Contraband: Louis Mandrin and the Making of a Global Underground

470 Pages·2014·3.497 MB·English

by  Michael Kwass

Contraband

C O N T R A B A N D
(cid:2)(cid:3)
Louis Mandrin and the Making
of a Global Underground
M K
ICHAEL WASS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
London, England
2014
Copyright © 2014 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Kwass, Michael.
Contraband : Louis Mandrin and the making of a
global underground / Michael Kwass.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978- 0-6 74- 72683- 3 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Mandrin, Louis, 1725– 1755. 2. Criminals— France—Biography.
3. Smugglers— France—Biography. 4. Smuggling—F rance—History—
18th century. 5. France— Commerce—History—18th century. 6. France—
Economic conditions— 18th century. 7. France— Social conditions—
18th century. I. Title.
HV6248.M278K93 2014
364.1'336092— dc23
[B] 2013032888
For Laura, Max, and Isabel

Contents
List of Figures ix
Introduction 1
1. The Globalization of Eu rop e an Consumption 15
2. The King Intervenes 41
3. The Making of a Smuggler 70
4. The Shadow Economy 87
5. Rebel Rebel 117
6. Triumph 139
7. The Would-B e General 163
8. Captured 197
9. The Execution of Louis Mandrin 217
10. Mandrin into Print 252
11. Smuggling in the Enlightenment 285
12. Revolution 318
Conclusion 354
Notes 367
Ack now ledgm ents 447
Index 449

Figures
1.1 World trade, circa 1750: select goods and routes 22–23
1.2 Fraternal Charity 27
1.3 Fashionable Pastime 29
1.4 C hintz underskirt from Coromandel coast, India, circa 1750 36
2.1 Farm headquarters at the Hôtel de Longueville 48
2.2 Distribution of Farm tobacco in France 50–51
2.3 The Tobacco Border 62
2.4 Calico knockoffs 66
3.1 F rancis I Bridge over the Guiers in Pont- de-B eauvoisin 71
4.1 Map of the Gabelles 90–91
5.1 Mandrin’s expeditions in France 124
5.2 Receipt signed by Mandrin, expedition of October 1754 136
9.1 Galley ship 233
9.2 Sixteenth- century depiction of the Place des Clercs 243
9.3 Mandrin in his cell and at his execution 245
10.1 Announcement of Mandrin’s verdict 255
10.2 Portrait of Mandrin in Bourg 266
10.3 Mandrin, Captain of the Smugglers 267
10.4 Mandrin in Bourg, Autun, and Beaune 268
10.5 Mandrin’s forced sale in Beaune 270
10.6 Mandrin as a gentleman- offi cer 274
10.7 Mandrin as a gentleman 275
11.1 L e Testament politique de Louis Mandrin 289
12.1 S ack of the “Bons Homes” customs gate 329
12.2 S ack of the Gobelins customs gate 330
12.3 Down with Taxes 331