To Thomas Jefferson from Le Mesurier & Cie., 22 August 1790
From Le Mesurier & Cie.
Havre the 22d. Augt. 1790.
Sir
We have been advised from Rouën, that your effects from Paris are reembark’d on board Two Traders for this port so that we may expect them in a few days-provided they are not detained by contrary winds or any accident. You will receive the packages we are directed to send to Philadelphia by the Henrietta Captn: Weeks; as to those for Virginia, they must wait an opportunity, none offering for the present.
By Mr. Shorts’ Letters accompanying the present, he will undoubtedly inform you of the plan presented to the National Assembly, by the Committee of Taxes, an article of which will abolish the Farm and make Tobacco a free article of Trade, with liberty to manufacture and cultivate it, without restraint.
We shall be able by our next to announce the Decree, there being no doubt (in our mind) but the Assembly will adopt the Committee’s plan which seems a very popular one on the whole. We have the honor to be very respectfully Sir Yr. most obedient humble servants,
Par Le Mesurier & Comp.
RC (DNA: RG 59, MLR); endorsed as received 20 Nov. 1790 and so recorded in SJL. Dupl (DLC); enclosed in Le Mesurier & Cie. to TJ, 27 Aug. 1790, and received 22 Nov. 1790.
Short had already advised Delamotte to send TJ’s goods to Philadelphia and received the altered instructions confirming this decision after the effects were en route by water carriage to Rouen: there was also the usual doubt about available vessels and even about the number of parcels involved (TJ to Le Mesurier & Cie., 13, 16, and 18 Aug. 1790; DLC: Short Papers). On this day the Le Havre firm acknowledged Short’s letters and said that Le Blanc of Rouen had announced the forwarding of TJ’s goods to Le Havre and had drawn on them for payment of his costs, which they had refused but would pay if Short authorized it. Short directed payment on the 24th and at the same time gave the merchants a detailed analysis of the new regulations proposed in the report on tobacco, not then public (Le Mesurier & Cie. to Short, 14, 22 Aug. 1790; Short to Le Mesurier & Cie., 24 Aug. 1790; DLC: Short Papers).