ports, France will naturally mark out those articles with which she could supply us to advantage : & she may safely calculate that after a little time shall have enabled us to get rid of our present incumbrances, and of some remains of attachment to the particular forms of manufacture to which we have been habituated we shall take those articles which she can furnish on as good terms as other nations, to whatever extent she will enable us to pay for them. It is her interest therefore, as well as ours, to multiply the means of paiment. These must be found in the catalogue of our Exports, & among these will be seen neither gold nor silver. We have no mines of either of these metals. Produce therefore is all we can offer. Some articles of our produce will be found very convenient to this country for her own consumption. Others will be convenient, as being more commerciable in her hands than those she will give in exchange for them. If there be any which she can neither consume, nor dispose of by exchange, she will not buy them of us, and of course we shall not bring them to her. If American produce can be brought into the ports of France, the articles of exchange for it will be taken in those ports & the only means of drawing it hither is to let the merchant see that he can dispose of it on better terms here than anywhere else. If the market price of this country does not in itself offer this superiority, it may be worthy of consideration whether it should be obtained by such abatements of duties, and even by such other encouragements as the importance of the article may justify. Should some loss attend this in the begin ning, it can be discontinued when the trade shall be well established in this channel. With respect to the West India commerce, I must apprise you that this estimate does not present it's present face. No materials have enabled us to say how it stands since the war. We can only shew what it was before that period. New regulations have changed our situation there much for the worse. This is most sensibly felt in the Exports of fish, and flour. The surplus of the former, which these regulations throw back on us, is forced to Europe, where, by increasing the quantity, it lessens the price: the surplus of the latter is sunk and to what other objects this portion of industry is turned, or turning, I am not able to discover. The Imports too of Sugar & Coffee are thrown under great difficulties. These increase the price and being articles of food for the poorer class (as you may be sensible on observing the quantities consumed) a small increase of price places them above the reach of this class, which being very numerous, must occasion a great diminution of con. sumption. It remains to see whether the American will endeavour to baffle these new restrictions in order to indulge his habits; or will adapt his habits to other objects which may furnish emploiment to the surplus of industry formerly occupied in raising that bread which no longer finds a vent in the West Indian market. If, instead of either of these measures, he should resolve to come to Europe for coffee & sugar, he must lessen equivalently his consumption of some other European articles in order to VOL. IV.-17 pay for his coffee & sugar, the bread with which he formerly paid for them in the West Indies not being demanded in the European market. In fact the catalogue of Imports offers several articles more dispensable than coffee & sugar. Of all these subjects, the committee and yourself are the more competent judges. To you therefore I trust them with every wish for their improvement, & with sentiments of that perfect esteem & respect with which I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, your most obedient, & most humble servt.1 1 ESTIMATE OF THE EXPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO THE MARQUIS DE ST. LAMBERT. J.MSS. AUG. 8, 1786. Mr. Jefferson has the honour of presenting his compliments to Monsieur le Marquis de St. Lambert, and of thanking him for his very excellent ESTIMATE OF THE IMPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. From Europe and Africa. Woollen cloths of every description, Linens of every description, Hosiery, Hats, Gloves, Shoes, Boots, Sadlery & other things of leather, Porcelaine, Glass, Earthenware, Silver, Copper, Brass, Tin, Pewter, Lead, Steel, Iron in Upholstery, Cabinet Work, Painters' Colours, Wine, 2,000 tons, at 100 louis, 200,000 louis, Brandy, Beer, Books, Stationery, Mill Stones, Grind Stones, Marble, Slaves, Salt, 521,225 bushels, at 24 sous, 26,061 louis 6 Salt, 500,484 bushels, at 24 sous.. Cocoa, 576, 589 lbs., at 12 sous. Louis. 1. s. 2,239 12 25,798 12 Louis. l. s. 3,039,000 00 From the West Indies. Sugar, 10,232,432 lbs...... Coffee, 408,494 lbs., at 16 sous. 15,249 14 8 .168,007 .186,281 19 4 927,438 8 8 Molasses, 3,645,464 gallons, at 24 sous..... Rum, 3,888,370 gallons, at 2 livres 14 sous.437,441 15 Cotton, 356,591 lbs., at 24 sous. Skins. Indigo, 4,352 lbs., at 5 livres 8 sous.... 1,395 1 4 17,829 13 4 7,870 6 979 4 16 Lignum vitæ, Sarsaparilla, Fustic, Annotta. 5,170 Logwood... Mahogany. 13,624 21 23,280 3,966,438 8 8 translation of the act of the Virginia Assembly.1 An opportunity having occurred, before the receipt of it, of forwarding the act to some foreign courts where it was thought it would be well received, Mr. Jefferson had been obliged to print copies from a translation prepared for the Encyclopedie. He shall endeavour as soon as possible to avail the public of the better one of M. de St. Lambert. He begs leave to present to him, and also through him to Madame la Comtesse d'Houditat the homage of his respects. TO MRS. JOHN (ABIGAIL) ADAMS. J.MSS. PARIS, Aug. 9, 1786. and a half I think my DEAR MADAM,—It is an age since I have had the honor of a letter from you, and an age since I presumed to address one to you. last was dated in the reign of King Amri, but under which of his successors you wrote, I cannot recollect, Ocharias Zoachar, Manahem or some such hard name. At length it is resumed; I am honoured with your favor of July 23, and I am at this moment writing an answer to it. And first we will despatch busiThe shoes you ordered, will be ready this day and will accompany the present letter, but why send money for them? You know the balance of trade was always against me. You will observe by the inclosed account that it is I who am to export cash always, tho' the sum has been lessened by the bad ness. 1 Virginia act for Religious Freedom. |