As the conditions of our commerce with the French and British dominions are important, and a moment seems to be approaching when it may be useful that both should be accurately understood, I have thrown a representation of them into the form of a table, showing at one view how the principal articles, interesting to our agriculture and navigation, stand in the European and American dominions of these two powers. As to so much of it as respects France, I have cited under every article the law on which it depends; which laws, from 1784 downwards, are in my possession. Port-charges are so different, according to the size of the vessel and the dexterity of the captain, that an examination of a greater number of port-bills might, perhaps, produce a different result. I can only say, that that expressed in the table is fairly drawn from such bills as I could readily get access to, and that I have no reason to suppose it varies much from the truth, nor on which side the variation would lie. Still, I cannot make myself responsible for this article. The authorities cited will vouch the rest. I have the honor to be, with the most perfect respect and attachment, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, Th: Jefferson. _Footing of the Commerce of the United States with France and England, and with the French and English American Colonies._ [Illustration: page143] [Illustration: page144] LETTER XC.--TO THE PRESIDENT, January 4, 1792 TO THE PRESIDENT. Philadelphia, January 4, 1792, Sir, Having been in conversation to-day with Monsieur Payan, one of the St. Domingo deputies, I took occasion to inquire of him the footing on which our commerce there stands at present, and particularly whether the colonial _Arrêt_ of 1789, permitting a free importation of our flour till 1793, was still in force. He answered, that that _Arrêt_ was revoked in France on the clamors of the merchants there; and with a like permission to carry flour to the three usual ports, and he thinks to bring away coffee and sugar, was immediately renewed by the Governor. Whether this has been regularly kept up by renewed _Arrêts_, during the present trouble, he cannot say, but is sure that in practice it has never been discontinued, and that not by contraband, but openly and legally, as is understood. The public application to us to send flour there, is a proof of it. Instead, therefore, of resting this permission on a colonial _Arrêt_ till 1793, it should be rested on temporary _Arrêts_ renewed from time to time, as heretofore. This correction of the notes I took the liberty of laying before you with the table containing a comparative view of our commerce with France and England, I thought it my duty to make. I have the honor to be, with the most perfect respect and attachment, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, Th: Jefferson. LETTER XCI.--TO THOMAS PINCKNEY, January 17, 1792 TO THOMAS PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, January 17, 1792. Sir,