s
the livre, reserved in the letter of M. de Calonnes. The passage of the
_Arret_ was stopped, and the difficulty communicated to me. I urged
everything I could, in letters and in conferences, to convince them
that whale oil was an article which could bear no duty at all. That if
the duty fell on the consumer, he would choose to buy vegetable oils;
if on the fisherman, he could no longer live by his calling, remaining
in his own country; and that if he quitted his own country, the
circumstances of vicinity, sameness of language, laws, religion and
manners, and perhaps the ties of kindred, would draw him to Nova
Scotia, in spite of every encouragement which could be given at
Dunkirk; and that thus those fishermen would be shifted out of a scale
friendly to France, into one always hostile. Nothing, however, could
prevail. It hung on this article alone, for two months, during which we
risked the total loss of the _Arret_, on the stability in office of
Monsieur Lambert; for if he had gone out, his successor might be less
favorable; and if Monsieur Neckar were the successor, we might lose the
whole, as he never set any store by us, or the connection with us.
About ten days ago, it became universally believed that Monsieur
Lambert was to go out immediately. I, therefore, declined further
insisting on the total suppression, and desired the _Arret_ might pass,
leaving the duties on whale oil as Monsieur de Calonnes had promised
them; but with a reservation, which may countenance our bringing on
this matter again, at a more favorable moment.

Article 2. The other fish oils are placed in a separate article;
because whatever encouragements we may hereafter obtain for whale oils,
they will not be extended to those which their own fisheries produce.

Article 3. A company had silently, and by unfair means, obtained a
monopoly for the making and selling spermaceti candles: as soon as we
discovered it, we solicited its suppression, 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 south-western 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.