Modern

History Sourcebook:
Jean-Marie Roland de la Platire:
The State of the French Economy, 1789
I have seen eighty, ninety, a hundred pieces of cotton or woollen stuff cut up, and
completely destroyed. I have witnessed similar scenes every week for a number of
years. I have seen manufactured goods confiscated; heavy fines laid on the
manufacturers; some pieces of fabric were burnt in public places, and at the hours of
market: others were fixed to the pillory, with the name of the manufacturer
inscribed upon them, and he himself was threatened with the pillory, in case of a
second offence. All this was done under my eyes, at Rouen, in conformity with
existing regulations, or ministerial orders. What crime deserved so cruel a
punishment? Some defects in the materials employed, or in the texture of the fabric,
or even in some of the threads of the warp.

I have frequently seen manufacturers visited by a band of satellites who put all in
confusion in their establishments, spread terror in their families, cut the stuffs from
the frames, tore off the warp from the looms, and carried them away as proofs of
infringement; the manufacturers were summoned, tried, and condemned: their
goods confiscated; copies of their judgment of confiscation posted up in every public
place; fortune, reputation, credit, all was lost and destroyed. And for what offence?
Because they had made of worsted, a kind of cloth called shag, such as the English
used to manufacture, and even sell in France, while the French regulations stated
that that kind of cloth should be made with mohair.

I have seen other manufacturers treated in the same way, because they had made
camlets of a particular width, used in England and Germany, for which there was a
great demand from Spain, Portugal, and other countries, and from several parts of
France, while the French regulations prescribed other widths for camlets.



Modern History Sourcebook:
Marie Antoinette:
Letter to Her Mother, 1773
[Tappan Introduction] In I770, Marie Antoinette, daughter of Empress Maria
Theresa of Austria, became the wife of the dauphin who was afterwards Louis XVI.
The following extract is taken from one of her letters to her mother.

VERSAILLES, June 14.

MY DEAREST MOTHER,---

I absolutely blush for your kindness to me. The day before yesterday Mercy sent me
your precious letter, and yesterday I received a second. That is indeed passing one's
fte day happily. On Tuesday I had a fte which I shall never forget all my life. We
made our entrance into Paris. As for honors, we received all that we could possibly
imagine; but they, though very well in their way, were not what touched me most.
What was really affecting was the tenderness and earnestness of the poor people,
who, in spite of the taxes with which they are overwhelmed, were transported with
joy at seeing us. When we went to walk in the Tuileries, there was so vast a crowd
that we were three-quarters of an hour without being able to move either forward
or backward. The dauphin and I gave repeated orders to the Guards not to beat any
one, which had a very good effect. Such excellent order was kept the whole day that,
in spite of the enormous crowd which followed us everywhere, not a person was
hurt. When we returned from our walk we went up to an open terrace and stayed
there half an hour. I cannot describe to you, my dear mamma, the transports of joy
and affection which every one exhibited towards us. Before we withdrew we kissed
our hands to the people, which gave them great pleasure. What a happy thing it is
for persons in our rank to gain the love of a whole nation so cheaply. Yet there is
nothing so precious; I felt it thoroughly, and shall never forget it.

Another circumstance, which gave great pleasure on that glorious day, was the
behavior of the dauphin. He made admirable replies to every address, and remarked
everything that was done in his honor, and cspecially the earnestness and delight of
the people, to whom he showed great kindness.