ABSTRACT
The English agronomist Arthur Young (see chapter 2) was travelling through Provence in southern France as news of the August decree on feudalism reached the countryside. The abolition of the hunting privileges of the nobility were interpreted by some as meaning that they could now hunt wherever they wanted. Young complained that shot from guns had even landed in his chaise (coach) as he travelled through the Crau, a stony region dominated by sheep raising. Revolutionary governments would have difficulty imposing limits on the killing of wildlife; and the right to hunt remains a fiercely protected outcome of the Revolution.
The 30th [August]. I forgot to observe that, for a few days past, I have been pestered with all the mob of the country shooting: one would think that every rusty gun in Provence is at work, killing all sorts of birds; the shot has fallen five or six times in my chaise and about my ears. The National Assembly has declared that every man has a right to kill game on his own land; and advancing this maxim so absurd as a declaration, though so wise as a law, without any statute or provision to secure the right of the game to the possessor of the soil, according to the tenor of the vote, has, as I am everywhere informed, filled all the fields of France with sportsmen to an utter nuisance, The same effects have flowed from declarations of right relative to tithes, taxes, feudal rights, etc. In the declarations, conditions and compensations are talked of; but an unruly ungovernable multitude seize the benefit of the abolition, and laugh at the obligations or recompense. Out by day break for Salon, in order to view the Crau, one of the most singular districts in France for its soil, or rather want of soil, being apparently a region of sea flints, yet feeding great herds of sheep: View the improvement of Monsieur Pasquali, who is doing great things, but roughly: I wished to see and converse with him, but unfortunately he was absent from Salon.
Source: Arthur Young, Travels in France during the years 1787-1788-1789 undertaken more particularly with a view of ascertaining the cultivation, wealth, resources and national prosperity of the Kingdom of France (London, 1792).