The Ship-owners of Saint Malo in the Eighteenth Century1

When to-day the visitor to one of the fairest countrysides in the world sees Saint Malo rise proudly from its rocky islet, surrounded by ancient walls, like a vessel about to put out to sea, he finds it difficult to imagine that this port once played a great part in the commercial and maritime history of France. Nowadays a great port must be situated at the mouth of a great river or it must serve as outlet for a rich agricultural and industrial region. It must be capable of accommodating ships of large tonnage. Saint Malo fulfills none of these conditions. But, until the nineteenth century, when boats, even those engaged in making voyages to distant parts of the world, were of very slight tonnage, (generally from 200 to 400 tons), conditions were different. Saint Malo was a busy port with an active commercial life. The development of a commission and carrying trade rendered an important and fruitful hinterland less necessary then than now; and in troublous times the security afforded by a strong military situation was much appreciated.