FOREST ADMINISTRATION. 25 



' These extracts are from Lettres^ instructions, et memoires 

 de Colbert, publies par Pierre Clement (4 vols, folio), as are 

 also others which follow. 



' The corruption was so general that the instructions 

 enjoined the Commissioners to be on their guard against 

 all the officers with whom they had any business trans- 

 action. " From the time that the Commissioner arrives in 

 the locality of the maitrise of the forest which he seeks 

 to reform, it is necessary/ that he take possession at once of 

 the several offices, that he may acquire a thorough know- 

 ledge of all that has been done in the said maitrise ; and 

 in order to effect this, if he cannot assure himself of the 

 fidelity of the keeper of the records (which will be diffi- 

 cult), it may be well that he cause to be sealed up all the 

 places in which there can be papers belonging to the 

 officer, that an inventory may then be made of these : or 

 to set a watch of such a kind that the keeper of the 

 records cannot make away with any. 



' " It is also necessary to observe in connection with the 

 employment of a surveyor that he never employ one in the 

 country or on a forest in which he has been accustomed 

 to work. . . . 



' '* The Commissioner in going to reconnoitre the boun- 

 daries and to examine the land-marks should see that he 

 be accompanied by the officers of the maitrise, against 

 whom he must be carefully on his guard, particularly on land 

 ruined and in bad condition, it being impossible but that 

 they have contributed to this." 



'As for the attorneys, Colbert did not for a moment 

 doubt but that they had neglected what was their duty to 

 exact, the penalties imposed to prevent the continuation of 

 depredations " As the Commissioner," he writes, " will 

 doubtless find out an infinite number of penalties which 

 have not been paid, it is necessary he make choice of a 

 good and honest man, who shall be commissioned by the 

 king to receive these, and immediately to proceed against 

 all those who have been condemned to pay them, that 



