readiness to go with my letter of the 27th instant by the French packet, which I expect will sail from L'Orient to-morrow.

I am enabled at the same time to send you a copy of the resolutions of the Committee on the subject of the tobacco, together with a copy of the Count de Vergennes's letter to me, giving official notice of them, having enclosed a copy of Mr. Morris's contract in my letter of May 27th on the same subject. You will be enabled to give such notice of the whole as you think proper.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

TH: JEFFERSON.