Besides the articles of expence here stated, there are many others, to which no limit can be set. The _comptant_, or the King’s private orders for secret service, and many different expences, form a great article. Subsidies also to foreign courts: in short, much more, in all human probability, is spent, than all the produce of this permanent revenue can answer. So that from this no relief from debts can be expected, except so far as it may be augmented by the falling in of the annuities on lives. But public debts are to be paid only by funds appropriated for that purpose: and were this revenue to be relieved of the whole 45 millions of interest charged upon it, I have little doubt but the King’s expence would augment in proportion. I shall delay making any observation upon the nature of the impositions which produce this revenue, until we come to the subject of taxes, to which it naturally belongs. Besides this ordinary revenue of the Kings of France, which (if we except 26 600 000 livres, or 1 182 222 _l._ 4 _s._ 5¼ _d._ upon the capitation, added on account of the war only for a time) may be considered as their civil list; there are other branches of revenue, which are to be looked on as extraordinary supplies, imposed for raising money in time of war, and for paying off the debts contracted, upon the return of peace. Of this nature are _dixiemes_ and _vingtiemes_; taxes very contrary to the spirit of the French nation, and to which they never have submitted without the greatest reluctance, and only on very urgent occasions. The credit of France fell very low towards the end of the former war, which began in 1744, and ended in 1748. The parliament registred with great unwillingness every edict imposing new burthens. The _dixieme_ was a great augmentation of revenue, for the time it lasted; but being an imposition which the Kings of France never have been able to make perpetual, it could not be pledged for such large sums as are required in time of war, and which no nation, however wealthy, can furnish annually, as they are demanded. To supply, therefore, the want of a fund to be mortgaged, and consequently the want of public credit, the King’s banker M. de Monmartel, with other men in business, joined their credit, and supplied the King’s extraordinary occasions. They opened a sort of bank _anno_ 1745, where they received money at ½ _per cent._ _per_ month, the principal payable on demand. This fund gained credit; payments being regularly made as soon as demanded.