' In this case, it becomes only a
change of destination and no loss at all. But this has passed between us
for greater caution only, and on the worst case supposable: for though a
suspension of payment by government might affect the bankers a little, I
doubt if any of them have embarked so much in the hands of government as
to endanger failure, and especially as they have had such long warning.
You will have known, that the ordinance passed by M. de Chillon in St.
Domingo, for opening ports to our importations in another part of the
island, was protested against by Marbois. He had always led the Count
de la Luzerne by the nose, while Governor of that island.
Marbois' representations, and Luzerne's prepossessions against our trade
with their colonies, occasioned him, as minister of that department,
not only to reverse the ordinance, but to recall Chillon and send out
a successor. Chillon has arrived here, and having rendered himself very
popular in the islands, their deputies in the National Assembly have
brought the question before them. The Assembly has done nothing more,
as yet, than to appoint a committee of inquiry. So much of Chillon's
ordinance as admitted the importation of our provisions, is continued
for a time. M. de Marbois, too, is recalled, I know not why or how.
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