TO MR. NECKER.

Paris, September 26,1789.

Sir,

I had the honor of waiting on you at Versailles, the day before yesterday, in order to present my respects on my departure to America.  I was unlucky in the moment, as it was one in which you were gone out.

I wished to have put into your hands, at the same time, the enclosed state of the British northern fishery for the years 1788 and 1789, by which you will see that they have lost in one year, one third of that fishery, the effect, almost solely, of the Arret which shut the ports of France to their oils.

I wished also to know, whether, while in America, I could be useful towards encouraging supplies of provision to be brought to this country the ensuing year.  I am persuaded a considerable relief to the city of Paris might be obtained, by permitting the importation of salted provisions from the United States.  Our salted beef, particularly, (which, since the war, we have learned to prepare in the Irish manner, so as to be as good as the best of that country) could be sold out to the people of Paris, for the half of what they pay for fresh meat.  It would seem then, that the laborer paying but half the usual price for his meat, might pay the full price of his bread, and so relieve government from its loss on that article.  The interest of the gabelles has been an objection, hitherto, to the importation of salted provisions.  But that objection is lessened by the reduction of the price of salt, and done away entirely, by the desire of the present government to consider the ease and happiness of the people as the first object.  In every country as fully peopled as France, it would seem good policy to encourage the employment of its lands in the cultivation of corn, rather than in pasturage, and consequently to encourage the use of all kinds of salted provisions, because they can be imported from other countries.  It may be apprehended, that the Parisian, habituated to fresh provision, would not use salted.  Then he would not buy them, and of course they would not be brought, so that no harm can be done by the permission.  On the contrary, if the people of Paris should readily adopt the use of salted provisions, the good would result which is before mentioned.  Salt meat is not as good as fresh for soups, but it gives an higher flavor to the vegetables boiled with it.  The experience of a great part of America, which is fed almost entirely on it, proves it to be as wholesome as fresh meat.  The sea scurvy, ascribed by some to the use of salt meat, is equally unknown in America as in Europe.  It is the want of vegetables at sea which produces the scurvy.  I have thus hastily mentioned reasons and objections, to save you the time and trouble of recollecting them.  To you, Sir, it suffices barely to mention them.  Mr. Short, charge des affaires of the United States, will have the honor of delivering you this, and of giving you any further details which you may be pleased to require.