Count de
Vergennes, to meet him on this and other subjects. My last information
was, that the lease was too far advanced to withdraw from it the article
of tobacco, but that a clause is inserted in it, empowering the King
to discontinue it at any time. A discontinuance is, therefore, the
only remaining object, and as even this cannot be effected till the
expiration of the old lease, which is about the end of the present year,
I have wished only to stir the subject, from time to time, so as to keep
it alive. This idea led me into a measure proposed by the Marquis de
la Fayette, whose return from Berlin found the matter at that point, to
which my former report to Congress had conducted it. I communicated to
him what I had been engaged on, what were my prospects, and my purpose
of keeping the subject just open. He offered his services with that zeal
which commands them on every occasion respecting America. He suggested
to me the meeting two or three gentlemen, well acquainted with this
business. We met. They urged me to propose to the Count de Vergennes,
the appointing a committee to take the matter into consideration. I
told them, that decency would not permit me to point out to the Count de
Vergennes the mode by which he should conduct a negotiation, but that
I would press again the necessity of an arrangement, if, whilst that
should be operating on his mind, they would suggest the appointment of
a committee. The Marquis offered his services for this purpose. The
consequence was the appointment of a committee, and the Marquis as a
member of it. I communicated to him my papers. He collected other lights
wherever he could, and particularly from the gentlemen with whom we had
before concerted, and who had a good acquaintance with the subject. The
Marquis became our champion in the committee, and two of its members,
who were of the corps of Farmers General, entered the lists on the other
side. Each gave in memorials. The lease, indeed, was signed while I was
gone to England, but the discussions were, and still are continued in
the committee: from which we derive two advantages; 1. that of showing,
that the object is not to be relinquished; and 2. that of enlightening
government, as to its true interest. The Count de Vergennes is
absolutely for it; but it is not in his department. Calonne is his
friend, and in this instance his principle seems to be, _Amica
veritas, sed magis amicus Plato_. An additional hope is founded in the