"Fortwomonths,"writesacommandantintheSouth,[20]"inferiorjudgesandlawyers,withwhichbothtownandcountryswarm,withaviewtotheirelectiontotheStates—General,havebeenracingafterthemembersoftheThird—Estate,underthepretextofstandingbythemandofgivingtheminformation……Theyhavestriventomakethembelievethat,intheStates—General,theyalonewouldbemastersandregulatealltheaffairsofthekingdom;thattheThird—Estate,inselectingitsdeputiesamongmenoftherobe,wouldsecurethemightandtherighttotakethelead,toabolishnobilityandtocancelallitsrightsandprivileges;thatnobilitywouldnolongerbehereditary;thatallcitizens,indeservingit,wouldbeentitledtoclaimit;that,ifthepeopleelectedthem,theywouldhaveaccordedtotheThird—Estatewhateveritdesired,becausethecurates,belongingtotheThird—Estate,havingagreedtoseparatefromthehigherclergyandunitewiththem,thenoblesandtheclergy,unitedtogether,wouldhavebutonevoteagainsttwooftheThird—Estate……Ifthethird—Estatehadchosensensibletownspeopleormerchantstheywouldhavecombinedwithoutdifficultywiththeothertwoorders。
Buttheassembliesofthebailiwicksandotherdistrictswerestuffedwithmenoftherobewhohadabsorbedallopinionsandstriventotakeprecedenceoftheothers,each,inhisownbehalf,intriguingandconspiringtobeappointedadeputy。"
"InTouraine,"writestheintendant,[21]"mostofthevoteshavebeenbespokenorbeggedfor。Trustyagents,atthemomentofvoting,placedfilled—inballotsinthehandsofthevoters,andputintheirway,onreachingthetaverns,everydocumentandsuggestioncalculatedtoexcitetheirimaginationsanddeterminetheirchoiceforthegentryofthebar。"
"InthesénéchauséeofLectoure,anumberofparisheshavenotbeendesignatedornotifiedtosendtheirreportsordeputiestothedistrictassembly。Inthosewhichwerenotifiedthelawyers,attorneysandnotariesofthesmallneighboringtownshavemadeupthelistofgrievancesthemselveswithoutsummoningthecommunity……Exactcopiesofthissingleroughdraftweremadeandsoldatahighpricetothecouncilsofeachcountryparish"。—
Thisisanalarmingsymptom,onemarkingoutinadvancetheroadtheRevolutionistotake:Themanofthepeopleisindoctrinatedbytheadvocate,thepikemanallowinghimselftobeledbythespokesman。[22]
Theeffectoftheircombinationisapparentthefirstyear。InFranche—Comté[23]afterconsultationwithapersonnamedRouget,thepeasantsoftheMarquisdeChaila"determinetomakenofurtherpaymentstohim,andtodivideamongstthemselvestheproductofthewood—cuttings。"Inhispaper"thelawyerstatesthatallthecommunitiesoftheprovincehavedecidedtodothesamething……Hisconsultationisdiffusedtosuchanextentaroundthecountrythatmanyofthecommunitiesaresatisfiedthattheyowenothingmoretothekingnortotheseigniors。M。deMarnésia,deputytothe(National)Assembly,hasarrived(here)topassafewdaysathomeonaccountofhishealth。Hehasbeentreatedintherudestandmostscandalousmanner;itwasevenproposedtoconducthimbacktoParisunderguard。Afterhisdeparturehischateauwasattacked,thedoorsburstopenandthewallsofhisgardenpulleddown。(Andyet)nogentlemanhasdonemoreforthepeopleonhisdomaintheM。leMarquisdeMarnésia……Excessesofeverykindareontheincrease;Ihaveconstantcomplaintsoftheabusewhichthenationalmilitiamakeoftheirarms,andwhichIcannotremedy。"AccordingtoanutteranceintheNationalAssemblythepoliceimaginesthatitistobedisbandedandhasthereforenodesiretomakeenemiesforitself。"Thebaillagesareastimidasthepolice—forces;Isendthembusinessconstantly,butnoculpritispunished。"——"Nonationenjoyslibertysoindefiniteandsodisastroustohonestpeople;itisabsolutelyagainsttherightsofmantoseeoneselfconstantlyliabletohavehisthroatcutbythescoundrelswhodailyconfoundlibertywithlicense。"
—Inotherwords,thepassionsutilizethetheorytojustifythemselves,andthetheoryappealtopassiontobecarriedout。Forexample,nearLiancourt,theDucdeLarochefoucauldpossessedanuncultivatedareaofground;"atthecommencementoftherevolution,[24]thepoorofthetowndeclarethat,astheyformapartofthenation,untilledlandsbeingnationalproperty,thisbelongstothem,"and"withnootherformality"theytakepossessionofit,divideitup,planthedgesandclearitoff。"This,saysArthurYoung,showsthegeneraldisposition……Pushedalittlefarthertheconsequenceswouldnotbeslightforpropertiesinthiskingdom。"
Already,intheprecedingyear,nearRouen,themarauders,whocutdownandselltheforests,declare,that"thepeoplehavetherighttotakewhatevertheyrequirefortheirnecessities。"Theyhavehadthedoctrinepreachedtothemthattheyaresovereign,andtheyactassovereigns。Theconditionoftheirintellectsbeinggiven,nothingismorenaturalthantheirconduct。Severalmillionsofsavagesarethusletloosebyafewthousandwindbags,thepoliticsofthecaféfindinganinterpreterandministrantsinthemobofthestreets。Ontheonehandbruteforceisattheserviceoftheradicaldogma。Ontheotherhandradicaldogmaisattheserviceofbruteforce。Andhere,indisintegratedFrance,thesearetheonlytwovalidpowersremainingerectonthedebrisoftheothers。
Notes:
[1]Necker,"Del’AdministrationdesFinances,"II。422,435。
[2]Thewageshavein1789beenestimatedtobe7sous4deniersofwhich2sousand6denierswouldhavetobepaidforthebread。
(MercuredeFrance,May7,1791。)
[3]Aubertin,345。LettertotheComtedeSt。Germain(duringtheSevenYearsWar)。"Thesoldier’shardshipsmakeone’sheartbleed;hepasseshisdaysinastateofabjectmisery,despisedandlivinglikeachaineddogtobeusedforcombat。"
[4]DeTocqueville,190,191。
[5]Archivesnationales,H,1591。
[6]DeRochambeau,"Mémoires,"I。427。—D’Argenson,December24,1752。"30,000menhavebeenpunishedfordesertionsincethepeaceof1748;thisextensivedesertionisattributedtothenewdrillwhichfatiguesanddisheartensthesoldier,andespeciallytheveterans。"—
Voltaire,"Dict。Phil。,"article"Punishments。""Iwasamazedonedayonseeingthelistofdeserters,foreightyearsamountingto60,000。"
[7]Archivesnationales,H,554。(LetterofM。deBertrand,intendantofRennes,August17,1785)。
[8]Mercier,XI,121。
[9]Nowweknowbetter。Themosthealthybreadistheoneinwhichsomebranisleft,suchbranisnotonlygoodforthedigestionbutcontainsvitaminsandmineralsaswell。(SR)。
[10]DeVaublanc,149。
[11]DeSégur,I,20(1767)。
[12]Augeard,"Mémoires,"165。
[13]HoraceWalpole,September5,1789。
[14]Laboulaye,"Del’Administrationfran?aisesousLouisXVI。"
(RevuedesCourslittéraires,IV,743)。—AlbertBabeau,I,111。
(DoléancesetveuxdescorporationsdeTroyes)。
[15]DeTocqueville,158。
[16]Ibid。304。(ThewordsofBurke。)
[17]TravelsinFrance,I。240,263。
[18]WhatanimpressionthisviewmusthavemadeonLeninwhosought,between1906and1909inParis,themeansandwayswithwhichtore—createtheFrenchrevolutioninRussia。(SR。)
[19]Beugnot,I。115,116。
