atement of the duties
of them for the present, and a promise of further abatement after the
year 1790; the thorough re-investigation with which Monsieur de Lambert
honored this subject, when the letter of 1786 was to be put into the
form of an _Arret_; that _Arret_ itself, bearing date the 29th of
December last, which ultimately confirmed the abatements of duty
present and future, and declared that his Majesty reserved to himself
to grant other favors to that production, if on further information, he
should find it for the interest of the two nations; and finally, the
letter in which Monsieur de Lambert did me the honor to enclose the
_Arret_, and to assure me, that the duties which had been levied on our
whale oils, contrary to the intention of the letter of 1786, should be
restored. On a review, then, of all these circumstances, I cannot but
presume, that it has not been intended to reverse, in a moment, views
so maturely digested, and uniformly pursued; and that the general
expressions of the _Arret_ of September the 28th had within their
contemplation the nations of Europe only. This presumption is further
strengthened by having observed, that in the treaties of commerce, made
since the epoch of our independence, the _jura gentis amicissimae_
conceded to other nations, are expressly restrained to those of the
"most favored _European_ nation;" his Majesty wisely foreseeing, that
it would be expedient to regulate the commerce of a nation, which
brings nothing but raw materials to employ the industry of his
subjects, very differently from that of the European nations, who bring
mostly what has already passed through all the stages of manufacture.

On these circumstances, I take the liberty of asking information from
your Excellency, as to the extent of the late _Arret_; and if I have
not been mistaken in supposing it did not mean to abridge that of
December the 29th, I would solicit an explanatory _Arret_, to prevent
the misconstructions of it, which will otherwise take place. It is much
to be desired, too, that this explanation could be given as soon as
possible, in order that it may be handed out with the _Arret_ of
September the 28th. Great alarm may otherwise spread among the
merchants and adventurers in the fisheries, who, confiding in the
stability of regulations, which his Majesty's wisdom had so long and
well matured, have embarked their fortunes in speculations in this
branch of business.

The importance of