The Ancient Regime Part 34

According to the reports of intendants, (Vauban, "Dime Royale," ch.

VII. -- 2.), the population of France in 1698 amounted to 19,994,146 inhabitants. From 1698 to 1715 it decreases. According to Forbonnais, there were but 16 or 17 millions under the Regency. After this epoch the population no longer diminishes but, for forty years, it hardly increases. In 1753 (Voltaire, "Dict Phil.," article Population), there are 3,550,499 hearths, besides 700,000 souls in Paris, which makes from 16 to 17 millions of inhabitants if we count four and one-half persons to each fireside, and from 18 to 19 millions if we count five persons.]

[Footnote 5103: Floquet, "Histoire du Parlement de Normandie," VII.

402.]

[Footnote 5104: Rousseau, "Confessions," 1st part, ch. IV. (1732).]

[Footnote 5105: D'Argenson, 19th and 24th May, July 4, and Aug. 1, 1739]

[Footnote 5106: "Resume d'histoire d'Auvergne par un Auvergnat" (M.

Tallandier), p. 313.]

[Footnote 5107: D'Argenson, 1740, Aug. 7 and 21, September 19 and 24, May 28 and November 7.]

[Footnote 5108: D'Argenson, October 4, 1749; May 20, Sept. 12, Oct. 28, Dec. 28, 1750.]

[Footnote 5109: D'Argenson, June 21, 1749; May 22, 1750; March 19, 1751; February 14, April 15, 1752, etc.]

[Footnote 5110: Floquet, ibid.. VII. 410 (April, 1752, an address to the Parliament of Normandy)]

[Footnote 5111: D'Argenson, November 26, 1751: March 15, 1753.]

[Footnote 5112: D'Argenson, IV. 124; VI. 165: VII. 194, etc.]

[Footnote 5113: Floquet, ibid. VI. 400-430]

[Footnote 5114: "Correspondance," by Metra, I. 338, 341.--Hippeau, "Le Gouvernement de Normandie," IV. 62, 199, 358.]

[Footnote 5115: "Proces-verbaux de l'a.s.semblee provinciale de Ba.s.se Normandie" (1787), p.151.]

[Footnote 5116: Archives nationales, G, 319. Condition of the directory of Issoudun, and H, 1149, 612, 1418.]

[Footnote 5117: Ibid.. The letters of M. de Crosne, intendant of Rouen (February 17, 1784); of M. de Blossac, intendant of Poitiers (May 9, 1784); of M. de Villeneuve, intendant of Bourges (March 28, 1784); of M. de Cypierre, intendant of Orleans (May 28, 1784); of M. de Maziron, intendant of Moulins (June 28, 1786); of M. Dupont, intendant of Moulins (Nov. 16, 1779), etc.]

[Footnote 5118: Archives nationales, H, 200 (A memorandum by M. Amelot, intendant at Dijon, 1786).]

[Footnote 5119: Gautier de Bianzat, "Doleances sur les surcharges que portent les gens du Tiers-Etat," etc. (1789), p. 188.--"Proces-verbaux de I'a.s.semblee provinciale d'Auvergne" (1787), p. 175.]

[Footnote 5120: Theron de Montauge, "L'Agriculture et les ch.o.r.es rurales dans le Toulousain," 112.]

[Footnote 5121: "Proces-verbaux de a.s.semblee provinciale de la Haute-Guyenne," I. 47, 79.]

[Footnote 5122: "Proces-verbaux de l'a.s.semblee provinciale du Soissonais" (1787), p. 457; "de l'a.s.semblee provinciale d'Auch," p. 24.]

[Footnote 5123: "Resume des cahiers," by Prudhomme, III. 271.]

[Footnote 5124: Hippeau, ibid. VI. 74, 243 (grievances drawn up by the Chevalier de Bertin).]

[Footnote 5125: See the article "Fermiers et Grains," in the Encyclopedia, by Quesnay, 1756.]

[Footnote 5126: Theron de Montauge, p.25.--"Ephemerides du citoyen,"

III. 190 (1766); IX. 15 (an article by M. de Butre, 1767).]

[Footnote 5127: "Proces-verbaux de l'a.s.semblee provinciale de l'Orleanais" (1787), in a memoir by M. d'Autroche.]

[Footnote 5128: One is surprised to see such a numerous people fed even though one-half, or one-quarter of the arable land is sterile wastes.

(Arthur Young, II, 137.)]

[Footnote 5129: Archives nationales, H, 1149. A letter of the Comtesse de Saint-Georges (1772) on the effects of frost. "The ground this year will remain uncultivated, there being already much land in this condition, and especially in our parish." Theron de Montauge, ibid.. 45, 80.]

[Footnote 5130: Arthur Young, II. 112, 115.--Theron de Montauge, 52, 61.]

[Footnote 5131: The Marquis de Mirabeau, "Traite de la population,"

p.29.]

[Footnote 5132: Cf Galiani, "Dialogues sur le commerce des bles."

(1770), p. 193. Wheat bread at this time cost four sous per pound.]

[Footnote 5133: Arthur Young, II. 200, 201, 260-265.--Theron de Montauge, 59, 68, 75, 79, 81, 84.]

[Footnote 5134: "The poor people who cultivate the soil here are metayers, that is men who hire the land without ability to stock it; the proprietor is forced to provide cattle and seed and he and his tenants divide the produce."--ARTHUR YOUNG.(TR.)]

[Footnote 5135: "Ephemerides du citoyen," VI. 81-94 (1767), and IX. 99 (1767).]

[Footnote 5136: Turgot, "Collections des economistes," I. 544, 549.]

[Footnote 5137: Marquis de Mirabeau, "Traite de la population," 83..]

[Footnote 5138: Hippeau, VI, 91.]

[Footnote 5139: Dulaure, "Description de l'Auvergne," 1789.]

[Footnote 5140: Arthur Young, I. 235.]

[Footnote 5141: "Ephemerides du citoyen," XX. 146, a letter of the Marquis de--August 17, 1767.]

[Footnote 5142: Lucas de Montigny, "Memoires de Mirabeau," I, 394.]

[Footnote 5143: Arthur Young, I. 280, 289, 294.]

[Footnote 5144: Lafayette "Memoires," V. 533.]

[Footnote 5145: Lucas de Montigny, ibid. (a letter of August 18, 1777).]

[Footnote 5146: De Tocqueville, 117.]

[Footnote 5147: "Proces-verbaux de l'a.s.semblee provinciale de Ba.s.se Normandie" (1787), p.205.]

[Footnote 5148: Leonce de Lavergne, p. 26 (according to the tables of indemnity granted to the emigres in 1825). In the estate of Blet (see note 2 at the end of the volume), twenty-two parcels are alienated in 1760.--Arthur Young, I. 308 (the domain of Tour-d'Aigues, in Provence), and II. 198, 214.--Doniol, "Histoire des cla.s.ses rurales," p.450.--De Tocqueville, p.36.]