The principal motive in the suppression of the greater part of the office-holders of the élections of this kingdom was the alleviation of the people and to prevent the arrears in the levy of the taille. The said office-holders possess much of the wealth and enjoy exemption so that the other tax-payers are overburdened and find it impossible to pay the sums for which they are taxed. Moreover, the said office-holders discharge the parishes in which their property is situated and increase the burden on others. [However, the council recognizes that the expected advantage from the suppression of offices [for fiscal purposes] has not occurred because] the greater part of the said officers continue the functions of their offices notwithstanding their abolition. This is an outrage against the King's authority and worthy of exemplary punishment. In certain élections of this kingdom, they have assisted by force and violence in the assessments which have been held for the winter quarter. They have intimidated the collectors in the parishes where they reside so that they have not been included in the tax rolls, or have been taxed at such small sums that this brings no relief [to the others...] The same abuses continue as before... [The council prohibits them from such actions on pain of 2000 livres' fine, the removal of their salaries and prosecution. The masters of requests holding the assessments of the taille are to tax them on their own authority (taxe d'office) in a separate list].

[Source: A.N. E 273b, fo. 425].