Sir:
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that by intelligence communicated to Congress by the Minister of France, his most Christian Majesty has determined that L'orient shall be a free port, and although the edict is not published may be so considered by the Citizens of the United States; and that the Merchants of the United States likewise enjoy the liberty of frequenting the ports of Marsailles and Dunkirk, and participate, as other nations the franchises and privileges of these two places.