148 TRAVELS THROUGH 



{hare of the a&ual product valued inftead of 

 it. They offered mucrrreafoning upon this 

 fubject, but I could not well diftinguifh the 

 principles upon which they reafoned : I ra- 

 ther thought they wanted to have fomething 

 upon the plan of Vaubau's royal tythe - y but, 

 upon an explanation, found their idea to be 

 a tax on the clear profit of hufbandry, in- 

 ftead of the grofs produce. The national 

 debt of France, I found, they calculated to 

 carry an intereft, at the conclufion of the 

 war of fix millions feven hundred thoufand 

 pounds j and they allured me, if the feveral 

 provincial debts were added to this, being to 

 all intents and purpofes national ones, the 

 total amount would be eight millions three 

 hundred thoufand pounds a year. This ac- 

 count aftonifhed me : I repeated my enqui- 

 ries upon this head, expreffing my idea that 

 they muft be miftaken, or the kingdom muft 

 have funk under fuch an accumulation of 

 expence : they replied, Did it not Jink? 

 There wanted nothing but two or three 

 years more of the war, and me would never 

 have arifen again. The peace then, faid T, 

 was as neceffary to you, as it was to us ? 

 To you ! anfwered they quickly " necefTary 



to 



