|
THE DUBOSC AFFAIR We have reproduced in full the article by our Brother NORBERTO, but even so we think it would be useful to provide some elucidation regarding the DUBOSC affair. There are, in fact, two DUBOSC affairs relating to RENNES-LES-BAINS: - one relates to the operation of jet mines at La Borde Neuve and of gold mines at the Pech CARDOU belonging to the Marquis Paul-François de Fleury of Rennes through his marriage to Gabrielle d'Hautpoul. - the other, "travaux dit minier" ("work referred to as mining") with a view to sinking a well (shaft) on the Roc Négre, which lasted from 1780 to 1782, on private property, and from which emanated the hot spring which formerly fed the Bains Doux (see memoirs dating from 1787 of Doctor SOULÈRE, a doctor at Sournia), and which now discharges itself into the river just before the northern approach to the village of RENNES-LES-BAINS. The task that Brother DUBOSC took on was therefore to re-establish a communicating ‘way’ between the old underground passages of the former Celtic sanctuary known as the TEMPLE ROND (Round Temple). Contrary to the legend, neither gold pieces, nor ingots nor any form of treasure ever existed at this place. On the contrary, although it is certain that on the Roc Négre there are two mines, one of copper and the other of gold, the very small quantity of minerals present there makes their exploitation unfeasible. Only the goldmine of the Cardou seems to hold any interest for the Société de Salsigne. The Spanish documents on which Brother NORBERTO has based his research are the memoirs of the Abbé François-Pierre Cauneille, which will be found in the archives of the Commandery of Barcelona (‘Affaire Fleury/Dubosc’ - 1780/1789). According to this document, it was a question of replacing the importation of the jet coming from the Spain (and which was being used at Sainte Colombes) by jet mined at Rennes. M. Sangui priory-of-sion.com |