Article 4.  The duty of an eighth per cent, is merely to oblige the masters of vessels to enter their cargoes, for the information of government; without inducing them to attempt to smuggle.

Article 6.  Tar, pitch, and turpentine of America, coming in competition with the same articles produced in the southwestern parts of France, we could obtain no greater reduction, than two and a half per cent.  The duties before were from four to six times that amount.

Article 10.  The right of entrepot, given by this article, is almost the same thing, as the making all their ports, free ports for us.  The ships are indeed subject to be visited, and the cargoes must be reported in ports of entrepot, which need not be done in the free ports.  But the communication between the entrepot and the country is not interrupted by continual search of all persons passing into the country, which has proved so troublesome to the inhabitants of our free ports, as that a considerable proportion of them have wished to give back the privilege of their freedom.

Article 13.  This article gives us the privileges and advantages of native subjects, in all their possessions in Asia, and in the scales leading thereto.  This expression means, at present, the isles of France and Bourbon, and will include the Cape of Good Hope, should any future event put it into the hands of France.  It was with a view to this, that I proposed the expression, because we were then in hourly expectation of a war, and it was suspected that France would take possession of that place.  It will, in no case, be considered as including any thing westward of the Cape of Good Hope.  I must observe further, on this article, that it will only become valuable, on the suppression of their East India Company; because, as long as their monopoly continues, even native subjects cannot enter their Asiatic ports, for the purposes of commerce.  It is considered, however, as certain, that this Company will be immediately suppressed.

The article of tobacco could not be introduced into the Arret; because it was necessary to consider the Farmers General as parties to that arrangement.  It rests, therefore, of necessity, on the basis of a letter only.  You will perceive that this is nothing more than a continuation of the order of Bernis, only leaving the prices unfixed; and like that, it will require a constant and vexatious attention, to have its execution enforced.

The States who have much to carry, and few carriers, will observe, perhaps, that the benefits of these regulations are somewhat narrowed, by confining them to articles brought hither in French or American bottoms.  But they will consider, that nothing in these instruments moves from us.  The advantages they hold out are all given by this country to us, and the givers will modify their gifts as they please.  I suppose it to be a determined principle of this court not to suffer