suppressed serfdom on the royal domains in 1778; and many of the seigniors, especially in Franche-Comte, followed his example.

Beugnot, "Memoires," V.I.p.142 .-- Voltaire, "Memoire au roi sur les serfs du Jura."-- "Memoires de Bailly," II.

214, according to an official report of the Nat.Ass., August 7, 1789.

I rely on this report and on the book of M.Clerget, curate of Onans in Franche-Comte who is mentioned in it.

M.Clerget says that there are still at this time (1789) 1,500,000 subjects of the king in a state of servitude but he brings forward no proofs to support these figures.
Nevertheless it is certain that the number of serfs and mortmains is still very great.