Tas de oontes, * Idle taies ' (lit. ' paok of

29. en assignats. They were a ' paper-mouey,' the émission of wliich wa» decreed on tlie Isf of April, 1790, ami aiuiulled on the l;»th -of Fehrunry. 1796. The National Assembly, to restore order in tlif finances, anthorized this émission to represent the value of the enormous amount of property which had fallen into the hands of tlie State after the fall of the monarchy, and, fur tiiat reason, ualled hieta nationaux. Tlie émission of this pap> r-money gradnnlly rose to the ennrmon^ and Rbirtling total of twn billions sterling (4.') milliards of franrs). T^e création of thèse attignatà was tlie cause of fearful disaster^ both tu the commerce, iudustry, and creilit of the nation.