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I could find. Your Excellency will know how far they are wrong ; and should you find them considerably wrong, yet I am persuaded you will find, after strictly correcting them, that the collection of this branch of the revenue still absorbs too much.
My apology for making these remarks, will, I hope, be found in my wishes to improve the commerce between the two nations, and the interest which my own country will derive from this improve ment. The monopoly of the purchase of tobacco in France, dis courages both the French and American merchant from bringing it here, and from taking in exchange the manufactures and pro ductions of France. It is contrary to the spirit of trade, and to the dispositions of merchants, to carry a commodity to any market where but one person is allowed to buy it, and where, of course, that person fixes its price, which the seller must receive, or re export his commodity, at the loss of his voyage thither. Experience accordingly shews, that they carry it to other markets, and that they take in exchange the merchandise of the place where they deliver it. I am misinformed, if France has not been furnished from a neighboring nation with considerable quantities of tobacco, since the peace, and been obliged to pay there in coin, what might have been paid here in manufactures, had the French and Ame rican merchants brought the tobacco originally here. I suppose, too, that the purchases made by the Farmers General, in America, are paid for chiefly in coin, which coin is also remitted directly hence to England, and makes an important part of the balance supposed to be in favor of that nation against this. Should the Farmers General, by themselves, or by the company to whom they may commit the procuring these tobaccos from America, require, for the satisfaction of government on this head, the exportation of a proportion of merchandise in exchange for them, it would be an unpromising expedient. It would only commit the exports, as well as imports, between France and America, to a monopoly, which, being secure against rivals in the sale of the merchandise of France, would not be likely to sell at such moderate prices as might en courage its consumption there, and enable it to bear a competition with similar articles from other countries. I am persuaded this ex portation of coin may be prevented, and that of commodities ef fected, by leaving both operations to the French and American merchants, instead of the Farmers General. They will import a sufficient quantity of tobacco, if they are allowed a perfect freedom in the sale ; and they will receive in payment, wines, oils, brandies, and manufactures, instead of coin ; forcing each other, by their competition, to bring tobaccos of the best quality ; to give to the French manufacturer the full worth of his merchandise ; and to sell
