the giving new powers to go on with this, and said, that, in the mean time, he would arrange with us the plan.  In a commercial view, no great good is to be gained by this.  But in a political one, it may be expedient.  As the treaty would, of course, be in the terms of those of Prussia and Portugal, it will give us but little additional embarrassment, in any commercial regulations we may wish to establish.  The exceptions from these, which the other treaties will require, may take in the treaty with the Emperor.  I should be glad to communicate some answer, as soon as Congress shall have made up their minds on it.  My information to Congress, on the subject of our commercial articles with this country, has only come down to January the 27th.  Whether I shall say any thing on it, in my letter to Mr. Jay by this conveyance, depends on its not being too early for an appointment I expect hourly from the Count de Vergennes, to meet him on this and other subjects.  My last information was, that the lease was too far advanced to withdraw from it the article of tobacco, but that a clause is inserted in it, empowering the King to discontinue it at any time.  A discontinuance is, therefore, the only remaining object, and as even this cannot be effected till the expiration of the old lease, which is about the end of the present year, I have wished only to stir the subject, from time to time, so as to keep it alive.  This idea led me into a measure proposed by the Marquis de la Fayette, whose return from Berlin found the matter at that point, to which my former report to Congress had conducted it.  I communicated to him what I had been engaged on, what were my prospects, and my purpose of keeping the subject just open.  He offered his services with that zeal which commands them on every occasion respecting America.  He suggested to me the meeting two or three gentlemen, well acquainted with this business.  We met.  They urged me to propose to the Count de Vergennes, the appointing a committee to take the matter into consideration.  I told them, that decency would not permit me to point out to the Count de Vergennes the mode by which he should conduct a negotiation, but that I would press again the necessity of an arrangement, if, whilst that should be operating on his mind, they would suggest the appointment of a committee.  The Marquis offered his services for this purpose.  The consequence was the appointment of a committee, and the Marquis as a member of it.  I communicated to him my papers.  He collected other lights wherever he could, and particularly from the gentlemen with whom we had before concerted, and who had a good acquaintance with the subject.  The Marquis became our champion in the committee, and two of its members, who were of the corps of Farmers General, entered the lists on the other side.  Each gave in memorials.  The lease, indeed, was signed while I was gone to England, but the discussions were, and still are continued in the committee: