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Subject Area: Economics
Subject Area: Political Theory

GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS. - Albert Gallatin, The Writings of Albert Gallatin, vol. 2 [1879]

Edition used:

The Writings of Albert Gallatin, ed. Henry Adams (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1879). 3 vols.

Part of: The Writings of Albert Gallatin, 3 vols.

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GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS.

No. 151.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose copies of my letters and inofficial notes to Mr. Pasquier of the 7th and 8th instants, and of his answer. Late in the evening of the 8th I received your despatch No. 20, of May 26, brought by Mr. Hyde de Neuville, and was glad that I had discussed the subject in those inofficial notes, as your letter is silent on the two most difficult points to explain,—the shortness of the time given, and the amount of the duty, which is certainly tantamount to an exclusion of the French vessels.

I have reason to believe that it is intended, immediately after the adjournment of the Chambers, to lay a retaliating extra duty on the tonnage of our vessels. This will be done by an ordinance of the King, as he has a right during the recess to modify custom-house duties. Whether government will be disposed to enter immediately in a negotiation with me I cannot say. They were already irritated, and will be more so with those sentences in my correspondence in which I suggest that they will do nothing unless compelled by our acts. Although from the general tenor of my letters to you it is clear that I thought the Ministry here well disposed, and that it was upon the commercial interest that our acts must produce such an effect as to induce them to withdraw their opposition to an arrangement, yet I fear that the expressions in question will wound the pride of government, and I wish they had been omitted in the publication.

I will wait with anxiety for your instructions on the subject of a consular convention, of the restoration of deserters, and of the other subjects to which you allude as coming within the scope of a commercial treaty. Those I have at present do not go beyond the proposals already made to the French government by my letter of 25th October last to Marquis Dessolle.

I have the honor, &c.