228 TRAVELS THROUGH 



trade of corn, they had pleaded, as an ef- 

 fential of their plans, that all taxes what- 

 ever were to be abolifhed; all cuftoms, 

 excifes, imports, entries, land-taxes, &c. were 

 all to be changed for a (ingle duty of their 

 fcheming. Their ideas frightened the whole 

 Miiuftry; abfolute impracticabilities arofe 

 every moment they refleded on the plan 5 

 and, after all, an event, at beft but dubious, 

 was the profpe<ft. The whole was then re- 

 jected with a contempt that was a fore- 

 warning to us of the plans of theorifts 

 never more being hearkened to 5 and thus 

 an opportunity was loft, which, had it been 

 improved as it might have been, would, in 

 all probability, have fo far changed the 

 nature of the taille, as to have obviated the 

 mofl material objections to it. An anecdote 

 much deferving the attention, not only of 

 France, but of all Europe, and a {landing 

 lefTbn to writers on thefe fubje&s, to know 

 in future the bounds of moderation. 



I fpent two days with this very fenfible 

 and agreeable nobleman, who feemed, in 

 every idea, to have formed the jufteft no- 

 tions of the true fyftem of agriculture, and 

 intereft of a Hate; and, in all his con duel, 



to 



