gration 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. Monsieur Lambert, with a patience and assiduity
almost unexampled, went through all the investigations necessary to
assure himself, that the conclusion of the committee had been just.
Frequent conferences on this subject were held in his presence; the
deputies of the chambers of commerce were heard, and the result was, the
_Arret_ of December the 29th, 1787, confirming the abatements of duty,
present and future, which the letter of October, 1786, had promised,
and reserving to his Majesty, to grant still further favors to that
production, if, on further information, he should find it for the
interest of the two nations.

The English had now begun to deluge the markets of France with their
whale-oils; and they were enabled by the great premiums given by
their government, to undersell the French fisherman, aided by feebler
premiums, and the American, aided by his poverty alone. Nor is it
certain, that these speculations were not made at the risk of the
British government, to suppress the French and American fishermen in
their only market. Some remedy seemed necessary. Perhaps it would not
have been a bad one, to subject, by a general law, the merchandise of
every nation and of every nature, to pay additional duties in the ports
of France, exactly equal to the premiums and drawbacks given on the same
merchandise by their own government. This might not only counteract the
effect of premiums in the instance of whale-oils, but attack the whole
British system of bounties and dra