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Letters patent from the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria for public sale of the belongings of the Jesuits in Mévergnies

AUSTRIAN NETHERLANDS, 1778
Letters patent from the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria for public sale of the belongings of the Jesuits in Mévergnies

Dated 5 September 1778, signed by the clerk Ternois, the Baron de Cazier, treasurer general, Jean Dewitt and François Gaspar Baudier, advisors, formalising the sale of a piece of land in Mévergnies (Hainaut), following an (attached) report from 11 March 1778. Ratified on 16 October 1778 and signed by De Wavrans, Barret et Gavage.
In-f° (34 x 24 cm): [6] ff., in French, on parchment, large hanging seal of red wax under zinc casing held together by a band of parchment. The empress first issued a copy of her letter patent on 31 January 1774, charging Duke Charles-Alexandre of Lorraine, governor general of the Netherlands, "to put up for sale and put aside part of the funds" that once belonged to the Jesuit Company, dissolved in 1773. She then approved the bid made by N. Daras of 1420 pounds for the purchase of a piece of land. All belongings of the Jesuits had been confiscated and put up for sale at the government's profit. These sales began in July 1774 and were not complete until July 1782.
Some leaves are shrivelled, some moisture and dirt, text has faded in some places but still legible, casing is slightly oxidized, seal is in very good condition.

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