[20]Archivesnationales,procès—verbauxandcahiersoftheStates—
General,vol。XIII,p。405。(LetteroftheMarquisdeFodoas,commandantofArmagnac,toM。Necker,may29,1789。)
[21]Ibid。Vol。CL,p。174。(LetterfromtheintendantofToursofMarch25,1789。)
[22]"LenindeviatedfromMarxnotinpreachingthenecessityforviolentproletarianrevolution,butbyadvocatingthecreationofanelitepartyofprofessionalrevolutionariestohastenthisend,andbyarguingforthedictatorshipofthispartyratherthantheworkingclassasawhole。"TheGuinnessEncyclopediapage269。(SR。)
[23]Archivesnationales,H,784。(LettersofM。deLangeron,militarycommandantatBesan?on,October16and18,1789)。Theconsultationisannexed。
[24]ArthurYoung,I,344。
CHAPTERV。SUMMARY。
I。SuicideoftheAncientRegime。
Thesetwoforces,radicaldogmaandbruteforce,arethesuccessorsandexecutorsoftheAncientregime,and,oncontemplatingthewayinwhichthisregimeengendered,broughtforth,nourished,installedandstimulatedthemwecannotavoidconsideringitshistoryasonelongsuicide,likethatofamanwho,havingmountedtothetopofanimmenseladder,cutsawayfromunderhisfeetthesupportwhichhaskepthimup。—Inacaseofthiskindgoodintentionsarenotsufficient;tobeliberalandevengenerous,toenteruponafewsemi—
reforms,isofnoavail。Onthecontrary,throughboththeirqualitiesanddefects,throughboththeirvirtuesandtheirvices,theprivilegedwroughttheirowndestruction,theirmeritscontributingtotheirruinaswellastheirfaults。—Foundersofsociety,formerlyentitledtotheiradvantagesthroughtheirservices,theyhavepreservedtheirrankwithoutfulfillingtheirduties;theirpositioninthelocalasinthecentralgovernmentisasinecure,andtheirprivilegeshavebecomeabuses。Attheirhead,aking,creatingFrancebydevotinghimselftoherasifhisownproperty,endedbysacrificingherasifhisownproperty;thepublicpurseishisprivatepurse,whilepassions,vanities,personalweaknesses,luxurioushabits,familysolicitudes,theintriguesofamistressandthecapricesofawife,governastateoftwenty—sixmillionsofmenwithanarbitrariness,aheedlessness,aprodigality,alackofskill,anabsenceofconsistencythatwouldscarcelybeoverlookedinthemanagementofaprivatedomain。—Thekingandtheprivilegedexcelinonedirection,inmanners,ingoodtaste,infashion,inthetalentforrepresentationandinentertainingandreceiving,inthegiftofgracefulconversation,infinesseandingaiety,intheartofconvertinglifeintoabrilliantandingeniousfestivity,regardingtheworldasadrawingroomofrefinedidlersinwhichitsufficestobeamiableandwitty,whilst,actually,itisanarenawhereonemustbestrongforcombats,andalaboratoryinwhichonemustworkinordertobeuseful。—Throughthehabit,perfectionandswayofpolishedintercoursetheystampedontheFrenchintellectaclassicform,which,combinedwithrecentscientificacquisitions,producedthephilosophyoftheeighteenthcentury,thedisreputeoftradition,theambitionofrecastingallhumaninstitutionsaccordingtothesoledictatesofReason,theapplianceofmathematicalmethodstopoliticsandmorals,thecatechismoftheRightsofMan,andotherdogmasofanarchicalanddespoticcharacterintheCONTRATSOCIAL。—Oncethischimeraisborntheywelcomeitasadrawingroomfancy;theyusethelittlemonsterasaplaything,asyetinnocentanddeckedwithribbonslikeapastorallambkin;theyneverdreamofitsbecomingaraging,formidablebrute;theynourishit,andcaressit,andthen,openingtheirdoors,theyletitdescendintothestreets。—Hereamongthemiddleclasswhichthegovernmenthasrenderedill—disposedbycompromisingitsfortunes,whichtheprivilegedhaveoffendedbyrestrictingitsambition,whichiswoundedbyinequalitythroughinjuredself—esteem,therevolutionarytheorygainsrapidaccessions,asuddenasperity,and,inafewyears,itfindsitselfundisputedmasterofpublicopinion。—Atthismomentandatitssummons,anothercolossalmonsterrisesup,amonsterwithmillionsofheads,ablind,startledanimal,anentirepeoplepresseddown,exasperatedandsuddenlyloosenedagainstthegovernmentwhoseexactionshavedespoiledit,againsttheprivilegedwhoserightshavereducedittostarvation,without,intheseruraldistrictsabandonedbytheirnaturalprotectors,encounteringanysurvivingauthority;without,intheseprovincessubjecttotheyokeofuniversalcentralization,encounteringasingleindependentgroupandwithoutthepossibilityofforming,inthissocietybrokenupbydespotism,anycentersofenterpriseandresistance;withoutfinding,inthisupperclassdisarmedbyitsveryhumanity,apolicydevoidofillusionandcapableofaction。Withoutwhichallthesegoodintentionsandfineintellectsshallbeunabletoprotectthemselvesagainstthetwoenemiesofalllibertyandofallorder,againstthecontagionofthedemocraticnightmarewhichdisturbstheablestheadsandagainsttheirruptionsofthepopularbrutalitywhichpervertsthebestoflaws。AtthemomentofopeningtheStates—Generalthecourseofideasandeventsisnotonlyfixedbut,again,apparent。Beforehandandunconsciously,eachgenerationbears(Page400/296)withinitselfitspastanditsfuture;andtothisone,longbeforetheend,onemighthavebeenabletoforetellitsfate,and,ifbothdetailsaswellastheentireactioncouldhavebeenforeseen,onewouldreadilyhaveacceptedthefollowingfictionmadeupbyaconvertedLaharpe[1]when,attheendoftheDirectory,hearrangedhissouvenirs:
II。
"Itseemstome,"hesays,"asifitwerebutyesterday,andyetitisatthebeginningoftheyear1788。WewerediningwithoneofourfellowmembersoftheAcademy,agrandseigniorandamanofintelligence。Thecompanywasnumerousandofeveryprofession,courtiers,advocates,menoflettersandacademicians,allhadfeastedluxuriouslyaccordingtocustom。AtthedessertthewinesofMalvoisieandofConstancecontributedtothesocialgaietyasortoffreedomnotalwayskeptwithindecorouslimits。Atthattimesocietyhadreachedthepointatwhicheverythingmaybeexpressedthatexciteslaughter。Champforthadreadtoushisimpiousandlibertinestories,andgreatladieshadlistenedtothesewithoutrecoursetotheirfans。
Henceadelugeofwitticismsagainstreligion,onequotingatiradefrom’LaPucelle,’anotherbringingforwardcertainphilosophicalstanzasbyDiderot……andwithunboundedapplause……Theconversationbecomesmoreserious;admirationisexpressedattherevolutionaccomplishedbyVoltaire,andallagreeinitsbeingthefirsttitletohisfame。’Hegavethetonetohiscentury,findingreadersintheantechambersaswellasinthedrawing—room。’Oneoftheguestsnarrates,burstingwithlaughter,whatahairdressersaidtohimwhilepowderinghishair:’Yousee,sir,althoughIamamiserablescrub,Ihavenomorereligionthananyoneelse。’TheyconcludethattheRevolutionwillsoonbeconsummated,thatsuperstitionandfanaticismmustwhollygivewaytophilosophy,andtheythuscalculatetheprobabilitiesoftheepochandthoseofthefuturesocietywhichwillseethereignofreason。Themostagedlamentnotbeingabletoflatterthemselvesthattheywillseeit;theyoungrejoiceinareasonableprospectofseeingit,andespeciallydotheycongratulatetheAcademyonhavingpavedthewayforthegreatwork,andonhavingbeentheheadquarters,thecenter,theinspireroffreedomofthought。
