The text is a collection of letters and memos written by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French Minister of Finance under King Louis XIV, discussing his policies. The excerpts focus on the administration of finances, especially the collection of taxes, the management of royal estates, and the regulation of trade and industry. Colbert’s meticulous attention to detail is evident, as he issues instructions to his officials on everything from the collection of taxes to the regulation of the quality of manufactured goods. The texts reveal Colbert’s vision for a strong and prosperous France based on a centralised, efficient bureaucracy.

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