se sentiments of esteem and respect with which
I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble
servant,

Th: Jefferson.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE LETTER OF MONSIEUR DE CALONNE

[The following observations appear to have been addressed to
the Count de Montmorin, about the 6th of July, 1787.]

Observations on the Letter of Monsieur de Calonne to Monsieur Jefferson,
dated, Fontainbleau, October 22, 1786.

A committee was appointed, in the course of the last year, to take a
view of the subjects of commerce which might be brought from the United
States of America, in exchange for those of France, and to consider what
advantages and facilities might be offered to encourage that commerce.
The letter of Monsieur de Calonne was founded on their report. It was
conclusive as to the articles on which satisfactory information had been
then obtained, and reserved, for future consideration, certain others,
needing further inquiry. It is proposed now to review those unfinished
articles, that they may also be comprehended in the _Arret_, and the
regulations on this branch of commerce be rendered complete.

1. The letter promised to diminish the _Droits du Roi et d'amiraute_,
payable by an American vessel entering into a port at France, and to
reduce what should remain into a single duty, which shall be regulated
by the draught of the vessel, or her number of masts. It is doubted
whether it will be expedient to regulate the duty, in either of these
ways. If by the draught,of water, it will fall unequally on us as a
nation; because we build our vessels sharp-bottomed, for swift sailing,
so that they draw more water than those of other nations, of the
same burthen. If by the number of masts, it will fall unequally on
individuals; because we often see ships of one hundred and eighty tons,
and brigs of three hundred and sixty. This, then, would produce an
inequality among individuals, of six to one. The present principle is
the most just, to regulate by the burthen. It is certainly desirable,
that these duties should be reduced to a single one. Their names and
numbers perplex and harass the merchant, more than their amount; subject
him to imposition, and to the suspicion of it when there is none. An
intention of general reformation in this article has been accordingly
announced, with augmentation as to foreigners. We are in hopes, that
this augmentation is not to respect us; because it is proposed as a