ial light, it would seem, that the United States
should be excepted from its operation. Still more so, when they invoke
against it the amity subsisting between the two nations, the desire of
binding them together by every possible interest and connection, the
several acts in favor of this exception, the dignity of legislation,
which admits not of changes backwards and forwards, the interests of
commerce, which requires steady regulations, the assurances of the
friendly motives which have led the King to pass these acts, and the
hope, that no cause will arise, to change either his motives or his
measures towards us.

LETTER CLXXI.--TO JOHN JAY, November 29, 1788

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, November 29, 1788.

Sir,

In the hurry of making up my letter of the 19th instant, I omitted the
enclosed printed paper, on the subject of whale-oil. That omission
is now supplied by another conveyance, by the way of London. The
explanatory _Arret_ is not yet come out. I still take for granted, it
will pass, though there be an opposition to it in the Council. In the
mean time, orders are given to receive our oils which may arrive. The
apprehension of a want of corn has induced them to turn their eyes to
foreign supplies; and to show their preference of receiving them from
us, they have passed the enclosed _Arret_, giving a premium on wheat
and flour from the United States, for a limited time. This, you will
doubtless think proper to have translated and published. The _Notables_
are still in session: the votes of the separate bureaux have not yet
been reduced to a joint act, in an assembly of the whole. I see no
reason to suppose they will change the separate votes relative to the
representation of the _Tiers Etat_ in the States General. In the mean
time, the stream of public indignation, heretofore directed against the
court, sets strongly against the _Notables_. It is not yet decided when
the States will meet: but certainly they cannot, till February or March.
The Turks have retired across the Danube. This movement indicates their
going into winter-quarters, and the severity of the weather must hasten
it. The thermometer was yesterday at eight degrees of Fahrenheit, that
is, twenty-four degrees below freezing; a degree of cold equal to that
of the year 1740, which they count here among their coldest winters.
This having continued many days, and being still likely to continue, and
the wind from northeast, render it probable, th