The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress,
National Archives (two)
<Passy, January 26, 1779: We received your letter of January
21 yesterday. You ask which ports are free pursuant to the
treaty. As yet none have been specifically designated. All
French ports are open to all American vessels, and it would
not be politic to apply for any further distinctions, unless there
were the possibility of relief from import and export duties,
which we doubt. Goods, however, might be brought into such
ports from abroad and stored there temporarily without the
burden of subsequent export tax. Only you can judge the advantage
of this, and we should be glad of your advice. We
regret not being able to give you satisfactory information on
the article relating to Barbary corsairs. We have corresponded
with the French government on this subject, have written
Congress, and now await their instructions. As soon as circumstances
permit (two of us having been ill for a fortnight)
we will try to have the Minister clarify the question of duties,
and will then so inform you. Sartine’s answer to our convoy
application indicates that he had misunderstood the situation;
we have written again.>
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