OneoftheguestshadtakennopartinthisgayconversationapersonnamedCazotte,anamiableandoriginalman,but,unfortunately,infatuatedwiththedelusionsofthevisionary。Inthemostserioustonehebegins:’Gentlemen,’sayshe,’becontent;youwillwitnessthisgreatrevolutionthatyousomuchdesire。YouknowthatIamsomethingofaprophet,andIrepeatit,youwillwitnessit……Doyouknowtheresultofthisrevolution,forallofyou,solongasyouremainhere?’—’Ah!’exclaimsCondorcetwithhisshrewd,simpleairandsmile,’letussee,aphilosopherisnotsorrytoencounteraprophet。’—’You,MonsieurdeCondorcet,willexpirestretchedonthefloorofadungeon;youwilldieofthepoisonyoutaketoescapetheexecutioner,ofthepoisonwhichthefelicityofthaterawillcompelyoualwaystocarryaboutyourperson!’—Atfirst,greatastonishment,andthencameanoutburstoflaughter。’Whathasallthisincommonwithphilosophyandthereignofreason?’—
’PreciselywhatIhavejustremarkedtoyou;inthenameofphilosophy,ofhumanity,offreedom,underthereignofreason,youwillthusreachyourend;and,evidently,thereignofreasonwillarrive,fortherewillbetemplesofreason,and,inthosedays,inallFrance,thetempleswillbethosealoneofreason……You,MonsieurdeChampfort,youwillseveryourveinswithtwenty—twostrokesofarazorandyetyouwillnotdieformonthsafterwards。
You,MonsieurVicq—d’Azir,youwillnotopenyourownveinsbutyouwillhavethemopenedsixtimesinoneday,intheagoniesofgout,soastobemorecertainofsuccess,andyouwilldiethatnight。You,MonsieurdeNicolai,onthescaffold;you,MonsieurBailly,onthescaffold;you,MonsieurdeMalesherbes,onthescaffold;……you,MonsieurRoucher,alsoonthescaffold。’—’ButthenweshallhavebeenovercomebyTurksorTartars?’—’Bynomeans;youwillbegoverned,asIhavealreadytoldyou,solelybyphilosophyandreason。
Thosewhoaretotreatyouinthismannerwillallbephilosophers,willall,ateverymoment,haveontheirlipsthephrasesyouhaveutteredwithinthehour,willrepeatyourmaxims,willquote,likeyourselves,thestanzasofDiderotandof"LaPucelle。"’—’Andwhenwillallthishappen?’—’SixyearswillnotpassbeforewhatItellyouwillbeaccomplished。’—’Well,thesearemiracles,’exclaimsLaHarpe,’andyouleavemeout?’—’Youwillbenolessamiracle,foryouwillthenbeaChristian。’—’Ah,’interposesChampfort,I
breatheagain;ifwearetodieonlywhenLaHarpebecomesaChristianweareimmortals。’—’Astothat,wewomen,’saystheDuchessedeGramont,’areextremelyfortunateinbeingofnoconsequenceinrevolutions。Itisunderstoodthatwearenottoblame,andoursex……’—’Yoursex,ladies,willnotprotectyouthistime……Youwillbetreatedpreciselyasmen,withnodifferencewhatever……
You,MadamelaDuchesse,willbeledtothescaffold,youandmanyladiesbesidesyourselfinacartwithyourhandstiedbehindyourback。’—’Ah,inthatevent,Ihopetohaveatleastacarriagecoveredwithblack。’—’No,Madame,greaterladiesthanyourselfwillgo,likeyourselfinacartandwiththeirhandstiedlikeyours。’—’Greaterladies!What!Princessesoftheblood!’—
’Stillgreaterladiesthanthose……’Theybegantothinkthejestcarriedtoofar。MadamedeGramont,todispelthegloom,didnotinsistonareplytoherlastexclamation,contentingherselfbysayinginthelightesttone,’Andtheywillnotevenleaveoneaconfessor!’—’No,Madame,neitheryounoranyotherpersonwillbeallowedaconfessor;thelastofthecondemnedthatwillhaveone,asanactofgrace,willbe……’Hestoppedamoment。’Tellme,now,whoisthefortunatemortalenjoyingthisprerogative?’—’Itisthelastthatwillremaintohim,anditwillbetheKingofFrance。’"
Note:
[1]Laharpe,orLaHarpe,JeanFran?ois。(Paris1739—1803)。Authorandcritic,madeamemberoftheAcademyin1776。(SR)。
ENDOFVOLUMENOTES:
NOTE1。
ONTHENUMBEROFECCLESIASTICSANDNOBLES。
Theseapproximateestimatesarearrivedatinthefollowingmanner:
1。Thenumberofnoblesin1789wasunknown。ThegenealogistChérin,inhis"AbrégéchronologiquedesEdits,etc。"(1789),statesthatheisignorantofthenumber。Moheau,towhomLavoisierrefersinhisreport,1791,isequallyignorantinthisrespect。("RecherchessurlapopulationdelaFrance,"1778,p。105);Lavoisierstatesthenumberas83,000,whiletheMarquisdeBouillé("Mémoires,"p。50),states80,000families;neitheroftheseauthoritiesadvancingproofsoftheirstatements。—Ifindinthe"Cataloguenominatifdesgentilhommesen1789,"byLaroqueandDeBarthélemy,thenumberofnoblesvoting,directlyorbyproxy,intheelectionsof1789,inProvence,Languedoc,Lyonnais,Forez,Beaujolais,Touraine,Normandy,andIle—de—France,as9,167。—Accordingtothecensusof1790,givenbyArthurYounginhis"TravelsinFrance,"thepopulationoftheseprovinceswas7,757,000,whichgivesaproportionof30,000
noblesvotinginapopulationof26,000,000。—Onexaminingthelawandonsummingupthelists,wefindthateachnoblerepresentssomewhatlessthanafamily,inasmuchasthesonoftheownerofafiefvotesifheistwenty—fiveyearsofage;Ithink,accordingly,thatwearenotfaroutofthewayinestimatingthenumberofnoblefamiliesat26,000or28,000,whichnumber,atfiveindividualstothefamily,gives130,000or140,000nobles。—TheterritoryofFrancein1789being27,000squareleagues,[1]andthepopulation26,000,000,wemayassignonenoblefamilytoeverysquareleagueofterritoryandtoevery1,000inhabitants。
2。ConcerningtheclergyIfindintheNationalArchives,amongtheecclesiasticalrecords,thefollowingenumerationofmonksbelongingto28orders:GrandAugustins694,Petits—Pères250,Barnabites90,EnglishBénédictines52,BénédictinesofCluny298,ofSaint—Vanne612,ofSaint—Maur1,672,Citeaux1,806,Récollets2,238,Prémontrés399,PrémontrésRéformés394,Capucins3,720,Carmesdéchaussés555,Grands—Carmes853,HospitaliersdeSaint—JeandeDieu218,Chartreux1,144,Cordeliers2,018,Dominicans1,172,Feuillants148,Genovéfains570,Mathurins310,Minimes684,Notre—DamedelaMerci31,Notre—Saveur203,Tiers—OrdredeSt。Fran?ois365,Saint—
JeandesVignesdeSoissons31,Théatins25,abbayedeSaint—Victor21,Maisonssoumisesàl’ordinaire305。Total20,745monksin2,489
convents。TothismustbeaddedthePèresde1’Oratoire,delaMission,delaDoctrinechrétienneandsomeothers;thetotalofmonksbeingabout23,000。—Astonuns,IhaveacataloguefromtheNationalArchivesoftwelvedioceses,comprisingaccordingto"Franceecclésiastique"1788,5,576parishes:thediocèsesrespectivelyofPerpignan,Tulle,Marseilles,Rhodez,Saint—Flour,Toulouse,leMans,Limoges,Lisieux,Rouen,Reims,andNoyon,inall,5,394nunsin198
