In matters of commerce the national feeling was far from unanimous. Most of the cahiers asked that trade be free within the kingdom; although some of the border provinces, which had enjoyed a comparatively free trade with Germany and had been cut off from France, preferred the maintenance of that state of things,[Footnote: Alsace, Lorraine, and the Three Bishoprics. Poncins, 282, Mathieu, 441. _C_., Verdun, _A. P._, vi. 130.] and although the retention of the _octrois_, or custom-houses at the town gates, was sometimes contemplated. Uniformity of weights and measures was also desired; but was sometimes asked for in a half hopeless tone, as if so great a change could hardly be expected. The request was made that all loans with interest be not considered usurious; a request resisted in some cases by the clergy, which clung to the old laws of usury. The abolition of monopolies is generally called for; certain odious restrictions, such as the mark on leather and on iron, are condemned, but rather as taxes than as commercial regulations. On economic questions the nation has no very fixed opinions, nor have definite parties been formed. Free trade and free manufactures commend themselves to the ear; but regulations as to quality and protection against English competition may be highly desirable. Agriculture needs more hands, and is the first, the most necessary, the noblest of arts. Furnaces and foundries use wood, and make fuel dear. Trade should be entirely free,--but peddlers are nuisances, and interfere with regular shop-keepers. Manufactures are a source of wealth,--but dangerous unless well managed; none of them should be established without the consent of the Provincial Estates. If only our king and "his august companion" would wear none but French stuffs, and set a fashion that way, our languishing factories would soon be active again.[Footnote: Concerning usury, _T._, Agenois, _A. P._, i. 690. _T._, Comminges, _A. P._, iii 27, Section 24. St-Jean-des-Agneaux, _A. P._, iii. 65, Section 4. _C., N._, and _T._, Dôle, _A. P._, iii. 152, Section 14; 158, Section 57; 165, Section xiv. 6. Paris, St. Eustache, _A. P._, v. 304, Section 52. _C._, Soûle, v. 774, Section 17, etc. See also _N._, Agenois, _A. P._, i. 684, Section 7. _T._, Paris, _A. P._, v. 285, Sections 3, 4, and _n_.] Certain demands of the cahiers excite surprise by their frequent recurrence. Among them is that for the more severe treatment of bankrupts, who were able in old France to evade the law of the land and even to take sanctuary. Some cahiers go so far as to ask that those convicted of fraud be made habitually to wear a green cap in public, or that they be whipped, or sent to the galleys for life, or even put to death.[Footnote: Poncins, 285. _T._, Pont-à-Mousson, _A. P._, ii. 232, Section 11. _N._, Lille, _A. P._, iii. 531, Section 54. _T._, Lyon, _A. P._, iii. 613. _T._, Mantes et Meulan, _A. P._, iii. 672, Section ix. 2. _C._, Lille, _A. P._, iii. 524, Sections 35, 37.]