按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
give acquaintances。 The houses of the registrar and of the sheriff；
that of the revenue comptroller； two hundred yards outside the town；
are sacked； the doors and the windows are smashed； the furniture and
linen is torn to shreds； and the plate and jewelry is thrown into
the wells。 The same havoc is committed in the mayor's town…house；
also in his country…house a league off。 〃Not a window； not a door；
not one article or eatable 〃 is preserved； their work； moreover； is
conscientiously done； without stopping a moment； 〃from ten in the
evening up to ten in the morning on the following day。〃 In addition
to this the mayor； who has served for thirty…four years； resigns his
office at the solicitation of the well…disposed but terrified
people； and leaves the country。 At Rouen； after the 24th of
July；＇18＇ a written placard shows； by its orthography and its style；
what sort of intellects composed it and what kind of actions are to
follow it：
〃Nation； you have here four heads to strike off； those of Pontcarry
（the first president）； Maussion （the intendant）； Godard de Belb？uf
（the attorney…general）； and Durand （the attorney of the King in the
town）。 Without this we are lost； and if you do not do it； people
will take you for a heartless nation。〃
Nothing could be more explicit。 The municipal body； however； to
whom the Parliament denounces this list of proscriptions； replies；
with its forced optimism； that
〃no citizen should consider himself or be considered as proscribed；
he may and must believe himself to be safe in his own dwelling；
satisfied that there is not a person in the city who would not fly
to his rescue。〃
This is equal to telling the populace that it is free to do as it
pleases。 On the strength of this the leaders of the riot work on in
security for ten days。 One of them is a man named Jourdain； a
lawyer of Lisieux； and； like most of his brethren； a demagogue in
principles； the other is a strolling actor from Paris named Bordier；
famous in the part of harlequin；＇19＇ a bully in a house of ill…fame；
〃a night…rover and drunkard； and who； fearing neither God nor
devil；〃 has taken up patriotism； and comes down into the provinces
to play tragedy； and that； tragedy in real life。 The fifth act
begins on the night of the 3rd of August； with Bordier and Jourdain
as the principal actors； and behind them the rabble along with
several companies of fresh volunteers。 A shout is heard； 〃Death to
the monopolists！ death to Maussion！ we must have his head！〃 They
pillage his hotel： many of them become intoxicated and fall asleep
in his cellar。 The revenue offices； the toll…gates of the town； the
excise office； all buildings in which the royal revenue is
collected； are wrecked。 Immense bonfires are lighted in the streets
and on the old market square； furniture； clothes； papers； kitchen
utensils； are all thrown in pell…mell； while carriages are dragged
out and tumbled into the Seine。 It is only when the town…hall is
attacked that the National Guard； beginning to be alarmed； makes up
its mind to seize Bordier and some others。 The following morning；
however； at the shout of Carabo； and led by Jourdain； the prison is
forced； Bordier set free； and the intendant's residence； with its
offices； is sacked a second time。 When； finally； the two rascals
are taken and led to the scaffold； the populace is so strongly in
their favor as to require the pointing of loaded cannon on them to
keep them down。 At Besan？on；＇20＇ on the 13th of August； the
leaders consist of the servant of an exhibitor of wild animals； two
goal…birds of whom one has already been branded in consequence of a
riot； and a number of 〃inhabitants of ill…repute；〃 who； towards
evening； spread through the town along with the soldiers。 The
gunners insult the officers they meet； seize them by the throat and
want to throw them into the Doubs。 Others go to the house of the
commandant； M。 de Langeron； and demand money of him； on his refusing
to give it they tear off their cockades and exclaim； 〃We too belong
to the Third…Estate！〃 in other words； that they are the masters：
subsequently they demand the head of the intendant； M。 de Caumartin；
forcibly enter his dwelling and break up his furniture。 On the
following day the rabble and the soldiers enter the coffee…houses；
the convents； and the inns； and demand to be served with wine and
eatables as much as they want； and then； heated by drink； they burn
