member of it. I communicated to him my papers. He collected other lights
wherever he could, and particularly from the gentlemen with whom we had
before concerted, and who had a good acquaintance with the subject. The
Marquis became our champion in the committee, and two of its members,
who were of the corps of Farmers General, entered the lists on the other
side. Each gave in memorials. The lease, indeed, was signed while I was
gone to England, but the discussions were, and still are continued in
the committee: from which we derive two advantages; 1. that of showing,
that the object is not to be relinquished; and 2. that of enlightening
government, as to its true interest. The Count de Vergennes is
absolutely for it; but it is not in his department. Calonne is his
friend, and in this instance his principle seems to be, _Amica
veritas, sed magis amicus Plato_. An additional hope is founded in the
expectation of a change of the minister of finance. The present one is
under the absolute control of the Farmers General. The committee's views
have been somewhat different from mine. They despair of a suppression of
the Farm, and therefore wish to obtain palliatives, which would coincide
with the particular good of this country. I think, that so long as the
monopoly in the sale is kept up, it is of no consequence to us, how they
modify the pill for their own internal relief: but, on the contrary, the
worse it remains, the more necessary it will render a reformation. Any
palliative would take from us all those arguments and friends, that
would be satisfied with accommodation. The Marquis, though differing in
opinion from me on this point, has, however, adhered to my principle
of absolute liberty or nothing. In this condition is the matter at this
moment. Whether I say any thing on the subject to Mr. Jay, will depend
on my interview with the Count de Vergennes. I doubt whether that will
furnish any thing worth communicating, and whether it will be in time.
I therefore state thus much to you, that you may see the matter is not
laid aside.