5082. MARKETS, Fur.—
The fur trade is an object of desire in this country [France].
London is at present their market for furs.
They pay for them there in ready money.
Could they draw their furs into their own
ports from the United States they would pay
us for them in productions. Nor should we
lose by the change of market, since, though
the French pay the London merchants in
cash, those merchants pay us with manufactures.
A very wealthy and well connected
company is proposing here to associate themselves
with an American company, each to
possess half the interest, and to carry on the
fur trade between the two countries. The
company here expect to make the principal
part of the advances; they also are soliciting
considerable indulgences from this government
from which the part of the company
on our side of the water will reap half the
advantage. As no exclusive idea enters into
this scheme, it appears to me worthy of encouragement.
It is hoped the government
here will interest themselves for its success.
If they do, one of two things may happen:
either the English will be afraid to stop the
vessels of a company consisting partly of
French subjects, and patronized by the
Court; in which case the commerce will be
laid open generally; or if they stop the vessels,
the-French company, which is strongly
connected with men in power, will complain
in form to their government, who may thus
be interested as principals in the rectification
of this abuse. As yet, however, the proposition
has not taken such a form as to assure
us that it will be prosecuted to this length.—
To John Jay.
Ford ed., iv, 231.
(P.
1786)
