1786. wherein he stated the principles which should be
established for the future regulation of the commerce between France
and the United States. It was become tolerably evident, at the date
of this letter, that the terms offered to the Nantuckois would not
produce their emigration to Dunkirk; and that it would be safest in
every event to offer some other alternative which might prevent their
acceptance of the British offers. The obvious one was to open the
ports of France to their oils, so that they might still exercise
their fishery, remaining in their native country, and find a new
market for its produce instead of that which they had lost. The
article of Whale oil was accordingly distinguished, in the letter of
M. de Calonne, by an immediate abatement of duty, and promise of
further abatement after the year 1790. This letter was instantly
sent to America, and bid fair to produce there the effect intended,
by determining the fishermen to carry on their trade from their own
homes, with the advantage only of a free market in France, rather
than remove to Great Britain where a free market and great bounty
were offered them. An Arret was still to be prepared to give legal
sanction to the letter of M. de Calonne. M. Lambert, with a patience
and assiduity almost unexampled, went through all the investigations
necessary to assure himself that the conclusions of the Committee had
been just.
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