*6 TRAVELS THROUGH 

 tion, pays i8ol. in taxes, though his rent 

 amounts only to 147!. Now, this fum of 

 327!. might not be too great a rent for the 

 farm in England, as I fuppofe it would not ; 

 but the mifchievous circumftance is, the 

 manner in which it is raifed. It is not a re- 

 gular rent for which the farmer agrees, and 

 which is not exceeded, let him get ever fuch 

 crops, or mew whatever appearance of 

 wealth he may ; but, on the contrary, is 

 an annual repartition by the officers of the 

 diftridt, who, though they are territorial 

 magiftrates, yet do they lay their afTefTment 

 in an arbitrary manner, and judge more by 

 appearances of wealth than they ought to 

 do : belides which, the capitation, which 

 is a great proportion of the taxes, is laid, ir* 

 all the provinces of France, in the fame 

 manner, and bears very heavy on the farmer. 

 When I come into the provinces where the 

 tattle is raifed, I have little doubt of meet- 

 ing with yet greater reafons for making 

 fimilar reflections. 



This farmer further informed me, that 

 the price of his labour runs after the follow- 

 ing rates: A man, in Summer, is. a day, 

 including harvcft, and alfo the vintage, 



in 



