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This once great commercial town was considered as the capital of a province of the
same name, which extended about fort}'-two miles from north to south, and twenty-four
from east to west, lying in lat. 45° 50', long. 55', east of Greenwich. Neither, however,
is its climate so hot as might be expected from its latitude, nor is its atmosphere
so dry as in many parts of the south of France -, two circumstances which may, I think,
be accounted for from its locality, which is in a valley at the confluence of several
rivers or torrents, and seated at the foot of a range of hills, whereby the air is rendered
cold and humid ; and also from the thick fogs to which the place is peculiarly subject
in the autumn, arising from the extensive swamps which border both sides of the
Rhône, at some distance from the eastern part of the city.
Those fogs, added to the strong sulphureous smell emitted from the quantity of coal
consumed in the manufactures, and shops, even of the meanest artificer, with the busy
and active appearance of the mercantile part of tlie inhabitants, gave it another striking
resemblance to London.
The soil of the whole country is extremely rich and productive, both in corn
and pasturage. The people breed vast quantities of cattle ; their vmes, which are
prolific, partly cover the hills that border the banks of the Rhone, and yield a
most excellent wine. In fine, the different productions of the whole province have
been computed to be nearly sufficient for the consumption of its own numerous
inhabitants.
The population of Lyons, as I was well informed, before the revolution, exceeded
one hundred and eighty-six thousand souls. But, alas ! how widely different even at
that period were the reports on its commerce, once so flourishing and prosperous—it
being then, comparatively speaking, nearly annihilated. This town between forty
and fifty years ago might be said to carry on a more extensive trade than any city in
France, or in most parts of Europe; it being well known, that the Lyonese exported,
from their own manufactures, gold and silver stuffs, silks in vast quantities, ribbands,
laces, printed calicoes, hats, hemp, flax, and various other articles, to every corner of the
world. But nothing surprised me more, when I was last at Lyons, than the freedom
with which the mercantile people in general spoke of the measures of government,
delivering their opinions without the least restraint, attributing to these the annihilation
of their commerce: for many of them,, whom I had the curiosity to consult on that
subject, acknowledged, that it might be cleariy demonstrated that their trade had from
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the above period been gradually on the decline; and that, in 1787, commerce was at
so low an ebb, that the people formerly employed in the manufactures were reduced
to the most extreme indigence.
Tlie origin of this decline they partly attributed to the repeal of the edict of Nantes,
and partly to the persecution sustained by the Protestants at different periods, during
the reign of Lewis the Fifteenth, which compelled many unfortunate families to emigrate,
and to seek among strangers that protection and encouragement which was so
impolitically denied them in their own country. Thus forced from their native soil,
they established, where they had taken refuge, a variety of manufactures, which, in a
short time, not only equalled those of France, but in some respects surpassed them.
Bitter invectives were frequent in the mouths of the Lyonese against the court and
noblesse of France, for having at once, as it were, adopted the fashions and customs
of the English, and thereby not only encouraged, but sanctioned by their example, the
class of bourgeois in following that Anglomania as they called it ; a class which is
unfortunately every-where too prone to imitate their superiors, both in manners and
principles, even to the destruction of their dearest and most obvious interests.
Hence their manufactures, being degraded in the eyes of their countrymen, ceased
in a great measure to be called for ; and the poor artificer, thrown out of employment,
fell a victim to the inconsiderate fastidiousness of the great and opulent. Thus, dejected
and discouraged, a numerous and active class of people imperceptibly lost that taste,
energy, and emulation, for which they were once distinguished.
The merchants and manufacturers of Lyons, in consequence of this change, finding
it no longer practicable to copy English merchandises, and sell them at the reduced
prices expected by their correspondents, were themselves forced to import goods from
England, which not only accelerated their ruin, but involved the other principal commercial
cities of France in the same calamity.
The American war, unfortunately happening at this critical period, unfolded mysteries
to the French people, which, at that epoch, they little thought to have seen so soon
explained ; for, in consequence of the very active part taken by their government in
the cause of liberty, that same government was soon after forced to. oppress and lay
additional burdens on those who could so ill support them, and who already groaned
under despotic power ; so that the fire of disaffection, which had been for some time
kindling, soon blazed forth, and rapidly increased : a certain proof that the American
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