In 1771, especially, he takes them back, and, it seems, to keep them forever; but he always reserves the right of alienating them for money.

For example (Augustin Thierry, "Documens sur l'histoire du tiers Etat," III., 319), an act of the royal council, dated October 1, 1772, accepts 70,000 francs from the town of Amiens for the repurchase of the installment of its magistracies, and defining these magistracies, as well as the mode of election according to which the future incumbents shall be appointed.

Provence frequently bought back its municipal liberties in the same fashion, and, for a hundred years, expended for this purpose 12,500,000 livres.

In 1772, the king once more established the venality of the municipal offices: but, on the Parliament of Aix remonstrating, in 1774, he returned their old rights and franchises to the communities .-- Cf.

Guyot, "Repertoire de jurisprudence" (1784), articles, Echevins, Capitouls, Conseillers.] [Footnote 4115: Thibaudeau, p.72 (words of the First Consul at a meeting of the Council of State, Pluviose 14, year X).] [Footnote 4116: Roederer, III., 439 (Note of Pluviose 28, year VIII), ib., 443 "The pretended organic senatus-consulte of Aug.