h, 1784.

Sir,

I have communicated to the King the observations contained in the
memoir, which you transmitted to me relative to the commerce of
America, and those, which you made at our last conference.

I am authorised to announce to you, that it is the intention of his
Majesty, to grant to the United States the ports of L'Orient and
Bayonne as free ports; and besides these, that of Dunkirk and that of
Marseilles, the first of which enjoys absolute freedom, and the other
is restrained in the exercise of that freedom only with regard to
tobacco, which is there subjected to a duty. The Americans may from
this moment send their vessels to those four ports, where they will
not meet with any kind of difficulty.

You may, if necessary, explain what is meant by _free ports_,
agreeably to the signification thereof given by M. de Vergennes, in
his letter of the 29th of June last.[17] The Americans will find,
above all at Dunkirk, all the facilities they can desire for the sale
of their leaf tobacco, their rice, their timber, and other
merchandise, as well as for the purchase of what they want; such as
linens, woollens, brandy, &c. It is proposed to establish stores and
magazines there, which shall be well supplied, on terms very
advantageous for their commerce.

I have given orders to the Farmers-General to treat in preference, and
at a reasonable price, for the purchase of the tobaccoes of North
America. And, moreover, the United States will be as much favored in
France, in matters of commerce, as any other nation. The complaints,
which they may make to you, or which Dr Franklin and the other
American Ministers, whom I should be very glad to see, may transmit to
me on their behalf, shall be examined with great attention; and
government will not suffer them to experience any kind of vexations.
Every possible precaution will also be taken to prevent the sending
out bad merchandise, which if it has hitherto taken place, can only be
attributed to the avarice of some merchants of the lowest order.

I am going immediately to examine what relates to the customs and
duties, which hurt commerce. This is an important subject, and
requires great attention. In fine, Sir, you may rely, that I shall be
always disposed, as well as the Marshal de Castries, and the Count de
Vergennes, to receive and listen with attention to the demands and
further representations, which you shall think proper to make in favor
of the commerce of Ame