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REMINDER: COMMEMORATION: the 'Germinal Franc'
The 5 Franc piece, Napoleon Emperor, 1806, by par K. Huguenaud
A history of the Franc: the key moments, par I. Delage
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO
14 Germinal, An XI (4 April, 1803), Bonaparte appointed his uncle, Cardinal Fesch, Ambassador to Rome.
14 Germinal, An XI (4 April, 1803), actors of the Théâtre-Français organised a benefit performance of Hamlet (by M. Ducis, with Talma in the title role) in favour of a certain Labussière. Labussière had been an employee in the offices of the Revolutionary Comité du salut public and had removed a great number of names from the lists of accused, thus saving many people from the guillotine, amongst whom several actors. And it was these actors who wished to show their gratitude for such a courageous act.
17 Germinal, An XI (7 April, 1803), Toussaint Louverture died in the Fort de Joux where he had been imprisoned since 4 Thermidor, An X (23 juillet 1802). He had been arrested on Santo Domingo on 18 Prairial, An X (7 June, 1802) in a trap set by General Brunet.
James Monroe, ex-governor of the State of Virginia, Plenipotentiary Minister and United States Special Envoy, arrived in Le Havre on 18 Germinal, An XI (8 April, 1803), reaching Paris on 22 (12 April), much to the pique of the agent already present, Robert Livingston, who had been in Paris since the December of 1802. Livingston had initially offered to buy the whole of Louisiana, but after instructions from Jefferson had fallen back on simply obtaining the town of New Orleans, for the price of 10 million francs. Monroe's mission was to assist in the negociation.
19 Germinal, An XI (9 April, 1803), the role of Auditeur was created at the Conseil d'Etat: the post was designed as a sort of Conseiller d'état (Councillor of State) in training, whilst at the same time acting as assistance to the councillors in the different sections, whether in ordinary service at the council, or on extraordinary service, working for prefectures, sub-prefectures or administrating occupied countries… 16 posts were created, of which eight were filled on 25 Thermidor (13 August): Regnier fils, Nougarède de Fayet, Blanc de Pomard, Chabrol de Crouzol, Dudon, Hély d'Oissel, Lecouteulx, Petiet.
19 Germinal, An XI (9 April, 1803), the Préfet de police de la Seine passed an ordonnance regulating door-to-door sales (or hawking). Door-to-door sales were only permitted if authorisation had been obtained. The authorisation number had to be engraved onto a copper badge which had to be affixed visibly to the travelling salesperson's clothing. The salesperson had to be able to read. Travelling salespeople were only allowed to sell newspapers, acts passed by institutions, and journals, etc. which were authorised. "It [was] forbidden for any individual to cry anything other than the general title of the newspaper which differentiated it from any other newspaper". Finally, any person wishing to exercise this activity had to have resided for at least a year in the Départements de la Seine and had always to have been "well behaved". The certificate of residence and good behaviour were to be delivered by the Commissaire de police of the maire of the commune of residence, and the authorisation to sell door-to-door by the Préfet de police.
Le Journal des Défenseurs, 20 Germinal, An XI
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK:
Snippets
- Greek monastery with Napoleon's tent
Press Review
The Journal, the Research Paper of the Napoleonic Association
Web sites
Go to The Napoleonic Directory, Websites, then select 'History'. Click on Search, then scroll down to find the sites mentioned below.
- Encyclopedia of British History: Trade Unions
- General Picton Memorial Appeal
What's on
- Exhibition: Jefferson's America, Napoleon's France
- Television: France 2's Napoleon in English on A and E
- Exhibition: Napoleon's 'vows of love', in and around Arenenberg, Switzerland
- Exhibition: Napoleon and Alexander I in Hildesheim (Germany)
The monthly titles
- Book of the Month: The Oxford History of the French Revolution, by William Doyle
- This month's picture, The Battle of Jena, 14 October 1806, by Horace Vernet
- Article of the Month, Napoleon's Administrative Army – His Prefects, by Robert D. Williams
- In the Collectors Corner, The Prince Impérial and his dog Néro, by Carpeaux
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