your further Government we inclose you a price current, to which craving reference it only remains for us to wish you the Compliments of [the] Season which we do very sincerely and many happy returns of this new year, assuring you of the perfect attachment with which we are, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE. Our National Assembly has just passed a Law prohibiting the importation of all foreign oils except American, which may be imported under a Duty of 12 li per % wt. We hope this may encourage your fisheries as the french are as yet incompitent for the Consumption. 21 February, 1791. By the delay of the packet we have the opportunity of informing you that the farmers General are suppressed and the importation of Tobacco made free without any duty if reexported within a year otherwise or if used in the Country to pay a duty of 25 per % Wt. which is not half what the farmers General heretofore imposed on the consumer. We had a letter from your good Son dated at Dunkirk 29th ulto. by which it appears he was then well and preparing for his Trip to Holland. SAMUEL LAWTON TO CHRISTOPHER AND Cape françois, february 18th, 1791. Gentlemen, THESE may inform you of my safe arivel in 16 days three days before Capt. Engs. I find here a great number of Americans and every thing very lowe. I had some thoughts of going to Porterprince, but on inquiring find it as bad there as here. fish is much lower there. as for my Oil I could do nothing with it there such a quantity going down in one Vessel. I had some prospect here at first but after I had enterd there was two sail come in the next day chiefly with Candels and Oil and flower. there is no end to it this day the best of Philadelphia superfine is sold for six Dol. what I shall do with my Oil I no not, the People from the eastward would be glad to get 40 sue per gal for 20 Cask together. I have got mine all on board yet. I have sold my fish for 33 Liver. my flower I was glad to get 55 Livers being stoad among the [Oil?] the Barrels was as black as if they had bin stoad in a oil house in the midst of summer. I have sold some of my candels at 3 Liv. 5 sous hering what I have sold from 28 to 30 Liv. rice very dul here I have sold a few Cask at 20 to 22 Liver per mound? Long staves 190 Liver mackril going from 4 to 4 Dol. sammon 81⁄2 Dol. dull, minhaden no price fixt. the Onions sold at 10 sue per Bunch, molasses very scarce and high so much rains up as high as 78 and 80 sue. I expect it will be something lower. sugers very high. Tis not in my power to make dispatch. Capt. Shearman saild a few days ago for Porterprince with 90 Cask of rice. Dennis likewise with 100 besides flower and Vessels going down every day and coming in here. I shall write again soon by Capt. Arnold or Minro bound for Providence. I remain I remain yours, Plese to acquaint my family of my arivel. [Endorsed,] favoured by Capt. Deming. Gentlemen, SAMUEL LAWTON TO CHRISTOPHER AND Cape François, March 4th, 1791. SIR this my second letter the first by Captain Deming by the way of Newlondon informing you of my arivel in 16 days days and likewise of the markets here. they still remain much the same. I have sold of all my fish as I wrote you before for 33 Livers flower at 55 Livers sence that I have sold about third of my Oil at 45 Livers and about half of my Candels from 3 Livers five to 3 Livers ten. I have got on hand now the remainder of the Oils and Candels the two thirds of the minhaden and about one third of my salmon. the herings sold from 28 to 30 Livers Salmon from 8 Dol to 8 mackrel very musty from 4 to 4 minhaden what sold from 1 Dol. to 2 Dol. very dull sail. molasses keepes up to eighty sue per Velt yet the first quality of sugers at 8 Dollers. I am in hopes Molasses will be some thing lower but it is very uncertain so many Vessels comeing in. Capt. Engs and my self will wait a few weekes longer before we shall begin to buy] it for if it comes plentier it will be better then [now.] Mr. Stonsong and Shafre are the merchants I have aply['d to] to assist me with my Cargo. so I remain Your humble servant. SAM'L LAWTON Sir, EDWARD FORBES TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Dublin, 15 April, 1791. THE bearer being bound for your place, giving me an opportunity of paying my respects, and acquaint you that Flaxseed has been sold here this Season at various prices, from 42/6 to 62/6 per Hhd. and this day 66/. and £3.8.3 is is asked, but believe not given; the rise has been owing to the quantity of Flaxseed lost from America, not less than from 4000 to 5000 Hhds. Early this Month, a Ship bound here from Philadelphia with near 1000 Hhds on board was wrecked near