establishments。Theproportionis37,000nunsin1,500establishmentsforthe38,000parishesofFrance。—Thetotalofregularclergythusamountsto60,000persons。—Thesecularclergymaybeestimatedat70,000:curatesandvicars60,000("Histoiredel’EglisedeFrance,"XII。142,bytheAbbéGuettée);prelates,vicars—general,canonsofchapters,2,800;collegiatecanons,5,600;ecclésiasticswithoutlivings,3,000(Sieyès)。Moheau,aclear—headedandcautiousstatistician,writesin1778("Recheches,"p。100):"Perhaps,today,thereare130,000ecclesiasticsinthekingdom。"Theenumerationof1866("StatistiquedelaFrance,"population),gives51,100membersofthesecularclergy,18,500monks,86,300nuns;total,155,900inapopulationof38,000,000inhabitants。
_
Notes:
[1]In1998,550000squarekilometers。(SR。)
[2]Archivesnationales,G。319("EtatactueldelaDirectiondeBourgesaupointdevuedesaides,"1774)。
[3]Blet,atthepresentday,contains1,629inhabitants。(Thiswasaround1884,in1996itremainsasmallcommuneandavillageof800
peopleontheroutenationaleN76betweenBourgesandSancoins。SR。)
[4]ThefarmsofBletandBrossesreallyproducenothingfortheproprietor,inasmuchasthetithesandthechampart(field—rents),(articles22and23),arecomprehendedintherateoftheleases。
ENDNOTE2:
ONFEUDALRIGHTSANDONTHESTATEOFFEUDALDOMINIONIN1733。
Thefollowinginformation,forwhichIamindebtedtoM。deBoislisle,isderivedfromanactofpartitiondrawnupSeptember6,1783。
ItrelatestotheestatesofBletandBrosses。ThebaronyandestateofBletliesinBourbonnais,twoleaguesfromDun—le—Roi。Blet,saysamemorandumofanadministratoroftheExcise,isa"goodparish;thesoilisexcellent,mostlyinwoodandpasture,thesurplusbeingintillablelandforwheat,ryeandoats……Theroadsarebad,especiallyinwinter。Thetradeconsistsprincipallyofhornedcattleandembracesgrain;thewoodsrotawayonaccountoftheirremotenessfromthetownsandthedifficultyofturningthemtoaccount。"[1]
"Thisestate,"saystheactofvaluation,"isinroyaltenureonaccountoftheking’schateauandfortressofAinay,underthedesignationofthetownofBlet。"Thetownwasformerlyfortifiedanditscastlestillremains。Itspopulationwasoncelarge,"butthecivilwarsofthesixteenthcentury,andespeciallytheemigrationoftheProtestantscausedittobedesertedtosuchanextentthatoutofitsformerpopulationof3,000scarcely300remain,[2]whichisthefateofnearlyallthetownsinthiscountry。"TheestateofBlet,formanycenturiesinthepossessionoftheSullyfamily,passed,onthemarriageoftheheiressin1363,tothehouseofSaint—Quentin,andwasthentransmittedindirectlinedownto1748,thedateofthedeathofAlexanderII。ofSaint—Quentins,CountofDiet,governorofBerg—op—Zoom,andfatherofthreedaughtersfromwhomtheactualheirsdescend。TheseheirsaretheCountdeSimiane,theChevalierdeSimiane,andtheminorsofBercy,eachpartyowningone—third,representedby97,667livresintheBletestate,and20,408livresintheBrossesestate。Theeldest,ComtedeSimiane,enjoys,besides,apréciput(accordingtocustomintheBourbonnais),worth15,000
livres,comprisingthecastlewiththeadjoiningfarmandtheseigniorialrights,honoraryaswellasprofitable。
Theentiredomain,comprisingbothestates,isvaluedat369,227
livres。TheestateofBlet,comprises1,437arpents,workedbysevenfarmersandfurnished,bytheproprietor,withcattlevaluedat13,781
livres。Theypaytogethertotheproprietor12,060livresrent(besidesclaimsforpoultryandcorvées)。One,only,hasalargefarm,paying7,800livresperannum,theotherspayingrentsof1,300,740,640,and240livresperannum。TheBrossesestatecomprises515
arpents,workedbytwofarmerstowhomtheproprietorfurnishescattleestimatedat3,750livres,andthesetogetherreturntotheproprietor2,240livres。[3]Thesemétairiesareallpoor;onlyoneofthemhastworoomswithfire—places;twoorthree,oneroomwithafire—place;theothersconsistofakitchenwithanovenoutside,andstablesandbarns。Repairsonthetenementsareessentialonallthefarmsexceptthree,"havingbeenneglectedforthirtyyears。""Themill—flumerequirestobecleanedout,andthestream,whoseinundationsinjurethelargemeadow;alsorepairsarenecessaryonthebanksofthetwoponds;onthechurch,whichistheseignior’sduty,theroofbeinginasadstate,therainpenetratingthroughthearch;"andtheroadsrequiremending,thesebeinginadeplorableconditionduringthewinter。"Therestorationandrepairsoftheseroadsseemnevertohavebeenthoughtof。"ThesoiloftheBletestateisexcellent,butitrequiresdrainingandditchingtocarryoffthewater,otherwisethelowlandswillcontinuetoproducenothingbutweeds。Signsofneglectanddesertionareeverywherevisible。ThechateauofBlethasremainedunoccupiedsince1748;thefurniture,accordingly,isalmostalldecayedanduseless;in1748thiswasworth7,612livres,andnowitisestimatedat1,000livres。"Thewater—powercostsnearlyasmuchtomaintainastheincomederivedfromit。Theuseofplasterasmanureisunknown,"andyet"inthelandofplasteritcostsalmostnothing。"
Theground,moistandverygood,wouldgrowexcellentlivehedges;andyetthefieldsareenclosedwithbarefencesagainstthecattle,"whichexpense,saythefarmers,isequaltoathirdofthenetincome。"Thisdomain,asjustdescribed,isvaluedasfollows:
1。TheestateofBlet,accordingtothecustomofthecountryfornobleestates,isvaluedatratetwenty—five,namely,373,000livres,fromwhichmustbedeductedacapitalof65,056livres,representingtheannualcharges(thefixedsalaryofthecurate,repairs,etc。),notincludingpersonalchargeslikethevingtièmes。Itsnetrevenueperannumis12,300livres,andisworth,net,308,003livres。
2。TheestateofBrossesisestimatedatratetwenty—two,ceasingtobenoblethroughthetransferofjudicialandfiefrightstothatofBlet。Thusrateditisworth73,583livres,fromwhichmustbedeductedacapitalof12,359livresforactualcharges,theestatebringingin3,140livresperannumandworth,net,61,224livres。
Theserevenuesarederivedfromthefollowingsources:
1。Rightsofthehigh,lowandmiddlecourtsofjusticeovertheentireterritoryofBletandothervillages,BrossesandJalay。
Theuppercourts,accordingtoanactpassedattheChatelet,April29,1702,"takecognizanceofallactions,realandpersonal,civilandcriminal,evenactionsbetweennoblesandecclesiastics,relatingtosealsandinventoriesofmovableeffects,tutelages,curacies,theadministrationofthepropertyofminors,ofdomains,andofthecustomaryduesandrevenuesoftheseigniory,etc。"
2。Rightsoftheforests,edictof1707。Theseignior’swardendecidesinallcasesconcerningwaters,andwoods,andcustoms,andcrimesrelatingtofishingandhunting。
3。Rightofvoirieorthepoliceofthehighways,streets,andbuildings(exceptingthegreatmainroads)。Theseigniorappointsabailly,wardenandroadoverseer,oneM。Theurault(atSagonne),afiscalattorney,Baujard(atBlet);hemayremovethem"incasetheymakenoreturns。""Therightsofthegreffewereformerlysecuredtotheseignior,butasitisnowverydifficulttofindintelligentpersonsinthecountryabletofulfillitsfunctions,theseigniorabandonshisrightstothosewhomitmayconcern。"(Theseigniorpaysforty—eightlivresperannumtothebaillytoholdhiscourtonceamonth,andtwenty—fourlivresperannumtothefiscalattorneytoattendthem)。
