"The Commercial Committee have formed a new tariff, which is now under press, as they write me, to be presented to the assembly. They not only admit American oils in their plan, but put the duties lower than under the _Arrêt du Conseil_. It is yet for the assembly to decide on it. I have already informed you of the stages through which this business has been carried, and the manner in which it has been done. I hope the means will be approved of; and the United States will have reason to be satisfied with the result. The delay is inevitable from the nature and proceedings of the assembly. That is the cause, also, of the uncertainty and variation in the opinions which I have communicated to you from time to time on these subjects. "The resistance of a considerable part of the clergy to a decree of the assembly for their civil organization, and particularly for changing the limits of the dioceses, and the violent measures adopted by the assembly respecting this resistance, or rather non-compliance, has been matter of uneasiness for some time. By a decree of the assembly all those of the clergy who, by a given day, had not taken an oath to maintain the civil organization of that body, were to be deprived of their ecclesiastical functions, and their successors immediately appointed agreeably to the new mode of election. That day rigorously has passed, and only two bishops of the assembly have taken the oath. Of the curates of Paris a majority, also, had refused; but among those subscribed were some of the principal, and particularly the curate of St. Eustache, the King's confessor, who, it is said, was converted by the King himself, who takes every possible means of preventing what might occasion disorder, and who, from his uniform conduct, merits better treatment than he sometimes receives. By a construction of the decree some delay is obtained for its execution. In the meantime two of the refusing bishops have entered into negotiation. They desire to find some decent means of retracting their refusal; hitherto they have waited for the consent of the Pope, to obtain which they had sent an express to Rome. His answer has not yet been received, but it is known by private letters that he is disposed to accommodate at present, though he would not hear of it at first. I know not yet what effect this will produce on the people in the provinces. In the capital, their love of the Revolution so far surpasses every other passion, that all the exertions of the _Garde Nationale_ have been necessary to prevent their entering the churches and hanging the refusing curates. They will manifest their dispositions less violently, perhaps, in the provinces, but in general the spirit of the Revolution will certainly predominate, even if the clergy succeed to convince them that it is contrary to the spirit of religion.