sion, which is effected by this
clause.

Article 4. The duty of an eighth per cent, is merely to oblige the
masters of vessels to enter their cargoes, for the information of
government; without inducing them to attempt to smuggle.

Article 6. Tar, pitch, and turpentine of America, coming in competition
with the same articles produced in the southwestern parts of France,
we could obtain no greater reduction, than two and a half per cent. The
duties before were from four to six times that amount.

Article 10. The right of _entrepot_, given by this article, is almost
the same thing, as the making all their ports, free ports for us. The
ships are indeed subject to be visited, and the cargoes must be reported
in ports of _entrepot_, which need not be done in the free ports.
But the communication between the _entrepot_ and the country is not
interrupted by continual search of all persons passing into the country,
which has proved so troublesome to the inhabitants of our free ports,
as that a considerable proportion of them have wished to give back the
privilege of their freedom.

Article 13. This article gives us the privileges and advantages of
native subjects, in all their possessions in Asia, and in the scales
leading thereto. This expression means, at present, the isles of France
and Bourbon, and will include the Cape of Good Hope, should any future
event put it into the hands of France. It was with a view to this, that
I proposed the expression, because we were then in hourly expectation
of a war, and it was suspected that France would take possession of
that place. It will, in no case, be considered as including any thing
westward of the Cape of Good Hope. I must observe further, on this
article, that it will only become valuable, on the suppression of their
East India Company; because, as long as their monopoly continues, even
native subjects cannot enter their Asiatic ports, for the purposes of
commerce. It is considered, however, as certain, that this Company will
be immediately suppressed.

The article of tobacco could not be introduced into the _Arret_; because
it was necessary to consider the Farmers General as parties to that
arrangement. It rests, therefore, of necessity, on the basis of a letter
only. You will perceive that this is nothing more than a continuation of
the order of Bernis, only leaving the prices unfixed; and like that, it
will require a constant and vexatious attention, to have its executio