A larger portion of the great titled estates had become the appanage of financiers, merchants and their descendants.

The fiefs, for the most part, were in the hands of the bourgeoisie of the towns."-- Leonce de Lavergne, "Economie rurale en France," p.26.

"The greatest number vegetated in poverty in small country fiefs often not worth more than 2,000 or 3,000 francs a year."-- In the apportionment of the indemnity in 1825, many received less than 1,000 francs.

The greater number of indemnities do not exceed 50,000 francs.--"The throne," says Mirabeau, "is surrounded only by ruined nobles."] [Footnote 1323: De Bouille, "Memoires," p.

50 .-- Cherin, "Abrege chronologique des edits" (1788).