L'Etat Actuel De l'Espagne (September 1779) : a French Diplomat's Report to His Government About the Social, Economic, and Political Situation and Military Capability of Spain and its Empire in 1779
L'ETAT ACTUEL DE L'ESPAGNE [SEPTEMBRE 1779]: A French Diplomat's Report to His Government About the Social, Economic, and Political Situation and Military Capability of Spain and its Empire in 1779; Copyright Page; Dedication; Table of Contents; Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Table Sommaire; Chapitre II; Chapitre III; Chapitre IV; Chapitre V; Chapitre VI; Chapitre VII; Chapitre VIII; Chapitre IX; Chapitre X; Chapitre XI; Chapitre XII; Chapitre XIII; Chapitre XIV; Chapitre XV; Chapitre XVI; Chapitre XVII; Conclusion; Illustrations; Notes; Bibliographie Sommaire; Index
Summary
This book is a report on Spain written in Madrid by the French diplomat Jean-Francois de Bourgoing when France was becoming increasingly involved in the American Revolution. At that time the French were pressing the Spaniards to join them. Bourgoing first describes Spanish society on religiosity, the Church and the Inquisition. His perspective is that of a disciple of Voltaire. His description of the various governmental bodies, the economy and foreign trade, especially with Spain's vast colonial empire including the Indies, was designed to be practical for French policy makers. The final chap
