FARMERS-GENERAL

(Fr.QMermiers généraux), privatecentractors,towhom under the old French monarchy was let cut the collectien ef various branches of the revenue, poll-tax, duties on salt and tobacco, and customs. These contractors made enormous profits on the farming of the public revenues. A revenue collected ia this way not only imposed a much heavier burden on the people, but the mercile rigour of irresponsible and uncontrolled exactors subjected them to hardships and indignities to which they could not submit without degradation. In 1790 the system was suppre ed by the Constituent A embly, and many of the farmers-general were sent to the guillotine by the Revolutionary Tribunal.