Limerick, which with two other Vessels now kept out by the Easterly Winds, (which generally I think prevails about this Season) hath occasioned it. The preparations making in England to send a large Fleet into the Baltic, against the Russians, has occasioned a rise in Naval Stores, etc. Lumber has also advanced, as well as every other article imported from the Baltic. Respectfully I remain, Sir, Your obedient Servant, [Endorsed,] Per Patty Capt. Mosher. EDWARD FORBES FENWICK MASON AND CO. TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN1 Bordeaux, le 30 April, 1791. Sir, NOT doubting it of sufficient consequence to be interesting, we make it a duty to give you the earliest information of the important reform just made in the tobacco trade to this kingdom, by a late decree of the national asembly. The Farme, and all exclusive priveledges and abuses, in purchase, sale and manufacture of Tobacco, are from the 15 day of this month abolished; since which date all American Tobaccoes are admissable as before, (coming in leaf and in Cask directly from America in French or American Bottoms only) and stored in the national magazines, where they have the right of entrepot for 12 months, without duty; and may at any time during that period, be reshipped equally free: When taken out for consumption, they are subject to a duty of 25 1. p. cwt: imported on American, of 18 l. 15 s. p. cwt. : on French bottoms. We beg leave to remark that this article is sold as before in the stores of Entrepôt; and as it is the consumer who pays the duty on taking it out, it is not felt by the Importer; that the number of private manufactures, establishing all over the country and beginning their purchases, has already occasioned a competition favorable to the sellerr, and before unknown here, which has considerably augmented the price of Tobacco (for this refer to our current adjoind); that in future the natural consequence of individual emulation, will make our market much more nice in qualities: those prefered and most demanded, will be the large, strong, black scented Tobacco, proper for snuff, which forms a very great proportion of our consumption. We must not omit to advise, that the same decree permits the cultivation of Tobacco throughout the Kingdom, but are of opinion that so little land can be spared from the present culture, and that our soil is so improper for the one in question, little is to be feared by the American planter from any 1 A printed circular letter. rivalship in this country; at all events nothing for some years to come. The great difference made between french and American Bottoms, we can but lament; But are given to hope by M. Short, charge des affaires, of the U. S. at Paris, the question will be reconsidered, and the two nations more equally taxed. We flatter ourselves our port will offer a more advantageous general Market than any in the Kingdom, as well from its water communication with the interior country, quite to the medeterannean; as from the orders that may result from the north of Europe, in consequence of the great commerce that is done with that quarter. And we beg to assure you of our unremitted attention to your interest and greatest exertions to give satisfaction when ever you may be pleased to intrust any thing to us. Hoping this very favourable change may influence happily, in general, on so important a Branch of American commerce, and give you, in particular, room to many, and profitable adventures. With the greatest respect, We are, Sir, Your most obedient and very humble servants. FENWICK MASON AND Co. Below is a tariff of the other new duties as yet passed by our Government and which we suppose may be acceptable. Whale and all other fish oil directly from America on French or American bottoms 6 l. p. cwt. (all other foreign oil prohibited). Whale bone 15 l. p. cwt. —— Bees wax yellow 3 1. p. cwt. — Indigoe 15 l. p. cwt. Flax seed 7 s. p. cwt. 50 s. p. cwt. barril of 240 Turpentine 35 s. p. cwt. Tar p. - Butter à 300 pounds 15 s. - Beef & pork 5 l. p. cwt. — Iron in Barrs 20 s. p. cwt. - Deer skins half drest Bear skins 5 s. p. pièce― Squirrel 20 45 l. p. cwt. Whole drest 75 l. p. cwt. s. p. hundred. - Beaver, musk-rat rabbit, and hair skins nothing. All skins raw in hair for tanning or dressing, as cow, veal, seal, deer, goat, sheep etc. nothing. -— Pot and Pearl ashes, Tallow, Hemp, Pig-Iron, nothing. — Wheat, Rye, Rice and all sorts of grain, flour and biscuit nothing. — All sorts of timber, masts, staves, etc. nothing. Note all duties here after, will be paid on the nett weight. N. B. Beef and Pork may be stored on Entrepôt and sold free of Duty as before for Exportation. |