There have been four orders of knighthood in France:
| Viz. | 1. | Knights of the Holy Ghost, | } | { 1578. | |
| 2. | Knights of St. Michael, | } | Instituted in | { 1469. | |
| 3. | Knights of St. Louis, and | } | { 1693. | ||
| 4. | Knights of St. Lazarus, | } | { |
The annual revenues were collected by a land-tax—by the customs—by a tax on salt—by a poll-tax—by a tenth of estates and employments—by a sale of all offices of justice—and by a tenth, or free gift of the clergy. But this revenue was subject to an enlargment, by raising the value of the coin, and by the compounding of the state bills and debentures.
The annual revenue of France, before the Revolution, was said to be 585,000,000 of livres, or 24,375,000 pounds sterling. Of which sum the clergy possessed 130,000,000 of livres. The annual balance of trade in favour of France, was 70,000,000 of livres. The gold and silver supposed to be in circulation 2,000,000,000 of livres, and the annual increase of it 40,000,000 more.
The annual expences of France 610,000,000 livres, or 25,416,666l. 13s. 4d. sterling. The annual income 24,375,000l. The nation run in debt 1,041,666l. 13s. 4d. per annum.
A GENERAL STATEMENT of the Expences, Incomes, &c. stands thus:
| Livres | Sterling. | |||
| Expences for collecting taxes | 58,000,000 | 2,416,666 | 13 4 | |
| Annual of importations | 230,000,000 | 9,583,333 | 6 8 | |
| Ditto of exportations | 300,000,000 | 12,500,000 | 0 0 | |
| Ditto of balance of commerce | 70,000,000 | 2,916,666 | 6 8 | |
| An. int. of the national debt | 207,000,000 | 8,625,000 | 0 0 | |
| Annual charge of the army | 124,650,000 | 5,193,750 | 0 0 | |
| Ditto of the navy | 45,200,000 | 1,883,333 | 6 8 | |
| The amount of the taxes, &c. | 585,000,000 | 24,375,000 | 0 0 | |
| Annual expences of the state | 610,000,000 | 25,416,666 | 13 4 | |
| Gold and silver coin | 2,200,000,000 | 91,666,666 | 13 4 | |
| Supposed annual increase | 40,000,000 | 1,666,666 | 13 4 | |
| National debt | 3,400,000,000 | 141,666,666 | 13 4 | |
| ——————————————— | ||||
| May 1, 1779, National expen. | 475,294,000 | |||
| Revenue | 431,533,000 | |||
| —————— | ||||
| Nation fell in debt | 43,761,000 | |||
| =========== | ||||
CHAP. XVI.
The Constitution of France changed from Monarchy to Democracy.—The Number and Power of the National Assembly.—The King is only an executive Officer.—A Decree of the National Assembly.—Titles of Nobility abolished.