erted into national bottoms. The first National Assembly took from
our ships this privilege. They emancipated tobacco from its monopoly,
but subjected it to duties of eighteen livres fifteen sous the kental,
carried in their own vessels, and twenty-five livres, carried in ours; a
difference more than equal to the freight of the article.

They and their colonies consume what they receive from us.

France, by a standing law, permits her West India possessions to receive
directly our vegetables, live provisions, horses, wood, tar, pitch, and
turpentine, rice and maize, and prohibits our other bread-stuff: but
a suspension of this prohibition having been left to the colonial
legislature, in times of scarcity, it was formerly suspended
occasionally, but latterly without interruption.

Our fish and salted provisions (except pork) are received in their
islands, under a duty of three colonial livres the kental, and our
vessels are as free as their own to carry our commodities thither, and
to bring away rum and molasses.

*****

_The United Netherlands_ prohibit our pickled beef and pork, meals and
bread of all sorts, and lay a prohibitory duty on spirits distilled from
grain.

All other of our productions are received on varied duties, which may be
reckoned, on a medium, at about three per cent.

They consume but a small proportion of what they receive. The residue
is partly forwarded for consumption in the inland parts of Europe, and
partly re-shipped to other maritime countries. On the latter portion,
they intercept between us and the consumer, so much of the real value as
is absorbed by the charges attending an intermediate deposite.

Foreign goods, except some East India articles, are received in the
vessels of any nation.

Our ships may be sold and naturalized there, with exceptions of one or
two privileges, which scarcely lessen their value.

In the American possessions of the United Netherlands, and Sweden, our
vessels and produce are received, subject to duties, not so heavy as to
have been complained of.

*****

_Great Britain_ receives our pot and pearl ashes free, while those of
other nations pay a duty of two shillings three pence the kental. There
is an equal distinction in favor of our bar-iron, of which article,
however, we do not produce enough for our own use. Woods are free from
us, whilst they pay some small duty from other countries. Indigo and
flaxseed are free from all countries. Our tar and