Abstract
This work is an analysis of the two works of Arthur Young who from a position of a physiocrat observed and explored primarily the economic situation of French country during his three journeys in 1787, 1788 and 1789/90. The traveller used his own experience of agronomist and he completed his observations with information from local landowners who were interested in agronomics.
When he conducted a survey of French country conditions he used his method of statistics which he introduced during his previous research journeys in England and Ireland. The work of Arthur Young is also interesting from the point of view of the political situation analysis on the eve of the French Revolution.
Young not only recorded in detail the atmosphere of political debates from the beginning of early sessions of the National Assembly, but the valuable ones are especially his notes from his travels through the French countryside which was hit by so-called panic of Great Fear at that time. He was not personally present at the conquest of the Bastille, but witnessed plundering of Strasbourg Town Hall.
Young's following work The example of France a Warning to Britain was critical analysis of the economical, political and social status of the French Republic from the years 1792 and 1793 and was based only on indirect reports. For this reason, just his work Travels in France During the Years 1787, 1788,1789 is considered to be the most valuable source for the French Revolution.