5449. MONOPOLY, Tobacco.—[further continued].
While the advantages of
an increase of revenue to the crown, a diminution
of impost on the people, and a payment
in merchandise, instead of money, are conjectured
as likely to result to France from a
suppression of the monopoly on tobacco, we
have also reason to hope some advantages on
our part * * *. I do not expect this
advantage will be by any augmentation of
price. The other markets of Europe have too
much influence on this article to admit any
sensible augmentation of price to take place.
But the advantage I principally expect is an
increase of consumption. This will give us
a vent for so much more, and, of consequence,
find employment for so many more cultivators
of the earth; and, in whatever proportion it increases
this production for us, in the same
proportion will it procure additional vent for
the merchandise of France, and employment
for the hands that produce it. I expect, too,
that by bringing our merchants here, they
would procure a number of commodities in
exchange, better in kind and cheaper in price.—
To the Count de Vergennes. Washington ed. i, 390.
(P.
1785)
