Ch. vi. in France. 383 



ence from so many different countries. I could 

 expect, besides, to add very little to what has 

 been so well done by Mr. Townsend. 



La contribution foncie're, la taxemobiliaire, les bar r it res, les droits de 

 douane, all excite bitter complaints ; and the only new substitute 

 that struck me was a tax upon game, which, being at present al- 

 most extinct in France, cannot be expected to yield a revenue suf- 

 ficient to balance all the rest. The work, upon the whole, is ex- 

 tremely curious ; and as shewing the wish of the government to 

 know the state of each department, and to listen to every obser- 

 vation and proposal for its improvement, is highly creditable to the 

 ruling power. It was published for a short time ; but the circu- 

 lation of it was soon stopped and confined to the ministers, les con- 

 seils generaux, &c. Indeed the documents are evidently more of a 

 private than of a public nature, and certainly have not the air of 

 being intended for general circulation. 



