France -- Civilization; France -- Politics and government; France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
[Footnote 3335: Papers of Maine de Biran. (Note communicated by M.
Naville.) Letter of Baron Maurice, prefect of Dordogne, to M. Maine
de Biran, sub-prefect of Bergerac, transmitting to him by order of the
minister of the interior a blank form to be filled up by him presenting
the "Statistics of young ladies belonging to the most notable families
of the arrondissement." The form annexed contained several columns, one
for names and given names, others for the future inheritance of real and
personal estate, etc. A clever or energetic prefect, provided with this
list, was able and was expected to take an active part in marriages
and see that all the large dowries were appropriated on the right
side.--"Memoires de Madame de------," part 3rd, ch. VIII., p. 154.
(These very instructive memoirs by a very sincere and judicious person
are still unpublished. I am not authorized to give the name of the
author.) "It was at this time that the emperor took it into his head
to marry as he saw fit the young girls who had more than 50,000 livres
rental." A rich heiress of Lyons, intended for M. Jules de Polignac,
is thus wedded to M. de Marboeuf. M. d'Aligre, by dint of address and
celerity, evades for his daughter first M. de Caulaincourt and then M.
de Faudoas, brother-in-law to Savary, and in stead weds her to M.
de Pommereu.--Baron de Vitrolles, Mémoires, I. 19. (His daughter
was designated by the prefect of the Basses-Alpes.)--Comte Joseph
d'Estourmel, "Souvenirs de France et d'Italie," 239. (Details of this
description of the young ladies to be married and the circular from the
duke de Rovigo, minister of police.) the eight column of the form was
"reserved to describe the physical charms and deformities, the talents,
the conduct and the religious principles of each of the young ladies."]
[Footnote 3336: "Statistiques des Préfets." (Doubs, by Debry, p. 60;
Meurthe, by Marquis, p. 115, Ain, by Bossi, p.240.)]
[Footnote 3337: "Statistique de l'Ain," by Bossi, p. 1808. From 1140 in
1801, the number of employees and others under state pay amounts to
1771 in 1806. This increase is attributed by the prefect to causes just
stated.]
[Footnote 3338: Napoleon, "Correspondance." (Note of April 11, 1811.)
"There will always be at Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck from 8,000 to 10,000
French, either employees or gendarmes, in the customs and depots."]
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