Asitrespectsofficesofwhichtheemolumentsarefixed，thequestionofeconomyissimple：theamountoftheemolumentsdoesnotdifferfromaperpetualrent。Butwhenanofficeissold，theprofitsofwhich，whetherreceivedfromthepublicorlevieduponindividuals，areuncertaininamount，thisuncertaintycausesapresumptionagainsttheeconomyofthebargain：itisdisadvantageoustothepublictobesubjecttouncertainexpenses，anditisnotprobablethattheseuncertainprofitswillsellforsolargeapriceaswouldwillinglybepaidforasalaryequaltotheiraverageamount。
Again，astoemolumentsderivedsolelyfromindividuals。
Theseareaspeciesoftaxoftencreatedandalienatedatthesametimeinfavouroftheoffice。Thegeneralpresumptioncannotbutbeunfavourabletotaxesimposedundersuchcircumstances。Informertimes，whenthescienceofpoliticaleconomywasinitscradle———whentaxesandthemethodsofcollectingthemwerelittleunderstood———governmentshavefrequentlythusalienatedlargebranchesofthepublicrevenue：temptbyanimmediatesupply，theyeitherdidorwouldnotregardtheextentofthesacrificestheymade。
ThehistoryofFrenchfinanceisrepletewithinstancesofthiskind。ThecustomsofOrleans，whichwereoriginallypurchasedbyaDukeofOrleansfor60，000francs，afterwardsyieldedtohisposterityayearlyrevenueofmorethan1，000，000francs。
Thevenalityofofficesinthatkingdomhadanexceedinglycomplex，andconsequentlyexceedinglyvicious，system。Theofficesconferringhereditarynobilityespeciallymischievous，sincethisnobilityamultitudeofexemptions。Theypaidnotaxes。Henceeverycreationofnobilitywasatax，equalinvaluetotheexemptiongranted，thrownuponthosewhocontinuedliabletopaythem。