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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 demands are granted。 On other occasions； the mob dispenses
with their services and acts for itself。 If there happens to be no
grain on the market…place； the people go after it wherever they can
find it to proprietors and farmers who are unable to bring it for
fear of pillage； to convents； which by royal edict are obliged
always to have one year's crop in store； to granaries where the
Government keeps its supplies； and to convoys which are dispatched
by the intendants to the relief of famished towns。 Each for himself
so much the worse for his neighbor。 The inhabitants of Fougères
beat and drive out those who come from Ernée to buy in their market；
a similar violence is shown at Vitré to the in…habitants of
Maine。＇19＇ At Sainte…Léonard the people stop the grain started for
Limoges； at Bost that intended for Aurillac； at Saint…Didier that
ordered for Moulins； and at Tournus that dispatched to Macon。 In
vain are escorts added to the convoys； troops of men and women；
armed with hatchets and guns； put themselves in ambush in the woods
along the road； and seize the horses by their bridles； the saber has
to be used to secure any advance。 In vain are arguments and kind
words offered； 〃and in vain even is wheat offered for money； they
refuse； shouting out that the convoy shall not go on。〃 They have
taken a stubborn stand； their resolution being that of a bull
planted in the middle of the road and lowering his horns。 Since the
wheat is in the district； it is theirs； whoever carries it off or
withholds it is a robber。 This fixed idea cannot be driven out of
their minds。 At Chant…nay； near Mans；＇20＇ they prevent a miller
from carrying that which he had just bought to his mill。 At
Montdragon； in Languedoc； they stone a dealer in the act of sending
his last wagon load elsewhere。 At Thiers； workmen go in force to
gather wheat in the fields； a proprietor with whom some is found is
nearly killed； they drink wine in the cellars； and leave the taps
running。 At Nevers； the bakers not having put bread on their
counters for four days； the mob force the granaries of private
persons； of dealers and religious communities。 〃The frightened
corn…dealers part with their grain at any price； most of it is
stolen in the face of the guards；〃 and； in the tumult of these
searches of homes； a number of houses are sacked。 In these days
woe to all who are concerned in the acquisition； commerce； and
manipulation of grain！ Popular imagination requires living beings to
who it may impute its misfortunes； and on whom it may gratify its
resentments。 To it； all such persons are monopolists； and； at any
rate； public enemies。 Near Angers the Benedictine establishment is
invaded； and its fields and woods are devastated。＇21＇ At Amiens 〃the
people are arranging to pillage and perhaps burn the houses of two
merchants； who have built labor…saving mills。〃 Restrained by the
soldiers； they confine themselves to breaking windows； but other
〃groups come to destroy or plunder the houses of two or three
persons whom they suspect of being monopolists。〃 At Nantes； a sieur
Geslin； being deputized by the people to inspect a house； and
finding no wheat； a shout is set up that he is a receiver； an
accomplice！ The crowd rush at him； and he is wounded and almost cut
in pieces。 It is very evident that there is no more security in
France； property； even life； is in danger。 The primary possession；
food； is violated in hundreds of places； and is everywhere menaced
and precarious。 The local officials everywhere call for aid；
declare the constabulary incompetent； and demand regular troops。
And mark how public authority； everywhere inadequate； disorganized；
and tottering； finds stirred up against it not only the blind
madness of hunger； but； in addition； the evil instincts which profit
by every disorder and the inveterate lusts which every political
commotion frees from restraint。
IV。
Intervention of ruffians and vagabonds。
We have seen how numerous the smugglers； dealers in contraband salt；
poachers； vagabonds； beggars； and escaped convicts＇22＇ have become；
and how a year of famine increases the number。 All are so many
recruits for the mobs； and whether in a disturbance or by means of a
disturbance each one of them fills his pouch。 Around Caux；＇23＇ even
