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represented by 97；667 livres in the Blet estate； and 20；408 livres in
the Brosses estate。 The eldest； Comte de Simiane； enjoys； besides； a
préciput （according to custom in the Bourbonnais）； worth 15；000
livres； comprising the castle with the adjoining farm and the
seigniorial rights； honorary as well as profitable。
The entire domain； comprising both estates； is valued at 369；227
livres。 The estate of Blet； comprises 1；437 arpents； worked by seven
farmers and furnished； by the proprietor； with cattle valued at 13；781
livres。 They pay together to the proprietor 12；060 livres rent
（besides claims for poultry and corvées）。 One； only； has a large farm；
paying 7；800 livres per annum； the others paying rents of 1；300； 740；
640； and 240 livres per annum。 The Brosses estate comprises 515
arpents； worked by two farmers to whom the proprietor furnishes cattle
estimated at 3；750 livres； and these together return to the proprietor
2；240 livres。＇3＇ These métairies are all poor； only one of them has two
rooms with fire…places； two or three； one room with a fire…place； the
others consist of a kitchen with an oven outside； and stables and
barns。 Repairs on the tenements are essential on all the farms except
three； 〃having been neglected for thirty years。〃 〃The mill…flume
requires to be cleaned out； and the stream； whose inundations injure
the large meadow； also repairs are necessary on the banks of the two
ponds； on the church； which is the seignior's duty； the roof being in
a sad state； the rain penetrating through the arch；〃 and the roads
require mending； these being in a deplorable condition during the
winter。 〃The restoration and repairs of these roads seem never to have
been thought of。〃 The soil of the Blet estate is excellent； but it
requires draining and ditching to carry off the water； otherwise the
low lands will continue to produce nothing but weeds。 Signs of neglect
and desertion are everywhere visible。 The chateau of Blet has remained
unoccupied since 1748； the furniture； accordingly； is almost all
decayed and useless； in 1748 this was worth 7；612 livres； and now it
is estimated at 1；000 livres。 〃The water…power costs nearly as much to
maintain as the income derived from it。 The use of plaster as manure
is unknown；〃 and yet 〃in the land of plaster it costs almost nothing。〃
The ground； moist and very good； would grow excellent live hedges； and
yet the fields are enclosed with bare fences against the cattle；
〃which expense； say the farmers； is equal to a third of the net
income。〃 This domain； as just described； is valued as follows：
1。 The estate of Blet； according to the custom of the country for
noble estates； is valued at rate twenty…five； namely； 373；000 livres；
from which must be deducted a capital of 65；056 livres； representing
the annual charges （the fixed salary of the curate； repairs； etc。）；
not including personal charges like the vingtièmes。 Its net revenue
per annum is 12；300 livres； and is worth； net； 308；003 livres。
2。 The estate of Brosses is estimated at rate twenty…two； ceasing
to be noble through the transfer of judicial and fief rights to that
of Blet。 Thus rated it is worth 73；583 livres； from which must be
deducted a capital of 12；359 livres for actual charges； the estate
bringing in 3；140 livres per annum and worth； net； 61；224 livres。
These revenues are derived from the following sources：
1。 Rights of the high； low and middle courts of justice over
the entire territory of Blet and other villages； Brosses and Jalay。
The upper courts； according to an act passed at the Chatelet； April
29； 1702； 〃take cognizance of all actions； real and personal； civil
and criminal； even actions between nobles and ecclesiastics； relating
to seals and inventories of movable effects； tutelages； curacies； the
administration of the property of minors； of domains； and of the
customary dues and revenues of the seigniory； etc。〃
2。 Rights of the forests； edict of 1707。 The seignior's warden
decides in all cases concerning waters； and woods； and customs； and
crimes relating to fishing and hunting。
3。 Right of voirie or the police of the highways； streets； and
buildings （excepting the great main roads）。 The seignior appoints a
bailly； warden and road overseer； one M。 Theurault （at Sagonne）； a
fiscal attorney； Baujard （at Blet）； he may remove them 〃in case they
make no returns。〃 〃The rights of the greffe were formerly secured to
the seignior； but as it is now very difficult to find intelligent
persons in the country able to fulfill its functions； the seignior
abandons his rights to those whom it may concern。〃 （The seignior pays
forty…eight livres per annum to the bailly to hold his court once a
month； and twenty…four livres per annum to the fiscal attorney to
attend them）。
He receives the fines and confiscation of cattle awarded by his
officers。 The profit therefrom； an average year； is eight livres。
He must maintain a jail and a jailer。 （It is not stated whether
there was one）。 No sign of a gibbet is found in the seigniory。
He may appoint twelve notaries； only one； in fact； is appointed at
Blet 〃and he has nothing to do；〃 a M。 Baujard； fiscal attorney。 This
commission is assigned him gratuitously； to keep up the privilege；
〃otherwise it would be impossible to find any one sufficiently
intelligent to perform its functions。〃
He appoints a sergeant； but； for a long time； this sergeant pays no
rent or anything for his lodging。
4。 Personal and real taille。 In Bourbonnais the taille was formerly
serf and the serfs mainmortable。 〃Seigniors still possessing rights of
bordelage； well established throughout their fiefs and courts； at the
present time； enjoy rights of succession to their vassals in all
cases； even to the prejudice of their children if non…resident and no
longer dwelling under their roofs。〃 But in 1255； Hodes de Sully；
having granted a charter； renounced this right of real and personal
taille for a right of bourgeoisie； still maintained； （see further on）。
5。 Right to unclaimed property； cattle； furniture； effects； stray
swarms of bees； treasure…trove； （no profits from this for twenty years
past）。
6。 Right to property of deceased persons without heirs； to that of
deceased bastards； the possessions of condemned criminals either to
death； to the galleys or to exile； etc。； （no profit）。
7。 Right of the chase and of fishing； the latter worth fifteen
livres per annum。
8。 Right of bourgeoisie （see article 4）； according to the charter
of 1255； and the court…roll of 1484。 The wealthiest pay annually
twelve bushels of oats at forty livres and twelve deniers parasis； the
less wealthy nine bushels and nine deniers； all others six bushels and
six deniers。 〃These rights of bourgeoisie are well established； set
forth in all court…rolls and acknowledgments rendered to the king and
perpetuated by numerous admissions the motives that have led former