[35] - "Commerce is annihilated," writes a Swiss
merchant,[36] from Paris, and the government, one would say, tries
systematically to render it impossible. On the 27th of June, 1793,
the Convention closes the Bourse; on the 15th of April, 1794, it
suppresses "financial associations" and "prohibits all bankers,
merchants and other persons from organizing any establishment of the
said character under any pretext or title whatsoever." On the 8th of
September, 1793, the Commune places seals "in all the counting-houses
of bankers, stockbrokers, agents and silver-dealers,"[37] and locks up
their owners; as a favor, considering that they are obliged to pay the
drafts drawn on them, they are let out, but provisionally, and on
condition that they remain under arrest at home, "under the guard of
two good citizens," at their own expense. Such is the case in Paris
and in other cities, not alone with prominent merchants, but likewise
with notaries and lawyers, with whom funds are on deposit and who
manage estates; a sans-culotte with his pike stands in their cabinet
whilst they write, and he accompanies them in the street when they
call on their clients. Imagine the state of a notary's office or a
counting-room under a system of this sort! The master of it winds up
his business as soon as he can, no matter how, makes no new
engagements and does as little as possible.
Pages:
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826