Hereceivesthefinesandconfiscationofcattleawardedbyhisofficers。Theprofittherefrom,anaverageyear,iseightlivres。
Hemustmaintainajailandajailer。(Itisnotstatedwhethertherewasone)。Nosignofagibbetisfoundintheseigniory。
Hemayappointtwelvenotaries;onlyone,infact,isappointedatBlet"andhehasnothingtodo,"aM。Baujard,fiscalattorney。Thiscommissionisassignedhimgratuitously,tokeepuptheprivilege,"otherwiseitwouldbeimpossibletofindanyonesufficientlyintelligenttoperformitsfunctions。"
Heappointsasergeant,but,foralongtime,thissergeantpaysnorentoranythingforhislodging。
4。Personalandrealtaille。InBourbonnaisthetaillewasformerlyserfandtheserfsmainmortable。"Seigniorsstillpossessingrightsofbordelage,wellestablishedthroughouttheirfiefsandcourts,atthepresenttime,enjoyrightsofsuccessiontotheirvassalsinallcases,eventotheprejudiceoftheirchildrenifnon—residentandnolongerdwellingundertheirroofs。"Butin1255,HodesdeSully,havinggrantedacharter,renouncedthisrightofrealandpersonaltailleforarightofbourgeoisie,stillmaintained,(seefurtheron)。
5。Righttounclaimedproperty,cattle,furniture,effects,strayswarmsofbees,treasure—trove;(noprofitsfromthisfortwentyyearspast)。
6。Righttopropertyofdeceasedpersonswithoutheirs,tothatofdeceasedbastards,thepossessionsofcondemnedcriminalseithertodeath,tothegalleysortoexile,etc。,(noprofit)。
7。Rightofthechaseandoffishing,thelatterworthfifteenlivresperannum。
8。Rightofbourgeoisie(seearticle4),accordingtothecharterof1255,andthecourt—rollof1484。Thewealthiestpayannuallytwelvebushelsofoatsatfortylivresandtwelvedeniersparasis;thelesswealthyninebushelsandninedeniers;allotherssixbushelsandsixdeniers。"Theserightsofbourgeoisiearewellestablished,setforthinallcourt—rollsandacknowledgmentsrenderedtothekingandperpetuatedbynumerousadmissionsthemotivesthathaveledformerstewardsandfermierstointerruptthecollectionofthesecannotbedivined。ManyoftheseigniorsinBourbonnaishavethebenefitofandexactthesetaxesoftheirvassalsbyvirtueoftitlesmuchmoreopentoquestionthanthoseoftheseigniorsofBlet。"
9。RightsofprotectionofthechateauofBlet。Theroyaledictof1497,fixingthischargefortheinhabitantsofBletandallthosedwellingwithinthejurisdictionofitstribunals,thoseofCharly,Boismarvier,etc。,atfivesousperfireperannum,whichhasbeencarriedout。"Onlylatelyhasthecollectionofthisbeensuspended,notwithstandingitsrecognitionatnolatedate,theinhabitantsalladmittingthemselvestobesubjecttothesaidguetetgardeofthechateau。
10。RightoftollonallmerchandiseandprovisionspassingthroughthetownofBlet,exceptgrain,flourandvegetables。(AtrialpendingbeforetheCouncilofStatesince1727andnotterminatedin1745;
"thecollectionthereof,meanwhile,beingsuspended")。
11。RightofpotageonwinessoldatretailinBlet,ensuringtotheseigniorninepintsofwinepercask,leasedin1782forsixyears,atsixtylivresperannum。
12。Rightofboucherieoroftakingthetonguesofallanimalsslaughteredinthetown,with,additionally,theheadsandfeetofallcalves。Noslaughter—houseatBlet,andyet"duringtheharvestingofeachyearabouttwelveheadofcattleareslaughtered。"Thistaxiscollectedbythestewardandisvaluedatthreelivresperannum。
13。Rightoffairsandmarkets,aunage,weightandmeasures。Fivefairsperannumandonemarket—dayeachweek,butlittlefrequented;
nograin—market。Thisrightisvaluedattwenty—fourlivresperannum。
14。Corvéesofteamsandmanuallabor,throughseigniorialright,onninety—sevenpersonsatBlet(twenty—twocarvéesofteamsandseventy—fiveofmanuallabor),twenty—sixpersonsatBrosses(fiveteamsandtwenty—onehands)。Theseigniorpayssixsousforfood,eachcorvée,onmen,andtwelvesousoneachcorveeoffouroxen。"Amongthosesubjecttothiscorvéethelargernumberarereducedalmosttobeggaryandhavelargefamilies,whichofteninducestheseigniornottoexactthisrightrigorously。"Thereducedvalueofthecorvéesisforty—ninelivresfifteensols。
15。Benalité(socome),ofthemill,(asentenceof1736condemningRoy,alaborer,tohavehisgraingroundinthemillofBlet,andtopayafineforhavingceasedtohavegraingroundthereduringthreeyears)。Themillerreservesasixteenthoftheflourground。Thedistrict—mill,aswellasthewindmill,withsixarpentsadjoining,areleasedat600livresperannum。
16。Banalitéoftheoven。Agreementof1537betweentheseigniorandhisvassals:heallowsthemtheprivilegeofasmallovenintheirdomicileofthreesquares,sixincheseach,tobakepies,biscuitsandcakes;inotherrespectssubjecttothedistrictoven。Heisentitledtoone—sixteenthofthedough;thisrightmightproduce150livresannually,but,forseveralyears,theovenhasbeendilapidated。
17。Rightofthecolombier,dove—cot。Thechateauparkcontainsone。
18。Rightofbordelage。(Theseigniorisheir—at—law,exceptwhenthechildrenofthedeceasedlivewiththeirparentsatthetimeofhisdeath。Thisrightcoversanareaofforty—eightarpentss。Fortwentyyears,throughneglectorfromothercauses,hehasderivednothingfromthis。
19。Rightoverwasteandabandonedgroundandtoalluvialaccumulations。
20。Right,purelyhonorary,ofseatandburialinthechoir,ofincenseandofspecialprayer,offuneralhangingsoutsideandinsidethechurch。
21。Rightsoflodsetventesoncopyholders,duebythepurchaserofpropertyliabletothislien,infortydays。"InBourbonnais,thelodsetventesarecollectedatathird,aquarter,atthesixth,eighthandtwelfthrate。"TheseigniorofBletandBrossescollectsatratesix。Itisestimatedthatsalesaremadeonceineightyyears;
theserightsbearon1,356arpentswhichareworth,thebest,192
livresperarpentthesecondbest,110livres,thepoorest,75livres。
Atthisratethe1,350arpentsareworth162,750livres。Adiscountofone—quarterofthelodsetventesisallowedtopurchasers。Annualrevenueofthisright254livres。
22。Rightoftitheandofcharnage。Theseigniorhasobtainedalltitherights,saveafewbelongingtothecanonsofDon—le—RolandtothepriorofChaumont。Thetithesareleviedonthethirteenthsheaf。
Theyarecomprisedintheleases。
23。Rightofterrageorchampart:therightofcollecting,afterthetithes,aportionoftheproduceoftheground。"InBourbonnais,theterrageiscollectedinvariousways,onthethirdsheaf,onthefifth,sixth,seventh,andcommonlyone—quarter;atBletitisthetwelfth。"TheseigniorofBletcollectsterrageonlyonacertainnumberofthefarmsofhisseigniory;"inrelationtoBrosses,itappearsthatalldomainspossessedbycopyholdersaresubjecttotheright。"TheserightsofterragearecomprisedintheleasesofthefarmsofBletandofBrosses。
