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taken for his use as mouture^ or payment for 

 grinding; to repair the highways and by 

 roads passing through their lands, and to make 

 new ones, which, when opened, must be sur- 

 veyed and approved by the grand voyeur of 

 the district, and estabhshed by proces verbal. 

 Lands are sometimes held by bail amphiteotique, 

 or long lease of 20, 30, 50, or any number of 

 years, subject to a very small rent only. Franc 

 alleu is a freehold, under which lands are ex- 

 empt from all rights or duties to seigneurs, 

 acknowledging no lord but the king. Censive 

 is a feudal tenure, subject to an annual rent, 

 paid either in money or produce. 



The seigneurs, by the old laws that have not 

 been repealed, are entitled to constitute courts 

 and preside as judges therein, in Avhat is de- 

 nominated haute et basse justice^ which take 

 cognizance of all crimes committed within 

 their jurisdiction, except murder and treason. 

 This privilege has lain dormant ever since the 

 conquest, nor is it probable that it will ever be 

 revived, as such ample provision is made for 

 the regular administration of the laws. The 

 lods et vents constitute part of the seigneur's 

 revenue. It is the right to a twelfth part of the 

 purchase money of every estate within his 

 seigniory that changes its owner by sale, or 

 other means equivalent to a sale. This twelfth 



