Author Bio: Arthur Young was an English writer on agricultural subjects who traveled through France before and during the revolution. He described the condition of the people and the conduct of public affairs in France during this time.
Date/Context: This excerpt comes from Young's Travels in France During the Years 1781, 1788, 1789. Due to its dates, the source is reliable and provides accurate descriptions of the French condition during the revolution. Young personally lived the experiences described despite only being a visitor, but we nevertheless receive an accurate account of the conditions and life around the time of the revolution.
Summary: The first excerpt is from 1787. Here Young from the get-go describes the fields as "scenes of pitiable management" and the houses as if they were made out of misery. Young recognizes the potential in the land if only it were taken care of properly, but he realizes that those "glittering beings" in Versailles do not care about their "neglected" country. As he travels along, he sees as every citizen is without shoes or stockings, including the women and children. The misery he witnesses reminds him of the poverty in Ireland. The second excerpt is from 1788. Here Young continues his travels and describes the children as "if possible worse clad than if with no clothes at all." A little girl in rags smiles despite her unfortunate condition. In conclusion, Young asks how those in charge can possibly watch their people live in idleness and poverty.
Key Quotation: " What have kings, and ministers, and parliaments, and states, to answer for their prejudices, seeing millions of hands that would be industrious, idle and starving, through the execrable maxims of despotism, or the equally detestable prejudices of a feudal nobility..." (108).
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