ABSTRACT
By the 1840s the Orleanist regime which had triumphed over Legitimate Monarchy in 1830 was losing credibility in the eyes of those who were active in political life. In January 1848, Enfantin wrote, ‘The King is no longer young, the Chambers and government are both somewhat corrupt. … It seems to me that if it were not for this uneasiness, then financially and economically we would not be in a dangerous position.’ Enfantin’s observations hardly seem to imply that revolution was imminent. However, the scale of the social crisis in the countryside (see above, pp. 45–7) had alarmed many notables, and the prefect of Loir-et-Cher reported, in January 1847, that near Indre ‘the wealthy inhabitants are leaving their residences and taking up refuge in the town’ ( 71 ). Guizot’s* government faced opposition, but this opposition – led by Barrot and Thiers – sought reform, not revolution. Indeed, one historian has made the pertinent comment that the campaign of the Banqueteers failed since the outcome of its activities was revolution and not reform ( 72 ). If this was the case it is important to identify the grievances of the reformers and trace the themes of their campaign.