24。Cens,surcensandrentesdueonrealpropertyofdifferentkinds,houses,fields,meadows,etc。,situatedintheterritoryoftheseigniory。IntheseignioryofBlet,810arpents,dividedinto511
portions,inthehandsof120copyholders,areinthiscondition,andtheircensannuallyconsistsof137francsinmoney,sixty—sevenbushelsofwheat,threeofbarley,159ofoats,sixteenhens,130
chickens,sixcocksandcapons;thetotalvaluedat575francs。OntheBrossesestate,eighty—fivearpents,dividedinto112parcels,inthehandsoftwentycopyholders,areinthiscondition,andtheirtotalcensisfourteenfrancsmoney,seventeenbushelsofwheat,thirty—twoofbarley,twenty—sixhens,threechickensandonecapon;thewholevaluedat126francs。
25。Rightsoverthecommons(124arpentsinBletand164arpentsinBrosses)。
Thevassalshaveontheseonlytherightofuse。"Almostthewholeoftheland,onwhichtheyexercisethisrightofpasturage,belongstotheseigniors,savethisrightwithwhichtheyareburdened;itisgrantedonlytoafewindividuals。"
26。RightsoverthefiefsmouvantsofthebaronyofBlet。SomearesituatedinBourbonnais,nineteenbeinginthiscondition。InBourbonnais,thefiefs,evenwhenownedbyplebeians,simplyowelaboucheetlesmainstotheseigniorateachmutation。FormerlytheseigniorofBletenforced,inthiscase,therightofredemptionwhichhasbeenallowedtofallintodesuetude。OthersaresituatedinBerrywheretherightofredemptionisexercised。OnefiefinBerry,thatofCormesseheldbythearchbishopofBourges,comprisingeighty—fivearpents,besidesaportionofthetithes,andproducing2,100livresperannum,admittingamutationeverytwentyyears,annuallybringstotheseigniorofBlet105livres。
Besidesthechargesindicatedtherearethefollowing:
1。TothecurateofBlet,hisfixedsalary。Accordingtoroyalenactmentin1686,thisshouldbe300livres。Accordingtoarrangementin1692,thecurate,desirousofassuringhimselfofthisfixedsalary,yieldedtotheseigniorallthedimes,novales,etc。Theedictof1768havingfixedthecurate’ssalaryat500livres,thecurateclaimedthissumthroughwrits。ThecanonsofDun—le—RoiandthepriorofChaumont,possessingtithesontheterritoryofBlet,wereobligedtopayaportionofit。AtpresentitisatthechargeoftheseigniorofBlet。
2。Totheguard,besideshislodging,warmingandtheuseofthreearpents,200livres。
3。Tothestewardorregistrar,topreservethearchives,lookafterrepairs,collectlodsetventes,andfines,432livres,besidestheuseoftenarpente。
4。Totheking,thevingtièmes。FormerlytheestatesofBletandBrossespaid810livresforthetwovingtièmesandthetwosousperlivre。Aftertheestablishmentofthethirdvingtièmetheypaid1,216
livres。
Notes:
[1]Archivesnationales,G。319("EtatactueldelaDirectiondeBourgesaupointdevuedesaides,"1774)。
[2]Blet,atthepresentday,contains1,629inhabitants。(Thiswasaround1884,in1996itremainsasmallcommuneandavillageof800peopleontheroutenationaleN76betweenBourgesandSancoins。SR。)
[3]ThefarmsofBletandBrossesreallyproducenothingfortheproprietor,inasmuchasthetithesandthechampart(field—rents),(articles22and23),arecomprehendedintherateoftheleases。
—————
END—NOTE3:
DIFFERENCEBETWEENTHEACTUALANDNOMINALREVENUESOF
ECCLESIASTICALDIGNITIESANDBENEFICES。
AccordingtoRaudot("LaFranceavantlaRevolution,"p。84),one—
halfextramustbeaddedtotheofficialvaluation;accordingtoBoiteau("EtatdelaFranceen1789,"p。195),thismustbetripledandevenquadrupled。Ithinkthat,fortheepiscopalsees,one—halfextrashouldbeaddedand,fortheabbeysandpriories,double,andsometimestripleandevenquadrupletheamount。Thefollowingfactsshowthevariationbetweenofficialandactualsums。
1。Inthe"AlmanachRoyal,"thebishopricofTroyesisvaluedat14,000livres;in"FranceEcclésiastiqueof1788,"at50,000。
AccordingtoAlbertBabeau("HistoiredelaRévolutiondansledepartmentdel’Aube"),itbringsin70,000livres。In"FranceEcclésiastique,"thebishopricofStrasbourgisputdownat400,000
livres。AccordingtotheDucdeLévis("Souvenirs,"p。156)itbringsinatleast600,000livresincome。
2。Inthesamework,theabbeyofJumiégesisassignedfor23,000
livres。Ifind,inthepapersoftheecclesiasticcommittee,itbringstotheabbé50,000livres。InthisworktheabbeyofBèzeisestimatedat8,000livres。Ifinditbringingtothemonksalone30,000,whiletheabbésportionisatleastaslarge。("Del’Etatreligieux,parlesabbésdeBonnefoietBernard。,"1784)。Theabbéthusreceives30,000
livres,Bernay(Eure),。isofficiallyreportedat16,000。The"Doleances"ofthecahiersestimateitat57,000。Saint—AmandisputdownasbringingtotheCardinalofYork6,000livresandactuallybringshim100,000。(DeLuynes,XIII。215)。
Clairvaux,inthesamework,isputdownat9,000,andinWarroquier("EtatGénéraldelaFranceen1789,")at60,000。AccordingtoBeugnot,whobelongstothecountry,andapracticalman,theabbé
hasfrom300,000to400,000livresincome。
Saint—Faron,saysBoiteau,setdownat18,000livres,isworth120,000livres。
TheabbeyofSaint—GermaindesPrès(inthestewardships),isputdownat100,000livres。TheComtedeClermont,whoformerlyhadit,leaseditat160,000livres,"notincludingreservedfieldsandallthatthefarmersfurnishedinstrawandoatsforhishorses。"(JulesCousin,"ComtedeClermontandhisCourt。")
Saint—Waasd’Arras,accordingto"LaFranceEcclésiastique,"brings40,000livres。CardinaldeRohanrefused1,000livrespermonthforhisportionofferedtohimbythemonks。(DucdeLévis,"Souvenirs,"
p。156)。Itsvaluethusisabout300,000livres。
Remiremont,theabbessalwaysbeingaroyalprincess,oneofthemostpowerfulmonasteries,therichestandbestendowed,isofficiallyvaluedattheridiculoussumof15,000livres。
——
END—NOTE4:
ONTHEEDUCATIONOFPRINCESANDPRINCESSES。
Anentirechaptermightbedevotedtothissubject;Ishallcitebutafewtexts。
(Barbier,"Journal,"October,1670)。TheDauphinehasjustgivenbirthtoaninfant。
"Lajeuneprincesseenestasaquatriemenourrice……Jaiapprisàcetteoccasionquetoutsefaitparformeàlacour,suivantunprotocoledemédecin,ensortequec’estunmiracled’éleverunprinceetuneprincesse。Lanourricen’ad’autresfonctionsquededonneràtêteràl’enfantquandonleluiapporte;ellenepeutpasluitoucher。Ilyadesremueusesetfemmespréposéespourcela,maisquin’ontpointd’ordreàrecevoirdelanourrice。Ilyadesheurespourremuerl’enfant,troisouquatrefoisdanslajournée。Sil’enfantdort,onleréveillepourleremuer。Si,aprèsavoirété
changé,ilfaitdansseslanges,ilresteainsitroisouquatreheuresdanssonordure。Siuneepinglelepique,lanourricenedoitpasl’?ter;ilfautchercheretattendreuneautrefemme;l’enfantcriedanstonscescas,ilsetuurmenteets’échauffe,ensortequec’estunevraiemisèrequetoutescescérémonies。"
(MadamedeGenlis,"SouvenirsdeFélicie,"p。74。ConversationwithMadameLouise,daughterofLouisXV。,andrecentlybecomeaCarmelite)。
"Ishouldliketoknowwhattroubledyoumostingettingaccustomedtoyournewprofession?
