etters of which the enclosed are copies, are this moment
received, and as there is a possibility that they may reach Havre
before the packet sails, I have the honor of enclosing them to you.
They contain a promise of reducing the duties on tar, pitch and
turpentine, and that the government will interest itself with the city
of Rouen, to reduce the local duty on potash. By this you will perceive
that we are getting on a little in this business, though under their
present embarrassments, it is difficult to procure the attention of the
ministers to it. The parliament has enregistered the edict of a
rigorous levy of the _deux vingtiemes_. As this was proposed by the
King in lieu of the impost territorial, there is no doubt now that the
latter, with the stamp tax, will be immediately repealed. There can be
no better proof of the revolution in the public opinion, as to the
powers of the monarch, and of the force, too, of that opinion. Six
weeks ago, we saw the King displaying the plentitude of his
omnipotence, as hitherto conceived, to enforce these two acts. At this
day, he is forced to retract them by the public voice; for as to the
opposition of the parliament, that body is too little esteemed to
produce this effect in any case where the public do not throw
themselves into the same scale.

I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir,
your most obedient, and most humble servant.

TO JOHN JAY.

PARIS, Sept. 22, 1787.

SIR,--When I had the honor of addressing you this morning, intelligence
was handing about, which I did not think well enough authenticated to
communicate to you. As it is now ascertained, I avail myself of the
chance that another post may yet reach Havre before the departure of
the packet. This will depend on the wind, which has for some days been
unfavorable. I must premise, that this court, about ten days ago,
declared, by their Charge des Affaires in Holland, that if the Prussian
troops continued to menace Holland with an invasion, his Majesty was
determined, in quality of ally, to succor that province. An _official_
letter from the Hague, of the 18th instant, assures that the Prussian
army entered the territory of Holland on the 15th, that most of the
principal towns had submitted, some after firing a gun or two, others
without resistance; that the Rhingrave de Salm had evacuated Utretcht,
with part of the troops under his command, leaving behind him one
hundred and fo