Observations importantes sur la pétition des maîtres de postes à l'Assemblée nationale

In the summer of 1790, a seasoned former administrator of the royal post writes a brisk pamphlet aimed at the newly formed National Assembly. He details the daily carriage routes linking Paris with Calais, Rouen, Lille and other northern towns, explaining how the fledgling public service operates under a complex tariff system. The text also lists the official addresses where travelers can arrange their shipments, giving the reader a vivid snapshot of early revolutionary logistics.

From this practical foundation, the author launches a pointed critique of a petition signed by more than four hundred postmasters who seek to reshape the postal authority. He warns that allowing a coalition of operators to dictate policy threatens the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution and could jeopardize a vital source of national revenue. The pamphlet urges legislators to weigh these risks carefully before endorsing any reforms that might concentrate power in the hands of a few officials.