commercial regulations we may wish to establish. The exceptions from
these, which the other treaties will require, may take in the treaty
with the Emperor. I should be glad to communicate some answer, as soon
as Congress shall have made up their minds on it. My information to
Congress, on the subject of our commercial articles with this country,
has only come down to January the 27th. Whether I shall say any thing on
it, in my letter to Mr. Jay by this conveyance, depends on its not
being too early for an appointment I expect hourly from the Count de
Vergennes, to meet him on this and other subjects. My last information
was, that the lease was too far advanced to withdraw from it the article
of tobacco, but that a clause is inserted in it, empowering the King
to discontinue it at any time. A discontinuance is, therefore, the
only remaining object, and as even this cannot be effected till the
expiration of the old lease, which is about the end of the present year,
I have wished only to stir the subject, from time to time, so as to keep
it alive. This idea led me into a measure proposed by the Marquis de
la Fayette, whose return from Berlin found the matter at that point, to
which my former report to Congress had conducted it. I communicated to
him what I had been engaged on, what were my prospects, and my purpose
of keeping the subject just open. He offered his services with that zeal
which commands them on every occasion respecting America. He suggested
to me the meeting two or three gentlemen, well acquainted with this
business. We met. They urged me to propose to the Count de Vergennes,
the appointing a committee to take the matter into consideration. I
told them, that decency would not permit me to point out to the Count de
Vergennes the mode by which he should conduct a negotiation, but that
I would press again the necessity of an arrangement, if, whilst that
should be operating on his mind, they would suggest the appointment of
a committee. The Marquis offered his services for this purpose. The
consequence was the appointment of a committee, and the Marquis as a