TTER XVI.--TO MR. NECKER, September 26,1789

TO MR. NECKER.

Paris, September 26,1789.

Sir,

I had the honor of waiting on you at Versailles, the day before
yesterday, in order to present my respects on my departure to America. I
was unlucky in the moment, as it was one in which you were gone out.

I wished to have put into your hands, at the same time, the enclosed
state of the British northern fishery for the years 1788 and 1789, by
which you will see that they have lost in one year, one third of that
fishery, the effect, almost solely, of the _Arret_ which shut the ports
of France to their oils.

I wished also to know, whether, while in America, I could be useful
towards encouraging supplies of provision to be brought to this country
the ensuing year. I am persuaded a considerable relief to the city
of Paris might be obtained, by permitting the importation of salted
provisions from the United States. Our salted beef, particularly,
(which, since the war, we have learned to prepare in the Irish manner,
so as to be as good as the best of that country) could be sold out to
the people of Paris, for the half of what they pay for fresh meat. It
would seem then, that the laborer paying but half the usual price
for his meat, might pay the full price of his bread, and so relieve
government from its loss on that article. The interest of the
_gabelles_ has been an objection, hitherto, to the importation of salted
provisions. But that objection is lessened by the reduction of the price
of salt, and done away entirely, by the desire of the present government
to consider the ease and happiness of the people as the first object. In
every country as fully peopled as France, it would seem good policy to
encourage the employment of its lands in the cultivation of corn, rather
than in pasturage, and consequently to encourage the use of all kinds of
salted provisions, because they can be imported from other countries.
It may be apprehended, that the Parisian, habituated to fresh provision,
would not use salted. Then he would not buy them, and of course they
would not be brought, so that no harm can be done by the permission.
On the contrary, if the people of Paris should readily adopt the use of
salted provisions, the good would result which is before mentioned. Salt
meat is not as good as fresh for soups, but it gives an higher flavor
to the vegetables boiled with it. The experience of a great part
of America, which is fed alm