‎(CAMBON, J. & D.V. RAMEL DE NOGARET.)‎
‎Rapports de la Commission des finances, et lois sur la dette publique, sur sa consolidation, sur l'imprunt volontaire et sur l'emprunt forcé, suivie de l'instruction sur l'emploi forcé.‎

‎A Paris, De l'Imprimerie nationale, 1793. With folding tables. (2), 2-130, (8), (139)-189, (190-192), 193-230 (last misnumbered 130) pp. 8vo. Contemporary half calf (a bit worn). Kress B.2517; Goldsmiths 15699 (4to edition); Stourm 222. First edition. Official publication including Cambon's report and the law of 24 August, as well as Nogaret's report. 'Célèbre rapport sur le grand Livre de la dette publique. Le Grand Livre de la dette publique sera le titre unique et fondamental de tous les créanciers de l'état.' (Stourm). The whole idea behind the 'Grand Livre' was to do something about the two main causes of the confusion which prevailed concerning the finances of the state. These two causes were: the excessive amount of assignats in circulation and their consequent depreciation, and the ignorance prevailing as to the actual debt of the country. Cambon proposed to draw up the 'Grand Livre' of the national debt. It was this great measure upon which his fame as financier rests. (See: Palgrave 206-7; see also at length: Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution).Dominique-Vincent Ramel de Nogaret, representative of the Third Estate, was mainly interested in financial questions, voted in favor of the assignats. 'Mais le nom de Ramel-Nogaret demeure surtout attaché au ministère des Finances du Directoire qu'il exerça de janvier 1796 à juillet 1799. C'était une tâche difficile, c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire. L'opinion rentière lui reprocha la débâcle des assignats et la banqueroute des 2/3, alors qu'il fut un excellent ministre: allègement de la dette, refus des expédients, refonte du système fiscal (après lui il demeura en l'état pendant tout le XIXe siècle), début de la construction de l'administration des Finances qu'achèvera Gaudin.' (Soboul, A. Dictionnaire historique de la Révolution française, p. 882).Cambon, once occupied with the finances of France, wrote three important reports which are all necessary reading for anyone who wants to appreciate the financial condition of France when foreign war added to the complications of the revolution. His work was of high quality and great importance. 'Cambon was without doubt the greatest financier of the French revolution; he shared Mirabeau's abhorrence of national bankruptcy; he strove to draw his country from the financial embarrasment caused by the depreciation of the assignats; he managed the treasury skilfully and with absolute honesty, and he possessed Montesquieu's power of making financial statements lucid and even interesting.' (Palgrave, pp. 206-207; see also: Stourm, Les finances de l'Ancien Régime et de la Révolution, and Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution, 1789-1799). ‎

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