Ashbel Smith to Anson Jones, April 15, 1843
Summary: Smith summarized the contents of some of his previous letters. Specifically, he reminded Jones that, in his opinion, Texas should lift the ban on duties for French wine because Texas would never get a similar concession for cotton exports to France because the latter would always favor their colonies's cotton. Smith went to London to try to get a loan from Britain(which he believed was doubtful) and secure relations with Spain. At the end of the letter, he informed Jones that he was suspending letters of marque because of rumors that Mexico might have ceased hostilities with Texas; also listed the men he had appointed as consuls in France.
No 37[sic] LEGATION OF TEXAS PARIS
April 15. 1843.
Hon ANSON JONES
Secretary of State.
SIR,
In a communication made to your Department a few days since, I acknowledged the receipt of your despatches up to the 26th February inclusive. I wrote at the same time to His Excellency the President. My despatches were sent through England to be thence forwarded by the Great Western to the United States. I have since
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learned that the Western will not sail from England until the 29th of this month. I shall therefore briefly allude to some matters contained in my last communications.
Our relations with this Court appear to me to be quite satisfactory. A prompt and very friendly attention is given to every subject I have submitted to their consideration. I am persuaded their good offices are sincerely and actively exerted to effect a peace between our country and Mexico; and Mr Guizot assured me, as mentioned in my former despatches, that their Minister at Mexico would be promptly instructed to make the proper representations to the Mexican Government to induce them to abstain from their cruel treatment of Texian Prisoners and henceforth to conduct hostilities agreeably to the more humane usages of civilized nations.
Some unpleasant feeling was created by the restoration of the duties on French Wines conformably to the Teaty; and a remark of Mr Guizot's in a note to me leads me to think that the Vte. de Cramayel has been instructed to ask of our Government the reasons for revoking the temporary abolition of the duties on Wines. In a note to Mr Guizot I explained the very obvious policy of this step, and I trust the dissatisfaction created by it has subsided. Copies of these notes have been forwarded to your Department. I have also sent copies of my note to Mr Guizot informing him of my having been furnished with powers to negotiate etc.; and of his reply thereto, couched in very friendly terms, and informing me of the appointment of a gentleman to conduct his business, on the part of the French Government. No important results however are anticipated; the guarantee of our Loan I am confidently assured will not be accorded. Nor does it appear to me practicable to obtain the entry of our cotton into France on such terms as would render it an object for us to make any concessions. French colonial cotton pays a duty of 6 60/100 francs, the 100 kilo: Mediterranean cotton pays 11 francs, all other cottons including Texian pays 20 francs, added the 10th that is, 22 francs the 100 kilos. A discriminating duty will always be maintained in favor of their Colonial cotton. The best we can do will be to get the cotton of Texas placed on the same footing as the Mediterranean, that is, subject to a duty of 11 francs the 100 kilos. I do not however deem this by any means as an equivalent for the free introduction of French wines into Texas. In Great Britain, foreign cottons embracing Texian; pay 2s 10d the cwt--very nearly 7 35/100 francs, being very little more than colonial cotton pays in France. I have represented that the high tax on raw cotton augments the price which the manufacturer must ask for his goods. It is replied that it affords a large and legitimate revenue to the Government.
Mr. Bourgeois has thought it advisable to visit London to try to effect his Loan there. Private letters inform me of the very great
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abundance of money in that market. Mr. Bourgeois and I are to meet there in 10 days. The Texian Loan of Mr Bourgeois has had no publicity in Paris; the same care will be used to avoid the disagreeable notoriety which our Bonds formerly had, in London. Although our standing is decidedly better than it was several months since, I am not very sanguine in relation to the Loan, especially as it has to encounter the depressed state of American Credit. Otherwise it would, by the great advantages offered, commend itself strongly to Capitalists. I shall keep most strictly within the limits of my instructions.
In London, I shall ascertain with care and exactness, the ability of the Company consisting of Messrs Carroll, Converse, Mercer, Mawe and Stukely to carry out the provisions of their contract, and the manner of their conducting the enterprise; and I shall inform your department accordingly.
I shall renew in London also my relations with General Sancho Minister of Spain. The respective relations of the French and English Govts. towards that of Espartero, which are well known to you, point out London as decidedly preferable to Paris for negotiating with Spain. I hope too to receive some aid now from the British Government in this matter since the satisfactory intelligence in relation to Texas which they have received from Mr. Elliott and Mr Kennedy.
I shall also communicate personally with the Earl of Aberdeen in relation to the manner in which hostilities are conducted by Mexico, and to the prospects of the establishment of peace between Texas and Mexico through the good offices of the friendly Powers.
News was brought a few days since that the Mexican Congress had adjourned to Xalapa where they had passed resolutions to discontinue hostile operations against Texas and Yucatan. This intelligence has appeared to me so important, that with other reasons, I have been induced to take no steps in relation to the Letters of Marque sent me, until more certain information shall be received concerning the proceedings in Mexico. The issuing of these commissions has moreover been deemed by me as an act requiring very great prudence--and I have concluded to defer, until a personal interview with Lord Aberdeen shall apprise me of the prospects of peace through mediation. In France I shall have the counsels of Admiral Baudin in this matter; a very sincere and efficient friend of Texas and standing very well with this Government.
I have appointed ad interim Monsieur Pierre Brunet, Consular Agent for Paris. He is the head of a very respectable Banking House formerly of Toulouse--and now a Banker of Paris. My inquiries concerning him were minute and the answers satisfactory.
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He appears to be acceptable to this Govt. which has granted him the provisory permission etc. I think he would make a good Consul General--if one be deemed necessary for France.
I have also appointed provisorily, Monsieur Maly E. Dumon, Consular Agent of Cette a brisk commercial town on the Mediterranean. He is well recommended, a nephew of the Deputy a very influential member of the Chamber, and connected with the house at Bordeaux now freighting a ship for Galveston. I think he would be a good Consul.
WIth great respect
Your very obedient servant
ASHBEL SMITH.
Source Copy Consulted: Ashbel Smith to Anson Jones, April 15, 1843, in George Garrison, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republic of Texas, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1908, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1911), 3 vols., 3: 1438-1441