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All his furniture and effects are broken up； burnt or stolen。 He is
forced to sign； along with his wife； an act by which he binds
himself to refund all penalties inflicted by him； and to abandon all
claims for damages for the injuries to which he has just been
subjected。 In Franche…Comté the authorities dare not condemn
delinquents； and the police do not arrest them； the military
commandant writes that 〃crimes of every kind are on the increase；
and that he has no means of punishing them。〃 Insubordination is
permanent in all the provinces； one of the provincial commissions
states with sadness：
〃When all powers are in confusion and annihilated； when public
force no longer exists； when all ties are sundered； when every
individual considers himself relieved from all kinds of obligation；
when public authority no longer dares make itself felt； and it is a
crime to have been clothed with it； what can be expected of our
efforts to restore order？ 〃＇6＇
All that remains of this great demolished State is forty thousand
groups of people； each separated and isolated； in towns and small
market villages where municipal bodies； elected committees； and
improvised National Guards strive to prevent the worst excesses。
But these local chiefs are novices； they are human； and they are
timid。 Chosen by acclamation they believe in popular rights； in the
midst of riots they feel themselves in danger。 Hence； they
generally obey the crowd。
〃Rarely；〃 says one of the provincial commissions reports； 〃do the
municipal authorities issue a summons； they allow the greatest
excesses rather than enter upon prosecutions for which； sooner or
later； they may be held responsible by their fellow…citizens。 。 。
。 Municipal bodies have no longer the power to resist anything。〃
Especially in the rural districts the mayor or syndic； who is a
farmer； makes it his first aim to make no enemies； and would resign
his place if it were to bring him any 〃unpleasantness〃 with it。 His
rule in the towns； and especially in large cities； is almost as lax
and more precarious； because explosive material is accumulated here
to a much larger extent； and the municipal officers； in their arm…
chairs at the town…hall； sit over a mine which may explode at any
time。 To…morrow； perhaps； some resolution passed at a tavern in the
suburbs； or some incendiary newspaper just received from Paris； will
furnish the spark。 … No other defense against the populace is at
hand than the sentimental proclamations of the National Assembly；
the useless presence of troops who stand by and look on； and the
uncertain help of a National Guard which will arrive too late。
Occasionally these townspeople； who are now the rulers； utter a cry
of distress from under the hands of the sovereigns of the street who
grasp them by the throat。 At Puy…en…Velay；＇7＇ a town of twenty
thousand inhabitants； the présidial；＇8＇ the committee of twenty…four
commissioners； a body of two hundred dragoons； and eight hundred men
of the guard of burgesses； are 〃paralyzed； and completely stupefied；
by the vile populace。 A mild treatment only increases its
insubordination and insolence。〃 This populace proscribes whomsoever it
pleases； and six days ago a gibbet； erected by its hands； has announced
to the new magistrates the fate that awaits them。
〃 What will become of us this winter；〃 they exclaim； 〃in our
impoverished country； where bread is not to be had！ We shall be the
prey of wild beasts！〃
III。
Public feeling。 … Famine
These people； in truth； are hungry； and； since the Revolution； their
misery has increased。 Around Puy…en…Velay the country is laid
waste； and the soil broken up by a terrible tempest； a fierce
hailstorm； and a deluge of rain。 In the south； the crop proved to
be moderate and even insufficient。
〃To trace a picture of the condition of Languedoc；〃 writes the
intendant；＇9＇ 〃would be to give an account of calamities of every
description。 The panic which prevails in all communities； and which
is stronger than all laws； stops traffic； and would cause famine
even in the midst of plenty。 Commodities are enormously expensive；
and there is a lack of cash。 Communities are ruined by the enormous
outlays to which they are exposed： The payment of the deputies to
the seneschal's court； the establishment of the burgess guards；
guardhouses for this militia； and the purchase of arms； uniforms；
and outlays in forming communes and permanent councils。 To this
must be add the cost of the printing of all kinds； and the
publication of trivial deliberations。 Further the loss of time due
to disturbances occasioned by these circumstances； and the utter
stagnation of manufactures and of trade。〃 All these causes combined
〃have reduced Languedoc to the last extremity。〃…
In the Center； and in the North； where the crops are good；
provisions are not less scarce； because wheat is not put in
circulation； and is kept concealed。
〃For five months；〃 writes the municipal assembly of Louviers；＇10＇
〃not a farmer has made his appearance in the markets of this town。
Such a circumstance was never known before； although； from time to
time； high prices have prevailed to a considerable extent。 On the
contrary； the markets were always well supplied in proportion to the
high price of grain。〃
In vain the municipality orders the surrounding forty…seven
parishes to provide them with wheat。 They pay no attention to the
mandate； each for himself and each for his own house； the intendant
is no longer present to compel local interests to give way to public
interests。
〃In the wheat districts around us；〃 says a letter from one of the
Burgundy towns； 〃we cannot rely on being able to make free
purchases。 Special regulations； supported by the civic guard；
prevent grain from being sent out； and put a stop to its
circulation。 The adjacent markets are of no use to us。 Not a sack
of grain has been brought into our market for about eight months。〃
At Troyes； bread costs four sous per pound； at Bar…sur…Aube； and in
the vicinity； four and a half sous per pound。 The artisan who is
out of work now earns twelve sous a day at the relief works； and； on
going into the country； he sees that the grain crop is good。 What
conclusion can he come to but that the dearth is due to the
monopolists； and that； if he should die of hunger； it would be
because those scoundrels have starved him？ By virtue of this
reasoning whoever has to do with these provisions； whether
proprietor； farmer； merchant or administrator； all are considered
traitors。 It is plain that there is a plot against the people： the
government； the Queen； the clergy； the nobles are all parties to it；
and likewise the magistrates and the wealthy amongst the bourgeoisie
and the rich。 A rumor is current in the Ile…de…France that sacks of
flour are thrown into the Seine； and that the cavalry horses are
purposely made to eat unripe wheat in stalk。 In Brittany； it is
maintained that grain is exported and stored up abroad。 In
Touraine； it is certain that this or that wholesale dealer allows it
to sprout in his granaries rather than sell it。 At Troyes； a story
prevails that another has poisoned his flour with alum and arsenic；
commissioned to do so by the bakers。 Conceive the effect of
suspicions like these upon a suffering multitude！ A wave of hatred
ascends from the empty stomach to the morbid brain。 The people are
everywhere in quest of their imaginary enemies； plunging forward
with closed eyes no matter on whom or on what； not merely with all
the weight of their mass； but with all the energy of their fury。
IV。
Panic。 … General arming。
》From the earliest of these weeks they were already alarmed。
Accustomed to being led； the human herd is scared at being left to
itself； it misses its leaders who it has trodden under foot； in
throwing off their trammels it has deprived itself of their
protection。 It feels lonely； in an unknown country； exposed to
dangers of which it is ignorant； and against which it is unable to
guard itself。 Now that the shepherds are slain or disarmed； suppose
the wolves should unexpectedly appear！ … And there are wolves … I
mean vagabonds and criminals … who have but just issued out of the
darkness。 They have robbed and burned； and are to be found at every
insurrection。 Now that the police force no longer puts them down；
they show themselves instead of keeping themselves concealed。 They
have only to lie in wait and come forth in a band； and both life and
property will be at their mercy。 … Deep anxiety； a vague feeling of
dread； spreads through both town and country： towards the end of
July the panic； like a blinding； suffocating whirl of dusts；
suddenly sweeps over hundreds of leagues of territory。 The brigands
are coming！ They are burning the crops！ They are only six leagues
off； and then only two … the ref