Before the revolution, the city of Paris paid a duty of upwards of thirty per cent.

on all articles brought into the city.

This tax was collected at the city gates.

It was taken off on the first of last May, and the gates taken down.] [Footnote 19: What was called the livre rouge, or the red book, in France, was not exactly similar to the Court Calendar in England; but it sufficiently showed how a great part of the taxes was lavished.] [Footnote 20: In England the improvements in agriculture, useful arts, manufactures, and commerce, have been made in opposition to the genius of its government, which is that of following precedents.

It is from the enterprise and industry of the individuals, and their numerous associations, in which, tritely speaking, government is neither pillow nor bolster, that these improvements have proceeded.