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.