INQUEST ADMtNISTRATIOl^. 5? 



a salutary terror was spread amongst the guilty. The 

 misdeeds of the forest officials, moreover, attracted the 

 attention of Louis XIV. and of Colbert. On the 15th 

 October 1661, there was delivered a Decree of Council 

 which, after having established that the greatest disorders 

 had been introduced into the forests of the domain, 

 enjoined, with a view to avoid the complete annihiliation 

 of these, a reconnoissance of the area of each block ; of 

 the kinds of trees of which they were composed ; of the 

 fellings executed since 1635 ; of the portions alienated, 

 usurped, or exchanged ; of the number of parties holding 

 rights, and of the returns from these. These Reformations, 

 as in the language of the time and country they were 

 called, comprised the complete forest service. They were 

 to be reported by the grand masters, or failing them, by 

 the Comptrollers-General of Waters and Forests. But, 

 no doubt, it was not long before it was seen that the 

 officers of the highest grades were often themselves impli- 

 cated to a great extent in the criminal acts which they 

 were required to point out ; and it was decided very pro- 

 perly, to send into the provinces " Inquisitors " more 

 independent and more trusty. These " Commissioners '' 

 were generally Maitres des requetes, or Chancellors of the 

 King. They set to work in 1662, and in the year follow- 

 ing, enlightened by their first reports, Colbert addressed 

 to them, 10th March 1663, complete and detailed instruc- 

 tions in regard to the end of their mission, and the 

 measures to be taken to accomplish this. 



' The principal passages of this document may enable 

 any one without difficulty to conceive the fearful disorder. 



' The instructions pointed out, for example, the greater 

 part of the malversations to which officers of the Crown, 

 both high and low, had given themselves. " It is well," it 

 was said, " to remark in how many different ways the first 

 officials must have abused the authority pertaining to 

 their offices : — the grand masters in taking under divers 

 pretexts large gratuities for ordinary and extraordinary 

 sales which they have made j 



