Makingoeconomicpeople: The SpanishMagazine of Agriculture and Arts for Parish Rectors(1797–1808)

Abstract

This essay focuses on a failed venture, a weekly magazine for instructing parish-priests on oeconomy distributed in the Spain and its colonies at the turn of the nineteenth century. Using the extended network of parish priests, reformers planned to educate the whole population of Spain and its colonies in oeconomy, which was seen as crucial for the country's recovery. Through the analysis of the readers' correspondence, the texts on soap making techniques, the plans of a small village for instructing its inhabitants, and a survey among the peasants of a parish led by a reformist bishop, the essay aims to unravel the complex amalgamation of techniques, political ideology, moral values, and the social stabilizing function that oeconomy played in Spain in the aftermath of the French revolution.An immense rural population spread over the fields promises the state not only an industrious and rich people, but also [one that is] simple and virtuous […] in their families conjugal, fraternal, and filial love will rule; harmony, charity, and hospitality will rule, and our yeomen will have the social and domestic virtues that make the happiness of families and the true glory of the states. 1After the war with revolutionary France (1792-1795) Spain was on the brink of bankruptcy. Among the measures that the government applied to overcome its catastrophic financial situation was to encourage the publication of a weekly magazine addressed to the clergy, the Semanario de Agricultura y Artes dirigido a los Párrocos (The Magazine of Agriculture and Arts for Parish Rectors, 1797-1808). Using the extended network of parish priests, reformers planned to educate the whole population of Spain and its colonies in oeconomy, which was seen as crucial for the country's recovery. This essay shows that learning the oeconomic way of making things was believed to improve not only the material wealth of the country, but also its moral wealth and political stability. It seeks to unravel the complex amalgamation of techniques, political ideology, moral values, and the stabilizing political function that oeconomy played in Spain in the aftermath of the French revolution. Utilising approaches developed by historians of technology, this essay considers oeconomy as a network of objects, activities, knowledge and meanings, and its practice, a 'mode of action'. As Francesca Bray writes, these 'modes of action' embodied values, goals and ideologies and secure the right and moral way of doing things. It can produce social and epistemological ruptures, but also continuity, stability and cohesion. 2 Here I will argue that the practice of oeconomy in Spain lent social structures and hierarchies stability and support.

Estrategias de adaptación de los saberes científicos en "Principios de botánica en cartas a una Señora"

“…En el año 1802, desde el 30 de septiembre hasta el 28 de octubre, durante cinco jueves consecutivos, se pudieron leer, en el Semanario de Agricultura y Artes dirigido a los Párrocos, las entregas sucesivas de «Principios de botánica en cartas a una Señora» 1 . Este curso elemental de botánica consta de veinticinco cartas aparecidas en los números 300 a 304 de la revista 2 , cada una de las cuales lleva el número y el título que presenta su temática.…”

“…En la parte inicial de la primera carta se esboza el marco de enunciación en el que el redactor sitúa su presentación de los contenidos botánicos: 1 El presente trabajo se ha realizado en el marco del proyecto «Formas de vida, formas de literatura» (0237/NPRH4/H2b/83/2016, Programa Nacional del Desarrollo de las Ciencias Humanas) financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia y Educación Superior polaco.…”