"Youcouldneverimagine,"shereplied,smiling。"Itwasthedescentofasmallflightofstepsalonebymyself。Atfirstitseemedtomeadreadfulprecipice,andIwasobligedtositdownonthestepsandslidedowninthatattitude。"—"Aprincess,indeed,whohadneverdescendedanybutthegrandstaircaseatVersailles,leaningonthearmofhercavalierinwaitingandsurroundedbypages,necessarilytrembledonfindingherselfaloneonthebrinkofsteepwindingsteps。(Suchis)theeducation,soabsurdinmanyrespects,generallybestowedonpersonsofthisrank;alwayswatchedfrominfancy,followed,assisted,escortedandeverythinganticipated,(they)arethus,ingreatpart,deprivedofthefacultieswithwhichnaturehasendowedthem。"
MadameCampan,"Mémoires,"I。58,28。
"MadameLouiseoftentoldmethat,althoughtwelveyearsofage,shehadnotfullylearnedthealphabet……
"Itwasnecessarytodecideabsolutelywhetheracertainwater—birdwasfatorlean。MadameVictoireconsultedabishop……Herepliedthat,inadoubtofthiskind,afterhavingthebirdcookeditwouldbenecessarytopunctureitonaverycoldsilverdishand,ifthejuicecoagulatedinone—quarterofanhour,thebirdmightbeconsideredfat。MadameVictoireimmediatelyputittotest;thejuicedidnotcoagulate。Theprincesswashighlydelighted,asshewasveryfondofthisspeciesofgame。Fasting(onreligiousgrounds),towhichMadameVictoirewasaddicted,puthertoinconvenience;accordinglysheawaitedthemidnightstrokeofHolySaturdayimpatiently。Adishofchickenandriceandothersucculentdisheswerethenatonceservedup。"
("JournaldeDumontd’Urville,"commandingthevesselonwhichCharlesX。leftFrancein1830。QuotedbyVaulabelle,HistoryoftheRestoration,VIII。p。465)。
"ThekingandtheDucd’Angoulêmequestionedmeonmyvariouscampaigns,butespeciallyonmyvoyagearoundtheworldinthe’Astrolabe。’Mynarrativeseemedtointerestthemverymuch,theirinterruptionsconsistingofquestionsofremarkablenaiveté,showingthattheypossessednonotionswhatever,eventhemostsuperficial,onthesciencesoronvoyages,beingasignorantonthesepointsasanyoftheoldrentiersoftheMarais。
———
Note5。
Ontherateofdirecttaxation。
Thefollowingfiguresareextractedfromtheproces—verbauxoftheprovincialassemblies(1778—1787)
Access—TotalenTaille。ioresdeCapitationImpotdesmultipleslataille。taillable。routes。delataille。
Ile—de—France,4,296,0402,207,8262,689,287519,9892,23
Lyonnais,1,356,954903,653898,089315,8692,61
GéneralitédeRouen,2,671,9391,595,0511,715,592598,258[1]2,46
GénéralitédeCaen,1,939,6651,212,4291,187,823659,0342,56
Berry,821,921448,431464,955236,9002,50
Poitou,2,309,6811,113,7661,403,402520,0002,30
Soissonnats,1,062,392911,883734,899462,8832,94
Orléanais,2,353,8921,256,1251,485,720586,3852,34
Champagne,1,783,8501,459,7801,377,371807,2803,00
Généralitéd’Alencon,1,742,6551,120,0411,067,849435,6372,47
Auvergne1,999,0401,399,6781,753,026310,4682,70
Généralitéd’Auch,1,440,533931,261797,268316,909[2]2,35
Haute—Guyenne,2,531,3141,267,6191,268,855308,993[3]2,47
_
Theprincipalofthetaillebeingone,thefiguresinthelastcolumnrepresent,foreachprovince,thetotalofthefourtaxesinrelationtothetaille。Theaverageofalltheseis2。53。Theaccessoriesofthetaille,thepoll—taxandthetaxforroads,arefixedforeachassessableparty,proratatohistaille。Multiplythesumrepresentingtheportionofthetailledeductedfromanetincomeby2。53,toknowthesumofthefourtaxesputtogetheranddeductedfromthisincome。
Thispartvariesfromprovincetoprovince,fromparishtoparish,andevenfromindividualtoindividual。Neverthelesswemayestimatethatthetaille,ontheaverage,especiallywhenbearingonasmallpeasantproprietor,withoutprotectororinfluence,abstractsone—
sixthofhisnetincome,say16fr。66c。on100francs。Forexample,accordingtothedeclarationsoftheprovincialassemblies,inChampagne,itdeducts3sousand2/3ofadenierperlivre,or15fr。
28c。on100francs;intheIle—de—France,35livres14souson240
livres,or14fr。87c。on100;inAuvergne,4sousperlivreofthenetincome,thatistosay,20%。Finally,inthegeneralshipofAuch,theprovincialassemblyestimatesthatthetailleandaccessoriesabsorbthree—tenthsofthenetrevenue,bywhichitisevidentthat,takingtheamountsoftheprovincialbudget,thetaillealoneabsorbseighteenfr。tenc。on100francsofrevenue。
Thusstated,ifthetailleasprincipalabsorbsone—sixthofthenetincomeofthesubjectofthetaille,thatistosay,16fr。66c。
on100,thetotalofthefourtaxesabovementioned,takes16fr。66
c。X2,53=42fr。15c。on100fr。income。Towhichmustbeadded11
fr。forthetwovingtièmesand4sousperlivreaddedtothefirstvingtième,total53fr。15c。directtaxon100livresincomesubjecttothetaille。
Thedime,tithe,beingestimatedataseventhofthenetincome,abstractsinaddition14ft。28c。Thefeudalduesbeingvaluedatthesamesumalsotakeoff14fr。28c。,total28fr。56c。
Sumtotalofdeductionsofthedirectroyaltax,oftheecclesiastictithes,andoffeudaldues,81fr。71c。on100fr。
income。Thereremaintothetax。payer18fr。29C。
Notes:
[1]Thisamountisnotgivenbytheprovincialassembly;tofillupthisblankIhavetakenthetenthofthetaille,oftheaccessoriesandoftheassessablepoll—tax,thisbeingthemodefollowedbytheprovincialassemblyofLyonnais。BythedeclarationofJune2,1717,thetaxonroadsmaybecarriedtoone—sixthofthethreeprecedingtaxesitiscommonlyone—tenthor,inrelationtotheprincipalofthetaille,one—quarter。
[2]—Sameremark。—
[3]Theprovincialassemblycarriesthisamounttoone—eleventhofthetailleandaccessoriescombined。
EndTheFrenchRevolution,Volume1。
TheOriginsofContemporaryFrance,Volume2
byHippolyteA。TaineCONTENTS:
ANARCHY
PREFACE
BOOKFIRST。SpontaneousAnarchy。
CHAPTERI。TheBeginningsofAnarchyCHAPTERII。Parisuptothe14thofJulyCHAPTERIII。AnarchyfromJuly14thtoOctober6th,1789
CHAPTERIV。PARIS
BOOKSECOND。TheconstituentAssembly,andtheResultofitsLaborsCHAPTERI。TheConstituentAssemblyCHAPTERII。TheDamageCHAPTERIII。TheConstructions—TheConstitutionof1791。
BOOKTHIRD。TheApplicationoftheConstitutionCHAPTERI。TheFederationsCHAPTERII。SovereigntyofUnrestrainedPassionsCHAPTERIII。DevelopmentoftherulingPassionPREFACE
Thissecondpartof"LesOriginesdelaFranceContemporaine"willconsistoftwovolumes。—PopularinsurrectionsandthelawsoftheConstituentAssemblyendindestroyingallgovernmentinFrance;
thisformsthesubjectofthepresentvolume。—Apartyarisesaroundanextremedoctrine,grabscontrolofthegovernment,andrulesinconformitywithitsdoctrine。Thiswillformthesubjectofthesecondvolume。
Athirdvolumewouldberequiredtocriticizeandevaluatethesourcematerial。Ilackthenecessaryspace:ImerelystatetherulethatIhaveobserved。Thetrustworthiesttestimonywillalwaysbethatofaneyewitness,especially*Whenthiswitnessisanhonorable,attentive,andintelligentman,*Whenheiswritingonthespot,atthemoment,andunderthedictateofthefactsthemselves,*Whenitisobviousthathissoleobjectistopreserveorfurnishinformation,*Whenhisworkinsteadofapieceofpolemicsplannedfortheneedsofacause,orapassageofeloquencearrangedforpopulareffectisalegaldeposition,asecretreport,aconfidentialdispatch,aprivateletter,orapersonalmemento。
Theneareradocumentapproachesthistype,themoreitmeritsconfidence,andsuppliessuperiormaterial。—Ihavefoundmanyofthiskindinthenationalarchives,principallyinthemanuscriptcorrespondenceofministers,intendants,sub—delegates,magistrates,andotherfunctionaries;ofmilitarycommanders,officersinthearmy,andgendarmerie;ofroyalcommissioners,andoftheAssembly;