up to the environs of Rouen； at Roncherolles； Quévrevilly； Préaux；
Saint…Jacques； and in the entire surrounding neighborhood bands of
armed bandits force their way into the houses； particularly the
parsonages； and lay their hands on whatever they please。 To the
south of Chartres 〃three or four hundred woodcutters； from the
forests of Bellème； chop away everything that opposes them； and
force grain to be given up to them at their own price。〃 In the
vicinity of étampes； fifteen bandits enter the farmhouses at night
and put the farmer to ransom； threatening him with a conflagration。
In Cambrésis they pillage the abbeys of Vauchelles； of Verger； and
of Guillemans； the chateau of the Marquis de Besselard； the estate
of M。 Doisy； two farms； the wagons of wheat passing along the road
to Saint…Quentin； and； besides this； seven farms in Picardy。 〃The
seat of this revolt is in some villages bordering on Picardy and
Cambrésis； familiar with smuggling operations and to the license of
that pursuit。〃 The peasants allow themselves to be enticed away by
the bandits。 Man slips rapidly down the incline of dishonesty； one
who is half…honest； and takes part in a riot inadvertently or in
spite of himself； repeats the act； allured on by impunity or by
gain。 In fact； 〃it is not dire necessity which impels them；〃 they
make a speculation of cupidity； a new sort of illicit trade。 An old
soldier； saber in hand； a forest…keeper； and 〃about eight persons
sufficiently lax； put themselves at the head of four or five hundred
men； go off each day to three or four villages。 Here they force
everybody who has any wheat to give it to them at 24 livres；〃 and
even at 18 livres； the sack。 Those among the band； who say that
they have no money； carry away their portion without payment。
Others； after having paid what they please； re…sell at a profit；
which amounts to even 45 livres the sack。 This is a good business；
and one in which greed takes poverty for its accomplice。 At the
next harvest the temptation will be similar： 〃they have threatened
to come and do our harvesting for us； and also to take our cattle
and sell the meat in the villages at the rate of two sous the
pound。〃 In every important insurrection there are similar evil…
does and vagabonds； enemies to the law； savage； prowling
desperadoes； who； like wolves； roam about wherever they scent a
prey。 It is they who serve as the directors and executioners of
public or private malice。 Near Uzès twenty…five masked men； with
guns and clubs； enter the house of a notary； fire a pistol at him；
beat him； wreck the premises； and burn his registers along with the
title…deeds and papers which be has in keeping for the Count de
Rouvres。 Seven of them are arrested； but the people are on their
side； and fall on the constabulary and free them。＇24＇ They are
known by their acts； by their love of destruction for the sake of
destruction； by their foreign accent； by their savage faces and
their rags。 Some of them come from Paris to Rouen； and； for four
days； the town is at their mercy。＇25＇ The stores are forced open；
train wagons are discharged； wheat is wasted； and convents and
seminaries are put to ransom。 They invade the dwelling of the
attorney…general； who has begun proceedings against them； and want
to tear him to pieces。 They break his mirrors and his furniture；
leave the premises laden with booty； and go into the town and its
outskirts to pillage the manufactories and break up or burn all the
machinery。 Henceforth these constitute the new leaders： for in
every mob it is the boldest and least scrupulous who march ahead and
set the example in destruction。 The example is contagious： the
beginning was the craving for bread； the end is murder and arson；
the savagery which is unchained adding its unlimited violence to the
limited revolt of necessity。
V。
Effect on the Population of the New Ideas。
Bad as it is； this savagery might； perhaps； have been overcome； in
spite of the dearth and of the brigands； but what renders it
irresistible is the belief of its being authorized； and that by
those whose duty it is to repress it。 Here and there words and
actions of a brutal frankness break forth； and reveal beyond the
somber present a more threatening future After the 9th of
January； 1789； among the mob which attacks the H？tel…de…Ville and
besieges the bakers' shops of Nantes； 〃shouts of Vive la
Liberté！＇26＇ 。mingled with those of Vive