ld happen
to arise in the report.

But the order of Bernis was never considered but as a temporary relief.
The radical evil will still remain. There will be but one purchaser in
the kingdom, and the hazard of his refusal will damp every mercantile
speculation. It is very much to be desired, that before the expiration
of this order, some measure may be devised, which may bring this great
article into free commerce between the two nations. Had this been
practicable at the time it was put into Farm, that mode of collecting
the revenue would probably never have been adopted: now that it has
become practicable, it seems reasonable to discontinue this mode, and to
substitute some of those practised on other imported articles, on which
a revenue is levied, without absolutely suppressing them in commerce.
If the revenue can be secured, the interests of a few individuals will
hardly be permitted to weigh against those of as many millions, equally
subjects of his Majesty, and against those, too, of a nation allied
to him by all the ties of treaty, of interest, and of affection. The
privileges of the most favored nation have been mutually exchanged by
treaty. But the productions of other nations, which do not rival those
of France, are suffered to be bought and sold freely within the kingdom.
By prohibiting all his Majesty's subjects from dealing in tobacco,
except with a single company, one third of the exports of the United
States are rendered uncommerciable here. This production is so
peculiarly theirs, that its shackles affect no other nation. A relief
from these shackles will form a memorable epoch in the commerce of
the two nations. It will establish at once a great basis of exchange
serving, like a point of union, to draw to it other members of our
commerce. Nature, too, has conveniently assorted our wants and our
superfluities to each other. Each nation has exactly to spare the
articles which the other wants. We have a surplus of rice, tobacco,
furs, peltry, potash, lamp-oils, timber, which France wants; she has a
surplus of wines, brandies, esculent oils, fruits, and manufactures of
all kinds, which we want. The governments have nothing to do, but not
to hinder their merchants from making the exchange. The difference of
language, laws, and customs, will be some obstacle for a time; but the
interest of the merchants will surmount them. A more serious obstacle
is our debt to Great Britain. Yet, since the treaty between this