ofadministratorsofdepartments,districts,andmunicipalities,besidespersonsinprivatelifewhoaddresstheKing,theNationalAssembly,ortheministry。Amongthesearemenofeveryrank,profession,education,andparty。Theyaredistributedbyhundredsandthousandsoverthewholesurfaceoftheterritory。Theywriteapart,withoutbeingabletoconsulteachother,andwithoutevenknowingeachother。Nooneissowellplacedforcollectingandtransmittingaccurateinformation。Noneofthemseekliteraryeffect,orevenimaginethatwhattheywritewilleverbepublished。
Theydrawuptheirstatementsatonce,underthedirectimpressionoflocalevents。Testimonyofthischaracter,ofthehighestorder,andatfirsthand,providesthemeansbywhichallothertestimonyoughttobeverified。—Thefootnotesatthebottomofthepagesindicatethecondition,office,name,andaddressofthosedecisivewitnesses。ForgreatercertaintyIhavetranscribedasoftenaspossibletheirownwords。Inthiswaythereader,confrontingthetexts,caninterpretthemforhimself,andformhisownopinions;hewillhavethesamedocumentsasmyselfforarrivingathisconclusions,and,ifheispleasedtodoso,hemayconcludeotherwise。Asforallusions,ifhefindsany,hehimselfwillhaveintroducedthem,andifheappliesthemheisaloneresponsibleforthem。Tomymind,thepasthasfeaturesofitsown,andtheportraitherepresentedresemblesonlytheFranceofthepast。I
havedrawnitwithoutconcerningmyselfwiththediscussionsoftheday;IhavewrittenasifmysubjectweretherevolutionsofFlorenceorAthens。Thisishistory,andnothingmore,and,ifI
mayfullyexpressmyself,Iesteemmyvocationofhistoriantoohighlytomakeacloakofitfortheconcealmentofanother。
(December1877)。
BOOKFIRST。SPONTANEOUSANARCHY。
CHAPTERI。THEBEGINNINGSOFANARCHY。
I。
Dearththefirstcause。—Badcrops。Thewinterof1788and1789。
—Highpriceandpoorqualityofbread。—Intheprovinces。—AtParis。
DuringthenightofJuly14—15,1789,theDucdelaRochefoucauld—
LiancourtcausedLouisXVItobearousedtoinformhimofthetakingoftheBastille。"Itisarevolt,then?"exclaimedtheKing。
"Sire!"repliedtheDuke;"itisarevolution!"Theeventwasevenmoreserious。NotonlyhadpowerslippedfromthehandsoftheKing,butalsoithadnotfallenintothoseoftheAssembly。Itnowlayontheground,readytothehandsoftheunchainedpopulace,theviolentandover—excitedcrowd,themobs,whichpickedituplikesomeweaponthathadbeenthrownawayinthestreet。Infact,therewasnolongeranygovernment;theartificialstructureofhumansocietywasgivingwayentirely;thingswerereturningtoastateofnature。Thiswasnotarevolution,butadissolution。
Twocausesexciteandmaintaintheuniversalupheaval。Thefirstoneisfoodshortagesanddearth,whichbeingconstant,lastingfortenyears,andaggravatedbytheverydisturbanceswhichitexcites,bidsfairtoinflamethepopularpassionstomadness,andchangethewholecourseoftheRevolutionintoaseriesofspasmodicstumbles。
Whenastreamisbrimful,aslightrisesufficestocauseanoverflow。Sowasitwiththeextremedistressoftheeighteenthcentury。Apoorman,whofindsitdifficulttolivewhenbreadischeap,seesdeathstaringhiminthefacewhenitisdear。Inthisstateofsufferingtheanimalinstinctrevolts,andtheuniversalobediencewhichconstitutespublicpeacedependsonadegreemoreorlessofdrynessordamp,heatorcold。In1788,ayearofseveredrought,thecropshadbeenpoor。Inadditiontothis,ontheeveoftheharvest,[1]aterriblehail—stormburstovertheregionaroundParis,fromNormandytoChampagne,devastatingsixtyleaguesofthemostfertileterritory,andcausingdamagetotheamountofonehundredmillionsoffrancs。Wintercameon,theseverestthathadbeenseensince1709。AtthecloseofDecembertheSeinewasfrozenoverfromParistoHavre,whilethethermometerstoodat180
belowzero。Athirdoftheolive—treesdiedinProvence,andtherestsufferedtosuchanextentthattheywereconsideredincapableofbearingfruitfortwoyearstocome。ThesamedisasterbefellLanguedoc。InVivarais,andintheCevennes,wholeforestsofchestnutshadperished,alongwithallthegrainandgrasscropsontheuplands。OntheplaintheRhoneremainedinastateofoverflowfortwomonths。Afterthespringof1789thefaminespreadeverywhere,anditincreasedfrommonthtomonthlikearisingflood。InvaindidtheGovernmentorderthefarmers,proprietors,andcorn—dealerstokeepthemarketssupplied。Invaindiditdoublethebountyonimports,resorttoallsortsofexpedients,involveitselfindebt,andexpendoverfortymillionsoffrancstofurnishFrancewithwheat。Invaindoindividuals,princes,noblemen,bishops,chapters,andcommunitiesmultiplytheircharities。TheArchbishopofParisincurringadebtof400,000
livres,onerichmandistributing40,000francsthemorningafterthehailstorm,andaconventofBernardinesfeedingtwelvehundredpoorpersonsforsixweeks[2]。Butithadbeentoodevastating。
Neitherpublicmeasuresnorprivatecharitycouldmeettheoverwhelmingneed。InNormandy,wherethelastcommercialtreatyhadruinedthemanufactureoflinenandoflacetrimmings,fortythousandworkmenwereoutofwork。Inmanyparishesone—fourthofthepopulation[3]arebeggars。Here,"nearlyalltheinhabitants,notexceptingthefarmersandlandowners,areeatingbarleybreadanddrinkingwater;"there,"manypoorcreatureshavetoeatoatbread,andotherssoakedbran,whichhascausedthedeathofseveralchildren。"——"Aboveall,"writestheRouenParliament,"lethelpbesenttoaperishingpeople……Sire,mostofyoursubjectsareunabletopaythepriceofbread,andwhatbreadisgiventothosewhodobuyit"——ArthurYoung,[4]whowastravelingthroughFranceatthistime,heardofnothingbutthehighcostofbreadandthedistressofthepeople。AtTroyesbreadcostsfoursousapound——thatistosay,eightsousofthepresentday;andunemployedartisansflocktothereliefworks,wheretheycanearnonlytwelvesousaday。InLorraine,accordingtothetestimonyofallobservers,"thepeoplearehalfdeadwithhunger。"InParisthenumberofpaupershasbeentrebled;therearethirtythousandintheFaubourgSaint—Antoinealone。AroundParisthereisashortsupplyofgrain,oritisspoilt[5]。InthebeginningofJuly,atMontereau,themarketisempty。"Thebakerscouldnothavebaked"
ifthepoliceofficershadnotincreasedthepriceofbreadtofivesousperpound;theryeandbarleywhichtheintendantisabletosend"areoftheworstpossiblequality,rottenandinaconditiontoproducedangerousdiseases。Nevertheless,mostofthesmallconsumersarereducedtothehardnecessityofusingthisspoiltgrain。"AtVilleneuve—le—Roi,writesthemayor,"theryeofthetwolotslastsentissoblackandpoorthatitcannotberetailedwithoutwheat。"AtSensthebarley"tastesmusty"tosuchanextentthatbuyersofitthrowthedetestablebread,whichitmakesinthefaceofthesub—delegate。AtChevreusethebarleyhassproutedandsmellsbad;the"poorwretches,"saysanemployee,"mustbehardpressedwithhungertoputupwithit。"AtFontainebleau"thebarley,halfeatenaway,producesmorebranthanflour,andtomakebreadofit,oneisobligedtoworkitoverseveraltimes。"Thisbread,suchasitis,isanobjectofsavagegreed;"ithascometothis,thatitisimpossibletodistributeitexceptthroughwickets。"Andthosewhothusobtaintheirration,"areoftenattackedontheroadandrobbedofitbythemorevigorousofthefamishedpeople。"AtNangis"themagistratesprohibitthesamepersonfrombuyingmorethantwobushelsinthesamemarket。"Inshort,provisionsaresoscarcethatthereisadifficultyinfeedingthesoldiers;theministerdispatchestwolettersoneafteranothertoorderthecuttingdownof250,000bushelsofryebeforetheharvest[6]。Paristhus,inaperfectstateoftranquility,appearslikeafamishedcityputonrationsattheendofalongsiege,andthedearthwillnotbegreaternorthefoodworseinDecember1870,thaninJuly1789。