ntatives having referred to me, to report to them
the nature and extent of the privileges and restrictions on the commerce
of the United States with foreign nations, I have accordingly prepared a
report on that subject. Being particularly anxious that it may be exact
in matters of fact, I take the liberty of putting into your hands,
privately and informally, an extract of such as relate to our commerce
with your nation, in hopes that if you can either enlarge or correct
them, you will do me that favor. It is safer to suppress an error in
its first conception, than to trust to any after correction; and a
confidence in your sincere desire to communicate or to re-establish any
truths which may contribute to a perfect understanding between our two
nations, has induced me to make the present request. I wish it had been
in my power to have done this sooner, and thereby have obtained the
benefit of your having more time to contemplate it: but circumstances
have retarded the entire completion of the report till the Congress is
approaching its end, which will oblige me to give it in within three or
four days.

I am, with great and sincere esteem, Sir, your most obedient and most
humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

P. S. The report having been prepared before the late diminution of the
duties on our tobacco, that circumstance will be noted in the letter
which will cover the report. T. J.

_France_ receives favorably our bread-stuff, rice, wood, pot and pearl
ashes.

A duty of five, sous the kental, or nearly four and a half centss paid
on our tar, pitch, and turpentine. Our whale-oils pay six livres the
kental, and are the only whale-oils admitted. Our indigo pays five
livres the kental, their own two and a half; but a difference of
quality, still more than a difference of duty, prevents its seeking that
market.

Salted beef is received freely for re-exportation; but if for home
consumption, it pays five livres the kental. Other salted provisions
pay that duty in all cases, and salted fish is made lately to pay the
prohibitory one, of twenty livres the kental.

Our ships are free to carry thither all foreign goods, which may be
carried in their own or any other vessels, except tobaccos not of our
own growth: and they participate with theirs the exclusive carriage of
our whale-oils.

During their former government, our tobacco was under a monopoly,
but paid no duties; and our ships were freely sold in their ports and
conv