J’ai l’honneur de vous renvoyer la lettre du Capitaine Gardner
que vous avés bien voulu me confier et la copie de celle de M.
Texier négociant à Bordeaux. D’après les faits qui y sont exposés
la ferme générale a écrit sur le Champ à Bordeaux, pour qu’il ne
fut donné aucune suitte au procès verbal qui a été rendu, aussi
c’est une affaire que vous pouvés regarder comme arrangée.
Cependant comme il y a une contravention réelle, puisqu’il s’est
trouvé un Excédent a la quantité de Tabac déclaré, La Ferme
Générale espèpere que vous trouverés juste que le Capitaine
Gardner paye une légère amende 12 lt qui sera abondonnée aux
Employés qui ont fait la vérification. Je suis avec un profond
respect Monsieur Votre trés humble et trés obéissant serviteur
I should hardly have presumed to have given this interruption to
your important occupations had not an event taken place in which I
find my interest and honour too deeply concerned to admit of
Silence.
I arrived here 5 Days since in the Ship Amity belonging to
Messrs. Cabot of Salem in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
bringing a Cargo of Rice from Charleston South Carolina. Being
unacquainted with the Laws of this Kingdom I was upon my arrival
apprised by my Broker (M. Menard) of the necessity of making an
exact report of the quantity of Tobacco on board of the Ship. I
according sent an express and most positive order to my Mates to
collect every Ounce of that Commodity on board the Ship and to
make a return to me of the weight of it: this order was faithfully
executed and the quantity returned 173 lb weighed with the
Steelyards belonging to the Ship, from this amount I deducted 17
lb being as I was informed the difference between the weight of
this Country and Ours. Unfortunately I did not mention this
circumstance to Monsr. Menard who therefore deducts 16 lb more for
the same purpose, so that our report was erronious by this
accident 16 lb. The Envoys of the Bureau report that they find 23
lb more of Tobacco than have been reported; of this Quantity about
2-¼ lb was by threats drawn from the Pockets and Pouches (I
might almost add Jaws) of my Crew consisting of 15 Sailors which
did not exceed one Day’s consumption for the remaining excess of
4-¾ lb I can give no account; it probably arose from a
fault in the Steelyards which are seldom very exact. I have the
most solemn assurances of my Officers in whom I have every reason
to confide that they weighed every Leaf of Tobacco on board of the
Ship neither they nor myself had any interest therein.
I have stated these facts to the Directors of the Tobacco
revenue but am told that 23 lb of unreported Tobacco have been
found on board my Vessel and that I must pay a fine of 50 Livres
per pound therefor and that if I expect redress I must look
elsewhere for it.
This being my situation I must pray your Excellency to use your
influence with the Farmers General that this severe and unmeritted
fine may be remitted.
Was there the slightest foundation for a suspicion of an
unwarrantable intention on my part I should not have had the
assurance to apply to your Excellency in the manner I now do. But
however contrary it may appear to the principles of our Order
there is no person who views an illicit trade in a light more
unfavourable than myself. Permit me now to subscribe myself with
the most profound respect your Excellency’s ever obedient and
humble Servant.
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr. Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America at the Court of France.