The Insurrection of October, 1789 7 



that the tax collectors alone would profit by any increased pro- 

 duction had its effect. Moreover, the unsettled condition of the 

 country, the restless expectation of change was not more con- 

 ducive to a new interest in agriculture than to other settled 

 industries. 



Husbandry, then, was at a low ebb. The amount of bread- 

 stuff produced was inadequate. But beyond this there were 

 other reasons for scarcity. Traditions, reaching back to the time 

 when separate barbarian tribes contended for supremacy in this 

 land, kept the provinces apart and assured a certain amount of 

 local independence. All over France there were still maintained 

 between the country districts frontier lines that proved formidable 

 barriers to commerce. Merchandise sent from Bretagne to Prov- 

 ence, for instance, "was subjected to eight declarations and as 

 many examinations, paid seven taxes and changed vehicles 

 twice." 1 The roads, moreover, were often bad. Even the road 

 to Troves, one of the most important in the kingdom, was utterly 

 impassable in winter on account of the ruts.- The fact that there 

 were some magnificent highways in France was of little conse- 

 quence to those who were unable to reach them over the wretched 

 roadways intervening. 



To make the domestic trade still more difficult there was a 

 constantly varying system of weights and measures. "The so- 

 ciety of agriculture pointed out, in 1790, considerable differences 

 in the same city, in the same town, even in the same village." 3 

 All these things , local barriers, bad roads, and differing weights 

 and measures prevented the excess produced in one part from 

 going to another. 



Decrees for the free circulation of grain had been passed, 4 but 

 had not been executed. Two opposite theories were held with 

 regard to trade : one, that it should be free, that all would go well 

 if the law of supply and demand were allowed to operate ; the 

 other claimed that it was the duty of government to watch over 



Champion in Histoire generate, VIII, 23. 

 2 Ibid., VIII, 25. 

 3 Ibid., VIIT, 24. 



t A t idennes lots, XXVIII, 361; Necker, De V administration des finances, 

 III, 161. 



273 



