The Assembly of Notables

Charles Alexandre de Calonne

• Controller General 1783-87.
• Much more traditional than Necker; 

- Supported provision of pensions.

- Supported public spending.

- No plans to tackle inconsistances of Ancien Regime.

• BUT the Paris Parlement was no longer willing to borrow money.
• Calonne needed a reform.

1. Replace the capitation and the vingtieme on landed property with a single land tax.

2. Establish provincal assemblies to invlolve land owners in the assessment of the new land tax.

3. An extra indirect tax on legal documents.

4. The end of the corvee royale (forced labour on the roads) to be replaced by tax on landowners.

5. Allow free movement of grain from one part of France to another (remove internal barriers to boost commerce).

• Social effects - hitting hierachy.
• Louis persuaded to back meausres.
• Other ministers opposed them.
• "Assembly of Notables" was formed.

Assembly of Notables

• Group of people from the first and second estate chosen by the…