Pierre-Jean Grosley
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Jean Grosley was a French man of letters, local historian, travel writer and observer of social mores in the Age of Enlightenment
. Grosley was a magistrate in his native Troyes
, where he had plenty of opportunity to hear the local dialect, which he described in a paper (1761). At the time of his death he was engaged in publishing Mémoires historiques et critiques pour l'histoire de Troyes ("Historic and critical notes for the history of Troyes") of which only the first complete volume was printed (Paris 1774).
Grosley accumulated some medieval manuscripts in the course of his researches. A manuscript of the chanson de geste
Garin le Loherain
with Garey's inscription was part of the Phillipps collection
and is now conserved in the Bancroft Library
, University of California at Berkeley.
Following his sojourn in Italy as the military administrator of the maréchal de Maillebois
during the War of Austrian Succession, he published his Observations sur l'Italie et les Italiens.
He came in second in the competition ordered by the Académie de Dijon in 1750, which was won by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
with his Discours sur les sciences et les arts
. In 1752 he published his Recherches pour servir à l'histoire du droit françois; the essay, maintaining the Gaul
ish origin of French customary law, is divided in three sections: the first presents arguments to show that Gaul was least Romanised
in the north; the second that French customs did not have their origins in the anarchic feudal conditions of the tenth and eleventh centuries; the third, that the Roman law
did not prevail north of the Loire
.
Grosley was elected an associate of the Académie royale des inscriptions et belles-lettres
in 1761.
Following a year in London in 1765 he produced tart observations on the English style of life, with critical attention to the telling details that revealed for him the English character. His Londres (Neuchâtel 1770), was translated by Thomas Nugent and published in 2 volumes by Lockyer Davis in 1772 under the title A Tour to London; Or New Observations on England and its Inhabitants, by M. Grosley It was read with pleasure by the English themselves. Like the London view of Hogarth
or the London Diary of that inveterate slummer James Boswell
, Grosley presents a wry and satirical series of portraits of London street life from the fashionable walkers in a rainy, soot-laden St. James's Park
to the bizarre holiday capers of butchers' boys and milkmaids. Among other things it contained the first published mention of that English invention, the sandwich
.
Grosley was a contributor to volumes IV and XIV of the Encyclopédie
of Diderot
and d'Alembert
.
His New Observations on Italy and its Inhabitants was published in London, 1764.
In Troyes, rue Pierre-Jean-Grosley commemorates his name.
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
. Grosley was a magistrate in his native Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
, where he had plenty of opportunity to hear the local dialect, which he described in a paper (1761). At the time of his death he was engaged in publishing Mémoires historiques et critiques pour l'histoire de Troyes ("Historic and critical notes for the history of Troyes") of which only the first complete volume was printed (Paris 1774).
Grosley accumulated some medieval manuscripts in the course of his researches. A manuscript of the chanson de geste
Chanson de geste
The chansons de geste, Old French for "songs of heroic deeds", are the epic poems that appear at the dawn of French literature. The earliest known examples date from the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries, nearly a hundred years before the emergence of the lyric poetry of the trouvères and...
Garin le Loherain
Garin le Loherain
The 12th century chanson de geste of Garin le Loherain is one of the fiercest and most sanguinary narratives left by the trouvères. This local cycle of Lorraine, which is completed by Hervis de Metz, Girbers de Metz, Ansis, fils de Girbert, and Von, appears to have an historical basis...
with Garey's inscription was part of the Phillipps collection
Thomas Phillipps
Sir Thomas Phillipps, 1st Baronet was an English antiquary and book collector who amassed the largest collection of manuscript material in the 19th century, due to his severe condition of bibliomania...
and is now conserved in the Bancroft Library
Bancroft Library
The Bancroft Library is the primary special collections library of the University of California, Berkeley. It was acquired as a gift/purchase from its founder, Hubert Howe Bancroft, with the proviso that it retain the name Bancroft Library in perpetuity...
, University of California at Berkeley.
Following his sojourn in Italy as the military administrator of the maréchal de Maillebois
Jean-Baptiste Francois des Marets, marquis de Maillebois
Jean-Baptiste François Desmarets , marquis of Maillebois, was a Marshal of France.He was the son of Nicolas Desmarets, Marquis De Maillebois Controller-General of Finances during the reign of Louis XIV of France and nephew of Jean-Baptiste Colbert.He learned the art of war from Claude Louis Hector...
during the War of Austrian Succession, he published his Observations sur l'Italie et les Italiens.
He came in second in the competition ordered by the Académie de Dijon in 1750, which was won by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism. His political philosophy influenced the French Revolution as well as the overall development of modern political, sociological and educational thought.His novel Émile: or, On Education is a treatise...
with his Discours sur les sciences et les arts
Discourse on the Arts and Sciences
A Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences , more commonly known as Discourse on the Sciences and Arts , is an essay by Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau which argued that the arts and sciences corrupt human morality...
. In 1752 he published his Recherches pour servir à l'histoire du droit françois; the essay, maintaining the Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
ish origin of French customary law, is divided in three sections: the first presents arguments to show that Gaul was least Romanised
Romanization
In linguistics, romanization or latinization is the representation of a written word or spoken speech with the Roman script, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language uses a different writing system . Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written...
in the north; the second that French customs did not have their origins in the anarchic feudal conditions of the tenth and eleventh centuries; the third, that the Roman law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
did not prevail north of the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
.
Grosley was elected an associate of the Académie royale des inscriptions et belles-lettres
Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
in 1761.
Following a year in London in 1765 he produced tart observations on the English style of life, with critical attention to the telling details that revealed for him the English character. His Londres (Neuchâtel 1770), was translated by Thomas Nugent and published in 2 volumes by Lockyer Davis in 1772 under the title A Tour to London; Or New Observations on England and its Inhabitants, by M. Grosley It was read with pleasure by the English themselves. Like the London view of Hogarth
Hogarth
-People:* Burne Hogarth, American cartoonist, illustrator, educator and author* David George Hogarth, English archaeologist* Donald Hogarth, Canadian politician and mining financier* Paul Hogarth, English painter and illustrator...
or the London Diary of that inveterate slummer James Boswell
James Boswell
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland; he is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson....
, Grosley presents a wry and satirical series of portraits of London street life from the fashionable walkers in a rainy, soot-laden St. James's Park
St. James's Park
St. James's Park is a 23 hectare park in the City of Westminster, central London - the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. The park lies at the southernmost tip of the St. James's area, which was named after a leper hospital dedicated to St. James the Less.- Geographical location :St. James's...
to the bizarre holiday capers of butchers' boys and milkmaids. Among other things it contained the first published mention of that English invention, the sandwich
Sandwich
A sandwich is a food item, typically consisting of two or more slices of :bread with one or more fillings between them, or one slice of bread with a topping or toppings, commonly called an open sandwich. Sandwiches are a widely popular type of lunch food, typically taken to work or school, or...
.
Grosley was a contributor to volumes IV and XIV of the Encyclopédie
Encyclopédie
Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers was a general encyclopedia published in France between 1751 and 1772, with later supplements, revised editions, and translations. It was edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert...
of Diderot
Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent person during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder and chief editor of and contributor to the Encyclopédie....
and d'Alembert
Jean le Rond d'Alembert
Jean-Baptiste le Rond d'Alembert was a French mathematician, mechanician, physicist, philosopher, and music theorist. He was also co-editor with Denis Diderot of the Encyclopédie...
.
His New Observations on Italy and its Inhabitants was published in London, 1764.
In Troyes, rue Pierre-Jean-Grosley commemorates his name.