A complete history of the Marquis de Lafayette, major-general in the American army in the war of the revolution. Embracing an account of his tour through the United States, to the time of his departure, September, 1825. By an officer in the late army.

MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. 153
to be formed in America, to purchase that quantity of whale
oil, of three qualities; one half of the first quality, one quarter of the second, and one quarter of the third, deliverable at
Havre, Nantz and Bordeaux;-the value of each kind to be
fixed by the current price of the port, at the time of delivery. After the establishment of the price, payment was to be
made by M. Sangran, in articles of the growth and manufac.
ture of France, according to invoices to be furnished by the
American company's agents, and to the full value of the oil
imported;-the price of these articles to be regulated in the
same manner as that of the oil.
These proposals were signed by M. Sangrain at Paris, on
the seventh of May, 1785, and immediately delivered to, and
forwarded by, the marquis, to the United States. He had
laboured with great assiduity to procure the total exemption
of duties on whale oil, but without success; because the
French government had directed their attention to the encouragement of the fisheries in vessels of their own nation.
The following extract from his letter, however, to Samuel
Breck, esquire, of Boston, will show that, with regard to the
sixteen thousand quintals already mentioned, he was completely successful; at the same time, it is an evidence of the
singleness of his heart, and the simplicity of his style:
"Paris, JMlay 13th, 1785.
" MY DEAR FRIEND,
" In consequence of our conversations, I have endeavoured to obtain an exemption of duties upon whale oils, but it
could not be done, because the French ministry are this very
moment encouraging that fishery. I, therefore, took another
way, and made a bargain, which you will find the more advantageous, as I have obtained from M. de Calonne, a total
exemption of duties,-national-foreign-of every kind whatsoever —for the three American vessels who will carry this
invoice of oils. You easily can conceive that the favour
could not be granted for more than one invoice. It is very
important that it be of a good nature; but I have put in the
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