Later (in the session of the 13th February, 1791), Amelot estimates
the property sold and to be sold, not including forests, at 3,700
millions. M. de Bouillé estimates the revenue of the clergy at 180
millions. (Mémoires, p.44). [French currency is so well known to
readers in general it is not deemed necessary to reduce statements of
this kind to the English or American standard, except in special
cases.-TR.)

[6] A report by Chasset on Tithes, April, 1790. Out of 123
millions 23 go for the costs of collection: but, in estimating the
revenue of an individual the sums he pays to his intendants, overseers
and cashiers are not deducted. - Talleyrand (October l0, 1789)
estimates the revenue of real property at 70 millions and its value at
2,100 millions. On examination however both capital and revenue are
found considerably larger than at first supposed. (Reports of
Treilbard and Chasset). Moreover, in his valuation, Talleyrand left
out habitations and their enclosures as well as a reservation of one-
fourth of the forests. Besides this there must be included in the
revenue before 1789 the seigniorial rights enjoyed by the Church.
Finally, according to Arthur Young, the rents which the French
proprietor received were not two and a half per cent. as nowadays but
three and three quarters per cent - The necessity of doubling the
figures to obtain a present money valuation is supported by
innumerable facts, and among others the price of a day's labor, which
at that time was nineteen sous. (Arthur Young). (Today, in 1999, in
France the minimum legal daily wage is around 300 francs. 20 sous
constituted a franc. So the sums referred to by Taine under the
Revolution must be multiplied with at least 300 in order to compare
them with 1990 values. To obtain dollars multiply with 50. SR.)