Volltext Seite (XML)
AUVERGNE AND VELAY. ‘.'13 during tlie eighteenth century. In 1707 the manufacturers demand a remission of the import duties of 1064: as unfair, and with success. Scarce ten years afterwards, 7 notwithstanding the privilege accorded, we again find them in trouble: whether their patterns did not advance with the fashions of the day, or the manufacturers deteriorated the quality of the thread too often the effect of commercial prosperity—the magazines were filled with lace, “ propres, les unes pour l’ltalie, <1 autres pour les niers du sud,” which the merchants refused to buy. To remedy this bad state of affairs, the commissioners assembled at Montpelier coolly decided that the diocese should borrow 60,060 livres to purchase the dead stock, and so clear the market. After some arguments the lace was bought by the feieur Jerphanion, syndic of the diocese. Prosperity, however, was not restored, for in 17 55 we again hear of a grant of 1000 livres, payable in ten years by the states of Velay, for the relief of the distressed lace-makers, and again a fresh demand for exemption of the export duty. 8 This is de clared in a memorial of 1761 to be the chief cause of the distiess, which memorial also states that, to employ the people in a more lucrative way, a manufacture of blondes and silk laces had been introduced. Peuchet, with his predecessor, Savary, and other writeis on statistics, describe the manufacture of Le Puy as the most flourish ing in France. “Her lace,” writes Peuchet, “resembles greatly that of Flanders; much is consumed in the French dominions, and a considerable quantity exported to Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, and England. Much thread lace is also expedited by way of Cadiz to Peru and Mexico. The ladies of these countries trim their petticoats and other parts of their dress wdth such a profusion of lace as to render the consumption ‘ prodigieuse.’ ” “ Les Anglois eu donnent des commissions en contrebande pour ITstlimus* 3 de Panama. Les llollandois en demandent aussi et 6 They represent to the king that the luces of the diocese du Puy, du Velay et de 1’Auvergne, dont il se faisait un commerce tres-considerable dans les pays ctrangeis, par les ports de Bordeaux, La Rochelle et Nantes,” ought not to pay the import duties held by tin* cinq l-U’osses formes.”—Arrest du (Jouseii d'Extat du Hoy, G August 1707. Arch. Nat. Coll. Rond. They ended by ob taining a duty of five sous per lb., instead of the 50 livres paid by Flanders and England, or the 10 livres paid by the laces of Comte, Liege, and Lorraine. 7 1715 and 1710. 8 See p. 51.