Oranges continuing to mature themselves _naturally_ on the banks of the Tagus, and artificially upon those of the Seine, must continue to require for their production much more labor on the latter than the former.

The law can only equalize the _conditions of sale_.

It is evident that while the Portuguese sell their oranges at a franc apiece, the ninety centimes which go to pay the tax are taken from the French consumer.

Now look at the whimsicality of the result.

Upon each Portuguese orange, the country loses nothing; for the ninety centimes which the consumer pays to satisfy the tax, enter into the treasury.