Mémoire sur le département des Ponts et Chaussées

First edition of the first of six publications addressing the state of the Corps of Bridges and Roads, presented to the National Constituent Assembly by Chaumont de La Millière (1746–1803), who served as director of the School from 1781 to 1792.

Contemporary half vellum binding with corners, flat spine with red morocco label, soft marbled paper boards showing some wear and losses from rubbing, yellow edges.

Two additional related publications have been bound at the end:

I. Supplément au Mémoire de M. de La Millière, sur le département des Ponts & Chaussées; ou Réponses à deux écrits relatifs à ce Mémoire, qui ont paru depuis sa publication. Paris, Imprimerie royale, 1790, title, 67 pp. (tear to the final leaf).

II. Observations de M. de La Millière, sur un écrit de M. Biauzat, député à l'Assemblée nationale, relatif à l'organisation des Ponts et Chaussées. [Paris], Imprimerie de Laurens aîné, n.d. [1791], 11 pp. Bound with: [LAPORTE (Hippolyte de):] Notice historique sur la vie de La Millière. Extracted from the Biographie universelle, vol. XXIX. [Paris], Imprimerie d'Éverat, n.d., 4 pp., text printed in two columns.

A clean cut to the final page of the second volume, minor and insignificant spotting to some leaves.

It was thanks to his efforts that the two laws of February and August 1791 were enacted, establishing a strong and lasting framework for the administration and organisation of the Corps of Bridges and Roads. This publication offers a highly comprehensive overview of the infrastructure projects pending across France at the dawn of the Revolution; it includes detailed reports on the canals of Burgundy, Dole and Picardy, and on the ports of Dunkirk, Tréport, Dieppe, Saint-Valery-en-Caux, Fécamp, Le Havre, Rouen, Honfleur, Cherbourg, Granville, Les Sables d'Olo