LITHOGRAPHS CONSPIRATIONNISTE - THE PACT OF FAMINE - PUBLISHED BY DOPTER RUE ST-JACQUES IN PARIS

Pair of lithographs, published by Dopter, 21 rue St-Jacques, in Paris, circa 1800.
They portray the 'pacte de famine' (pact of starvation), allegedly sealed in 1760.
The lithographs are in good condition, and presented with frame. The frame and the glass come from the origin.
These lithographs are among the very early colored lithographs.
Measurements : 9,84 inches by 13,39 in - (25 cm by 34).
Dimensions including the frame : 11,81 inches by 14,96 in - (30 cm by 38).
Weight 1.500 grams.

Story of the rumor of conspiracy called « Pacte de famine ».
During the years 1760, the provost of Beaumont invents the expression «Pacte de famine» or « Complot de famine » (plot of starvation),

convinced that under the cover of liberalisation of the grains trade, were hidden some scandalous speculations, at the profit of speculators, linked to certain notabilities,

nay to the king himself and to his ministers. The expression is quickly reprise.

The drama wanted that this try of liberalisation coincided with bad harvests: the prices, henceforth free, ascended. The poorest could not feed any longer.

The implicit pact between the king and the populace, which requires from the king that he takes care of the security of his subjects, and of their procurement for feeding, was interupted.

A large unrest ensues, and this try ended: The prices were determined by the king again.

This thesis of conspiracy between the royalty and the liberal speculators, will resurface during the revolution.
The awful famines which desolated France were attributed to these hoarders, mainly during the years 1767-1769, 1775-1778, 1788-1789. The revolution,

making disappear the monarchic regime, made the rumor to disappear in the same time. However, the Convention regime prefered to adopt, in 1793,

a law prohibiting speculation on the essentials commodities
After this problem, the lawyer Prévost de Beaumont, who had denounced in 1768, at the Parliament of Normandy,

the constitution of a monopole, and the enrichment of state agents, was as for him, imprisoned during 22 years at the Bastille and in others prisons,

and was liberated only during the revolution