Farmers-general

Farmers-general (Fr. fermiers-généraux) was the name given before the Revolution of 1789 to the members of a privileged association in France, who farmed or leased the public revenues of the nation. This system of tax-gathering became general in France from the year 1546, when Francis I. let out the gabelle or salt-tax in this way. The privileges of the position were sold to the highest bidder; but they were largely in the hands of the king's favourites. The powers, rights, and duties of the class were defined by special decrees; but, however severe may have been the fiscal laws against fraud and contraband, it is notorious that shortly before the Revolution abuses of the most flagrant description had demoralised the system and the men. During the Revolution most of these odious tax gatherers perished on the scaffold, the innocent among them being occasionally confounded with the guilty. Farmers of the revenue were an institution of ancient Rome (see PUBLICANS). Tolls on roads and duties of various kinds were at one time farmed also in Great Britain. See MONOPOLY.