Éclaircissements demandés à M. N**, Sur ses Principes Économiques, & sur ses projets de législation; Au nom des Propriétaires fonciers & des Cultiveurs François. Par M. l'Abbé Baudeau. (Paris), 1775. - (Preceded by:) (NECKER, J.) Sur la législation et le commerce des grains. Seconde édition.

A Paris, Chez Pissot, 1775. Two volumes. Together three volumes bound in one. x, 306 pp.; (4), 236 pp.; 184, (2) pp. 8vo. Contemporary speckled calf, spine richly gilt, raised bands and label with gilt lettering. First work: Kress 7071; Goldsmiths 11256; Einaudi 344; Higgs 6259; INED 276. First edition in bookform, first published in the Nouvelles Ephémérides Économiques, and published in a very limited number of copies. Famous physiocratic polemic between Baudeau and Necker, here both present.'Doctrinaire économiste, l'un des plus fervens sectateurs de cette école, et l'un de ceux qui en ont le mieux exposé les principes' (Blanqui, p. 420). The work was written following the publication of Necker's Sur la législation et le commerce des grains presenting, in magnificent style, the arguments of the Physiocrats against Necker's theories. Baudeau criticizes Necker for his preference of industry over agriculture, for his Colbertism and his preferential attitude towards commerce in luxury goods. Baudeau advocates a return to the economics of Sully, protests against the protectionist laws of the new government and argues that free trade in corn will cause a price reduction rather than raise the price of bread.Second work: Kress 7144; Goldsmiths 11267; Higgs 6260; INED 3372; not in Einaudi; Lichtenberger, Socialisme au XVIIIe siècle, pp. 305-310. First edition: although the title-page indicates that this is the second edition, it is in reality the first edition, with the errata-leaf at the end of volume two and the errata uncorrected.Necker condemned the physiocratic doctrine of free trade and was in favour of government control.