most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.




LETTER XLIII.--TO M. LA FOREST, August 30, 1790


TO M. LA FOREST, _Consul of France_,

New York, August 30, 1790.

Sir,

I asked the favor of the Secretary of the Treasury to consider the
fourth article of the consular convention, and to let me know whether he
should conclude that Consuls not exercising commerce, were exempt from
paying duties on things imported for their own use. I furnished him no
explanation whatever, of what had passed on the subject at the time of
forming the convention, because I thought it should be decided on the
words of the convention, as they are offered to all the world, and that
it would only be where these are equivocal, that explanations might be
adduced from other circumstances. He considered the naked words of the
article, and delivered to me as his opinion, that, according to these,
the first paragraph, 'The Consuls and Vice-Consuls, &c. as the natives
are,' subjected all their property, in whatever form and under whatever
circumstances it existed, to the same duties and taxes to which the
property of other individuals is liable, and exempts them only from