French Revolutionary Legal Manuscript Regarding a Large Sum of Money

On offer is a fascinating legal document from the early years of the French Revolution describing legal action between two parties, ‘Bernadet’ and ‘Jacques Nadel’. The document was written on “cinq thermidor au sept”, which is the seventh year of the French Republic, or Summer, 1798.  

The legal action described in the document involves 2,000 francs, which is significant since this was at a time when the average annual income for a worker was about 450 francs. 

An excerpt from the manuscript follows: 

Extrait de registre de bureau de [ ] du juge de pays du premiere arrondissement situ commune de Bourges department du Cher 

[Translation: extract from the register of the office of the country judge of the first arrondissement in the commune of Bourges department of Cher]

An additional excerpt follows: 

Est comparis le citoyen Bernadat fonde de pourvoir de citoyen Jacques Naudel propriataire demeurans en cette commune, section Sulpice par acte...

[Translation: Has appeared the citizen Bernadat authorized to provide citizen Jacques Naudel owner remaining in this district section Sulpice by act…]

At the time this document was written, during the summer of 1798, France was enjoying a period of relative quiet as there had been a peace agreement with her continental adversaries and Napoleon was off invading Egypt and was yet to become Emperor.

For a historian, this document is an excellent example of an aspect of the legal system that was undergoing enormous change. These changes would result in the Code Napoleon which would form the basis of the legal systems of continental Europe and the civil law in the province of Quebec, Canada. For a legal professional, this would make a wonderful addition to a legal collection or library.

Drafted in 1798, this document measures 12.5 inches by 9.0 inches. It is 4 pages in total. Text occupies three of the pages. There is wear around the edges and staining die to age. The handwriting is reasonably legible. The document bears a government seal.