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artisans flock to the relief works； where they can earn only twelve
sous a day。 In Lorraine； according to the testimony of all
observers； 〃the people are half dead with hunger。〃 In Paris the
number of paupers has been trebled； there are thirty thousand in the
Faubourg Saint…Antoine alone。 Around Paris there is a short supply
of grain； or it is spoilt＇5＇。 In the beginning of July； at
Montereau； the market is empty。 〃The bakers could not have baked〃
if the police officers had not increased the price of bread to five
sous per pound； the rye and barley which the intendant is able to
send 〃are of the worst possible quality； rotten and in a condition
to produce dangerous diseases。 Nevertheless； most of the small
consumers are reduced to the hard necessity of using this spoilt
grain。〃 At Villeneuve… le…Roi； writes the mayor； 〃the rye of the two
lots last sent is so black and poor that it cannot be retailed
without wheat。〃 At Sens the barley 〃tastes musty〃 to such an extent
that buyers of it throw the detestable bread； which it makes in the
face of the sub…delegate。 At Chevreuse the barley has sprouted and
smells bad； the 〃 poor wretches；〃 says an employee； 〃must be hard
pressed with hunger to put up with it。〃 At Fontainebleau 〃the
barley； half eaten away； produces more bran than flour； and to make
bread of it； one is obliged to work it over several times。〃 This
bread； such as it is； is an object of savage greed； 〃it has come to
this； that it is impossible to distribute it except through
wickets。〃 And those who thus obtain their ration； 〃are often
attacked on the road and robbed of it by the more vigorous of the
famished people。〃 At Nangis 〃the magistrates prohibit the same
person from buying more than two bushels in the same market。〃 In
short； provisions are so scarce that there is a difficulty in
feeding the soldiers； the minister dispatches two letters one after
another to order the cutting down of 250；000 bushels of rye before
the harvest＇6＇。 Paris thus； in a perfect state of tranquility；
appears like a famished city put on rations at the end of a long
siege； and the dearth will not be greater nor the food worse in
December 1870； than in July 1789。
〃The nearer the 14th of July approached；〃 says an eyewitness；＇7＇
〃the more did the dearth increase。〃 Every baker's shop was
surrounded by a crowd； to which bread was distributed with the most
grudging economy。 This bread was generally blackish； earthy； and
bitter； producing inflammation of the throat and pain in the bowels。
I have seen flour of detestable quality at the military school and
at other depots。 I have seen portions of it yellow in color； with
an offensive smell； some forming blocks so hard that they had to be
broken into fragments by repeated blows of a hatchet。 For my own
part； wearied with the difficulty of procuring this poor bread； and
disgusted with that offered to me at the tables d'h？te； I avoided
this kind of food altogether。 In the evening I went to the Café du
Caveau； where； fortunately； they were kind enough to reserve for me
two of those rolls which are called flutes； and this is the only
bread I have eaten for a week at a time。〃
But this resource is only for the rich。 As for the people； to get
bread fit for dogs； they must stand in a line for hours。 And here
they fight for it； 〃they snatch food from one another。〃 There is no
more work to be had； 〃the work…rooms are deserted；〃 often； after
waiting a whole day； the workman returns home empty…handed。 When he
does bring back a four…pound loaf it costs him 3 francs 12 sous；
that is； 12 sous for the bread； and 3 francs for the lost day。 In
this long line of unemployed； excited men； swaying to and fro before
the shop…door； dark thoughts are fermenting： 〃if the bakers find no
flour to…night to bake with； we shall have nothing to eat to…
morrow。〃 An appalling idea； in presence of which the whole power
of the Government is not too strong； for to keep order in the midst
of famine nothing avails but the sight of an armed force； palpable
and threatening。 Under Louis XIV and Louis XV there had been even
greater hunger and misery； but the outbreaks； which were roughly and
promptly put down； were only partial and passing disorders。 Some
rioters were at once hung； and others were sent to the galleys。 The
peasant or the workman； convinced of his impotence； at once returned
to his stall or his plow。 When a wall is too high one does not even
think of scaling it。 But now the wall is cracking all its
custodians； the clergy； the nobles； the Third…Estate； men of
letters； the politicians； and even the Government itself； making the
breach wider。 The wretched； for the first time； discover an issue：
they dash through it； at first in driblets； then in a mass； and
rebellion becomes as universal as resignation was in the past。
II。
Expectations the second cause。 … Separation and laxity of the
administrative forces。 … Investigations of local assemblies。 … The
people become aware of their condition。 … Convocation of the
States…General。 … Hope is born。 The coincidence of early
Assemblies with early difficulties。
It is just through this breach that hope steals like a beam of
light； and gradually finds its way down to the depths below。 For
the last fifty years it has been rising； and its rays； which first
illuminated the upper class in their splendid apartments in the
first story； and next the middle class in their entresol and on the
ground floor。 They have now for two years penetrated to the cellars
where the people toil； and even to the deep sinks and obscure
corners where rogues and vagabonds and malefactors； a foul and
swarming herd； crowd and hide themselves from the persecution of the
law。 To the first two provincial assemblies instituted by Necker
in 1778 and 1779； Loménie de Brienne has in 1787 just added nineteen
others； under each of these are assemblies of the arrondissement；
under each assembly of the arrondissement are parish assemblies＇8＇。
Thus the whole machinery of administration has been changed。 It is
the new assemblies which assess the taxes and superintend their
collection； which determine upon and direct all public works； and
which form the court of final appeal in regard to matters in
dispute。 The intendant； the sub…delegate； the elected
representative＇9＇； thus lose three…quarters of their authority。
Conflicts arise； consequently； between rival powers whose frontiers
are not clearly defined； command shifts about； and obedience is
diminished。 The subject no longer feels on his shoulders the
commanding weight of the one hand which； without possibility of
interference or resistance； held him in； urged him forward； and made
him move on。 Meanwhile； in each assembly of the parish
arrondissement； and even of the province； plebeians； 〃husband…
men；〃＇10＇ and often common farmers； sit by the side of lords and
prelates。 They listen to and remember the vast figure of the taxes
which are paid exclusively； or almost exclusively； by them the
taille and its accessories； the poll…tax and road dues； and
assuredly on their return home they talk all this over with their
neighbor。 These figures are all printed； the village attorney
discusses the matter with his clients； the artisans and rustics； on
Sunday as they leave the mass； or in the evening in the large public
room of the tavern。 These little gatherings； moreover； are
sanctioned； encouraged by the powers above。 In the earliest days of
1788 the provincial assemblies order a board of inquiry to be held
by the syndics and inhabitants of each parish。 Knowledge is wanted
in detail of their grievances。 What part of the revenue is
chargeable to each impost？ What must the cultivator pay and how much
does he suffer？ How many privileged persons there are in the parish；
what is the amount of their fortune； are they residents； and what
their exemptions amount to？ In replying； the attorney who holds the
pen； names and points out with his finger each privileged
individual； criticizes his way of living； and estimates his fortune；
calculates the injury done to the village by his immunities；
inveighs against the taxes and the tax…collectors。 On leaving these
assemblies the villager broods over what he has just heard。 He sees
his grievances no longer singly as before； but in mass； and coupled
with the enormity of evils under which his fellows suffer。 Besides
this； they begin to disentangle the causes of their misery： the King
is good why then do his collectors take so much of our money？
This or that canon or nobleman is not unkind why then do they
make us pay in their place？ Imagine that a sudden gleam of reason
should allow a beast of burden to comprehend the contrast between
the species of horse and mankind。 Imagine； if you can； what its
first ideas would be in relation to the coachmen and drivers who
bridle and whip it and again in re