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first ideas would be in relation to the coachmen and drivers who
bridle and whip it and again in relation to the good…natured
travelers and sensitive ladies who pity it； but who to the weight of
the vehicle add their own and that of their luggage。
Likewise； in the mind of the peasant； athwart his perplexed
brooding； a new idea； slowly； little by little； is unfolded： that
of an oppressed multitude of which he makes one； a vast herd
scattered far beyond the visible horizon； everywhere ill used；
starved； and fleeced。 Towards the end of 1788 we begin to detect in
the correspondence of the intendants and military commandants the
dull universal muttering of coming wrath。 Men's characters seem to
change； they become suspicious and restive。 And just at this
moment； the Government； dropping the reins； calls upon them to
direct themselves。＇11＇。 In the month of November 1787； the King
declared that he would convoke the States…General。 On the 5th of
July 1788； he calls for memoranda （des mémoires） on this subject
from every competent person and body。 On the 8th of August he fixes
the date of the session。 On the 5th of October he convokes the
notables； in order to consider the subject with them。 On the 27th
of December he grants a double representation to the Third…Estate；
because 〃its cause is allied with generous sentiments； and it will
always obtain the support of public opinion。〃 The same day he
introduces into the electoral assemblies of the clergy a majority of
curés＇12＇； 〃because good and useful pastors are daily and closely
associated with the indigence and relief of the people；〃 from which
it follows 〃that they are much more familiar with their sufferings〃
and necessities。 On the 24th January 1789； he prescribes the
procedure and method of the meetings。 After the 7th of February
writs of summons are sent out one after the other。 Eight days
after； each parish assembly begins to draw up its memorial of
grievances； and becomes excited over the detailed enumeration of all
the miseries which it sets down in writing。 All these appeals
and all these acts are so many strokes； which reverberate； in the
popular imagination。 〃It is the desire of His Majesty；〃 says the
order issued； 〃that every one； from the extremities of his kingdom；
and from the most obscure of its hamlets； should be certain of his
wishes and protests reaching him。〃 Thus； it is all quite true： there
can be no mistake about it； the thing is sure。 The people are
invited to speak out； they are summoned； and they are consulted。
There is a disposition to relieve them； henceforth their misery
shall be less； better times are coming。 This is all they know about
it。 A few month after； in July；＇13＇ the only answer a peasant girl
can make to Arthur Young is； 〃something was to be done by some great
folks for such poor ones； but she did not know who nor how。〃 The
thing is too complicated； beyond the reach of a stupefied and
mechanical brain。 … One idea alone emerges； the hope of immediate
relief。 The persuasion that one is entitled to it； the resolution
to aid it with every possible means。 Consequently； an anxious
waiting； a ready fervor； a tension of the will simply due to the
waiting for the opportunity to let go and take off like a
irresistible arrow towards the unknown end which will reveal itself
all of a sudden。 Hunger is to mark this sudden target out for them。
The market must be supplied with wheat； the farmers and land…owners
must bring it； wholesale buyers； whether the Government or
individuals； must not be allowed to send it elsewhere。 The wheat
must be sold at a low price； the price must be cut down and fixed；
so that the baker can sell bread at two sous the pound。 Grain；
flour； wine； salt； and provisions must pay no more duties。
Seignorial dues and claims； ecclesiastical tithes； and royal or
municipal taxes must no longer exist。 On the strength of this idea
disturbances broke out on all sides in March； April； and May。
Contemporaries 〃 do not know what to think of such a scourge；＇14＇
they cannot comprehend how such a vast number of criminals； without
visible leaders； agree amongst themselves everywhere to commit the
same excesses just at the time when the States…General are going to
begin their sittings。〃 The reason is that； under the ancient régime；
the conflagration was smoldering in a closed chamber； the great door
