A. D. 1683. ^°9 



It was in the year 1683 that moft authors reckon 

 France to have been in the meridian of power and glory ; 

 for at this time the produce of the feveral branches of her Livres. 

 revenue was reckoned annually to amount to - ^^ 5>5^(^,63^ 



And, in the opinion of many who have made flricl in- 

 quiry into her revenue fince that period, fhe feems to 

 have gradually funk in this rel'peft, fo that, according to 

 a well-written piece, in Englifh, publiOied in 1742, en- 

 titled, an Enquiry into the revenue and trade of France, 

 the annual revenue in 1733 did not amount to more than 140,278,473 



Difference between the years 1683 and 1733, - 75,288,160 



This is indeed a very great difference, and yet much of it may be 

 accounted for from the unbounded ambition of Louis XIV in draining 

 his kingdom of men and money for his wars, it being the opinion of 

 fome, that ever fince his invafion of Holland in 1672, his revenue gra- 

 dually funk, and the price of French lands therewith alfo funk ; and 

 from, foon after this time, expelling a vaft number of his mofl induf- 

 trious proteftant fubjeds, who, befides the wealth of many of them, car- 

 ried along with them their arts and induftry, and taught the nations, 

 who wifely, as well as pioufly, received them, almofl all kinds of French 

 manufadures ; hereby it was, that France foon began to feel a great 

 abatement of her exports of manufadures, both to England and Hol- 

 land. 



1 . With refpect to England, France formerly fupplied her with ma- 

 nufadured filks of all forts, to the value in fterling money, of 

 about __-_-_ L6oo,ooo 

 but now none at all. 



2. With linen, fail-cloth, and canvas, to about L7oo,ooo j 

 but fince the high duties we have laid on French goods, 

 amounting to a prohibition, theie are partly manufadured 

 at home, and partly imported from Holland, Germany, and 

 Rullia, (and more lately from Scotland and Ireland) who 

 take off our own goods in return. Deduding, therefor, 

 about L200,ooo for French cambrics, which, in time of 

 peace, are faid to come by way of Dunkirk, 8cc. the clear 



annual lofs to France, in this article, will be - 500,000 



3. In beaver hats, in glals, watches, and clocks, - 220,000 



(Since entirely our own manufidures, ot which we 

 alio export a great quantity.) 



4. In paper of all kinds, of which we now make much 



at home, and the reft we take of Holland and Genoa, - 90,000 



5. In iron ware, which we formerly had from Auvergne, 

 Vol. II, 4 H 



