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The New Agriculture in Lower Normandy, 1750–1789

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

Extract

ACCORDING to Lord Ernie, the period from 1750 to 1789 was, in spite of many dark features, the brightest period hitherto reached in the history of French husbandry, a period during which ‘we turn, as it were, from the sombre etchings of La Bruyère to the smiling pictures of Watteau’. It certainly was a time when the spirit of agrarian reform which was prevalent throughout Western Europe was blowing strongly in France, arousing great enthusiasms and aspirations. From the presses of France poured a spate of agricultural treatises, books and pamphlets deploring the existing agricultural system, proclaiming the virtues of the English system of capitalist farming, urging the emancipation of property and of sale from all restrictions in order to achieve increased production, higher profits, and the investment of more capital.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1958

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References

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page 133 note 1 Arch. Calv., C.2501.

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page 135 note 2 Arch. Calv., C.4203.

page 135 note 3 For example, marshes in the parish of Bréville which were included in the concession actually belonged to the barony of St. Pair which was held by the abbey of Mont St. Michel. Arch. Calv., C.4205.

page 136 note 1 In the élection of Bayeux: the bishop of Bayeux, the seigneur of Marigny, and the villages of Formigny, St. Laurent-sur-Mer, Surrain, and Colleville; in the élection of Caen: the marquis of Vassy, the seigneur of Villy, and the villages of Troarn, Cléville, Hérouvillette, Villy, Mouen, Missy, Bény. Arch. Calv., C.4202–3.

page 136 note 2 Letters to Bertin, 11 April and 11 May 1774, Arch. Nat., H.1492.

page 136 note 3 Arch. Calv., C.4199.

page 136 note 4 Arch. Calv., C.4200, 4197; Arch. Nat., Q1 1383. This decision of 27 June 1785 was extended to apply to the généralités of Rouen and Alengon in the following year: Sion, J., Les paysans de la Normandie orientate (1909), pp. 216–18Google Scholar. The liquidation of the concession proved to be an expensive item for the Crown. The Polignacs and d' Aspects received a total of 190,000 livres. Boullonmorange refused Calonne's offer of bonds assuring him of an annuity of 12,000 livres for life, and a cash payment of 80,000 livres, on the grounds that it was insufficient. Report of the maître des requêtes, Arch. Nat., Q1 84.

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page 137 note 3 As Terray expressed it: ‘Division should only be the result of persuasion. It should always be preceded by the consent of most of the inhabitants.’ Correspondence between de Fontette and Terray 1771–4, Arch. Calv., C.4195.

page 138 note 1 Colleville-sur-Orne, Courseulles, and Cabourg; Arch. Calv., C.247; F: Don de Savignac—baronnie de Courseulles; E. Suppl. 1428, CC1.

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page 140 note 1 Arch. Nat., D XIV, 13 (Rots), 12 (Quesnay); F10 334 (Mondrainville).

page 140 note 2 Arch. Calv., 16B 14.

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page 145 note 3 Petition of La Vespiére 13 pluviôse year ii (1 February 1794), Arch. Nat., F10 285.

page 145 note 4 Arch. Calv., 16B 302.

page 146 note 1 Petitions of Lefel, constitutional priest of Equemeauville 22 September 1793; commune of La Vespière 13 pluviôse year ii (1 February 1794); commune of Bienfaite 7 January 1794, Arch. Nat., F10 212B, 285, 331, respectively. The administrators of the département to the Council of Five Hundred, 23 frimaire year iv (14 December 1795).