the excise offices； force open several prisons； and set free all the
smugglers and deserters。 To put an end to this saturnalia a grand
banquet in the open air is suggested； in which the National Guard is
to fraternize with the whole garrison； but the banquet turns into a
drinking…bout； entire companies remaining under the tables dead
drunk； other companies carry away with them four hogsheads of wine；
and the rest； finding themselves left in the lurch； are scattered
abroad outside the walls in order to rob the cellars of the
neighboring villages。 The next day； encouraged by the example set
them； a portion of the garrison； accompanied by a number of workmen；
repeat the expedition in the country。 Finally； after four days of
this orgy； to prevent Besan？on and its outskirts from being
indefinitely treated as a conquered country； the burgess guard； in
alliance with the soldiers who have remained loyal； rebel against
the rebellion； go in quest of the marauders and hang two of them
that same evening。 Such is rioting！＇21＇ an irruption of brute
force which； turned loose on the habitations of men； can do nothing
but gorge itself； waste； break； destroy； and do damage to itself；
and if we follow the details of local history； we see how； in these
days； similar outbreaks of violence might be expected at any time。
At Troyes；＇22＇ on the 18th of July； a market…day； the peasants
refuse to pay the entrance duties； the octroi having been suppressed
at Paris； it ought also to be suppressed at Troyes。 The populace；
excited by this first disorderly act； gather into a mob for the
purpose of dividing the grain and arms amongst themselves； and the
next day the town…hall is invested by seven or eight thousand men；
armed with clubs and stones。 The day after； a band； recruited in
the surrounding villages； armed with flails； shovels； and pitch…
forks； enters under the leadership of a joiner who marches at the
head of it with a drawn saber； fortunately； 〃all the honest folks
among the burgesses 〃immediately form themselves into a National
Guard； and this first attempt at a Jacquerie is put down。 But the
agitation continues； and false rumors constantly keep it up。 … On
the 29th of July； on the report being circulated that five hundred
〃brigands〃 had left Paris and were coming to ravage the country； the
alarm bell sounds in the villages； and the peasants go forth armed。
Henceforth； a vague idea of some impending danger fills all minds；
the necessity of defense and of guarding against enemies is
maintained。 The new demagogues avail themselves of this to keep
their hold on the people； and when the time comes； to use it against
their chiefs。 … It is of no use to assure the people that the
latter are patriots； that the recently welcomed Necker with
enthusiastic shouts； that the priests； the monks； and canons were
the first to adopt the national cockade； that the nobles of the city
and its environs are the most liberal in France； that； on the 20th
of July； the burgess guard saved the town； that all the wealthy give
to the national workshops； that Mayor Huez； 〃a venerable and honest
magistrate；〃 is a benefactor to the poor and to the public。 All the
old leaders are objects of distrust。 On the 8th of August； a mob
demands the dismissal of the dragoons； arms for all volunteers；
bread at two sous the pound； and the freedom of all prisoners。 On
the 19th of August the National Guard rejects its old officers as
aristocrats； and elects new ones。 On the 27th of August； the crowd
invade the town…hall and distribute the arms amongst themselves。 On
the 5th of September； two hundred men； led by Truelle； president of
the new committee； force the salt depot and have salt delivered to
them at six sous per pound。 Meanwhile； in the lowest quarters of
the city； a story is concocted to the effect that if wheat is scarce
it is because Huez； the mayor； and M。 de St。 Georges； the old
commandant； are monopolists； and now they say of Huez what they said
five weeks before of Foulon； that 〃he wants to make the people eat
hay。〃 The many…headed brute growls fiercely and is about to spring。
As usual； instead of restraining him； they try to manage him。
〃You must put your authority aside for a moment；〃 writes the deputy
of Troyes to the sheriffs；〃 and act towards the people as to a
friend； be as gentle with them as you would be with your equals； and
rest assured that they are capable of responding to it。〃
Thus does Hu