is suddenly opened； the air enters； and immediately the flame breaks
out。
III。
The provinces during the first six months of 1789。 … Effects of the
famine。
At first there are only intermittent； isolated fires； which are
extinguished or go out of themselves； but； a moment after； in the
same place； or very near it； the sparks again appear。 Their number；
like their recurrence； shows the vastness； depth； and heat of the
combustible matter； which is about to explode。 In the four months；
which precede the taking of the Bastille； over three hundred
outbreaks may be counted in France。 They take place from month to
month and from week to week； in Poitou； Brittany； Touraine；
Orléanais； Normandy； Ile…de…France； Picardy； Champagne； Alsace；
Burgundy； Nivernais； Auvergne； Languedoc； and Provence。 On the 28th
of May the parliament of Rouen announces robberies of grain；
〃violent and bloody tumults； in which men on both sides have
fallen；〃 throughout the province； at Caen； Saint…L？； Mortain；
Granville； Evreux； Bernay； Pont…Andemer； Elboeuf； Louviers； and in
other sections besides。 On the 20th of April Baron de Bezenval；
military commander in the Central Provinces； writes： 〃I once more
lay before M。 Necker a picture of the frightful condition of
Touraine and of Orléanais。 Every letter I receive from these two
provinces is the narrative of three or four riots； which are put
down with difficulty by the troops and constabulary；〃＇15＇ and
throughout the whole extent of the kingdom a similar state of things
is seen。 The women； as is natural； are generally at the head of
these outbreaks。 It is they who； at Montlhéry； rip open the sacks
of grain with their scissors。 On learning each week； on market day
that the price of a loaf of bread advances three； four； or seven
sous； they break out into shrieks of rage： at this rate for bread；
with the small salaries of the men； and when work fails；＇16＇ how can
a family be fed？ Crowds gather around the sacks of flour and the
doors of the bakers。 Amidst outcries and reproaches some one in the
crowd makes a push； the proprietor or dealer is hustled and knocked
down。 The shop is invaded； the commodity is in the hands of the
buyers and of the famished； each one grabbing for himself； pay or no
pay； and running away with the booty。 Sometimes a party is made
up beforehand＇17＇ At Bray…sur…Seine； on the 1st of May； the
villagers for four leagues around； armed with stones； knives； and
cudgels； to the number of four thousand； compel the metayers and
farmers； who have brought grain with them； to sell it at 3 livres；
instead of 4 livres 10 sous the bushel。 They threaten to do the
same thing on the following market…day： but the farmers do not
return； the storehouse remains empty。 Now soldiers must be at hand；
or the inhabitants of Bray will be pillaged。 At Bagnols； in
Languedoc； on the 1st and 2nd of April； the peasants； armed with
cudgels and assembled by tap of drum； 〃traverse the town；
threatening to burn and destroy everything if flour and money are
not given to them。〃 They go to private houses for grain； divide it
amongst themselves at a reduced price； 〃promising to pay when the
next crop comes round；〃 and force the Consuls to put bread at two
sous the pound； and to increase the day's wages four sous。
Indeed this is now the regular thing； it is not the people who obey
the authorities； but the authorities who obey the people。 Consuls；
sheriffs； mayors； municipal officers； town…clerks； become confused
and hesitating in the face of this huge clamor； they feel that they
are likely to be trodden under foot or thrown out of the windows。
Others； with more firmness； being aware that a riotous crowd is mad；
and having scruples to spill blood； yield for the time being； hoping
that at the next market…day there will be more soldiers and better
precautions taken。 At Amiens； 〃after a very violent outbreak；〃＇18＇
they decide to take the wheat belonging to the Jacobin monks； and；
protected by the troops； to sell it to the people at a third below
its value。 At Nantes； where the town hall is attacked； they are
forced to lower the price of bread one sou per pound。 At Angoulême；
to avoid a recourse to arms； they request the Comte d'Artois to
renounce his dues on flour for two months； reduce the price of
bread； and compensate the bakers。 At Cette they are so maltreated
they let everything take its course； the people sack their dwellings
and get the upper hand； they announce by sound of trumpet that all
their