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Liberté！＇26＇ 。mingled with those of Vive le Roi！ are heard。〃 A few
months later； around Plo？rmel； the peasants refuse to pay tithes；
alleging that the memorial of their seneschal's court demands their
abolition。 In Alsace； after March； there is the same refusal 〃in
many places；〃 many of the communities even maintain that they will
pay no more taxes until their deputies to the States…General shall
have fixed the precise amount of the public contributions。 In Isère
it is decided； by proceedings； printed and published； that 〃personal
dues〃 shall no longer be paid； while the landowners who are affected
by this dare not prosecute in the tribunals。 At Lyons； the people
have come to the conclusion 〃that all levies of taxes are to cease；〃
and； on the 29th of June； on hearing of the meeting of the three
orders； 〃astonished by the illuminations and signs of public
rejoicing；〃 they believe that the good time has come。〃 They think of
forcing the delivery of meat to them at four sous the pound； and
wine at the same rate。 The publicans insinuate to them the
prospective abolition of octrois。＇27＇ and that； meanwhile； the
King； in favor of the re…assembling of the three orders； has granted
three days' freedom from all duties at Paris； and that Lyons ought
to enjoy the same privilege。〃 Upon this the crowd； rushing off to
the barriers； to the gates of Sainte…Claire and Perrache； and to the
Guillotière bridge； burn or demolish the bureaux； destroy the
registers； sack the lodgings of the clerks； carry off the money and
pillage the wine on hand in the depot。 In the mean time a rumor
has circulated all round through the country that there is free
entrance into the town for all provisions。 During the following
days the peasantry stream in with enormous files of wagons loaded
with wine and drawn by several oxen； so that； in spite of the re…
established guard； it is necessary to let them enter all day without
paying the dues。 It is only on the 7th of July that these can again
be collected。 The same thing occurs in the southern provinces；
where the principal imposts are levied on provisions。 There also
the collections are suspended in the name of public authority。 At
Agde；＇28＇ 〃the people； considering the so…called will of the King as
to equality of classes； are foolish enough to think that they are
everything and can do everything。〃 Thus do they interpret in their
own way and in their own terms the double representation accorded to
the Third…Estate。 They threaten the town； consequently； with
general pillage if the prices of all provisions are not reduced； and
if the duties of the province on wine； fish； and meat are not
suppressed。 They also wish to nominate consuls who have sprung up
out of their body。〃 The bishop； the lord of the manor； the mayor and
the notables； against whom they forcibly stir up the peasantry in
the country； are obliged to proclaim by sound of trumpet that their
demands shall be granted。 Three days afterwards they exact a
diminution of one…half of the tax on grinding； and go in quest of
the bishop who owns the mills。 The prelate； who is ill； sinks down
in the street and seats himself on a stone； they compel him
forthwith to sign an act of renunciation； and hence 〃his mill；
valued at 15；000 livres； is reduced to 7；500 livres。〃 At Limoux；
under the pretext of searching for grain； they enter the houses of
the comptroller and tax contractors； carry off their registers； and
throw them into the water along with the furniture of their clerks。
In Provence it is worse； for most unjustly； and through
inconceivable imprudence； the taxes of the towns are all levied on
flour。 It is therefore to this impost that the dearness of bread is
directly attributed。 Hence the fiscal agent becomes a manifest
enemy； and revolts on account of hunger are transformed into
insurrections against the State。
VI。
The first jacquerie in Province。 … Feebleness or ineffectiveness of
repressive measures。
Here； again； political novelties are the spark that ignites the mass
of gunpowder。 Everywhere； the uprising of the people takes place on
the very day on which the electoral assembly meets。 From forty to
fifty riots occur in the provinces in less than a fortnight。
Popular imagination； like that of a child； goes straight to its
mark。 The reforms having been announced； people think them
accomplished and； to make sure of them； steps are at once taken to
carry them out。 Now that we are to have relief； let us relieve
ourselves。 〃This is not an isolated riot as usual；〃 writes the
commander of the troops；＇29＇ 〃here the faction is united and
governed by uniform principles； the same errors are diffused through
all minds。 。 。 。 。 The principles impressed on the people are
that the King desires equality。 No more bishops or lords； no more
distinctions of rank； no tithes； and no seignorial privileges。
Thus； these misguided people fancy that they are exercising their
rights； and obeying the will of the King。〃 The effect of
sonorous phrases is apparent。 The people have been told that the
States…General were to bring about the 〃regeneration of the kingdom〃
The inference is 〃that the date of their assembly was to be one of
an entire and absolute change of conditions and fortunes。〃 Hence；
〃the insurrection against the nobles and the clergy is as active as
it is widespread。〃 〃In many places it was distinctly announced that
there was a sort of war declared against landowners and property；〃
and 〃in the towns as well as in the rural districts the people
persist in declaring that they will pay nothing； neither taxes；
duties； nor debts。〃 Naturally； the first assault is against the
piquèt； or flour…tax。 At Aix； Marseilles； Toulon； and in more than
forty towns and market…villages； this is summarily abolished； at
Aupt and at Luc nothing remains of the weighing…house but the four
walls。 At Marseilles the home of the slaughter…house contractor and
at Brignolles that of the director of the leather excise； are
sacked。 The determination is 〃to purge the land of excise…men。 〃 …
… This is only a beginning； bread and other provisions must become
cheap； and that without delay。 At Arles； the Corporation of
sailors； presided over by M。 de Barras； consul； had just elected its
representatives。 By way of conclusion to the meeting； they pass a
resolution insisting that M。 de Barras should reduce the price of
all comestibles。 On his refusal； they 〃open the window； exclaiming；
'We hold him； and we have only to throw him into the street for the
rest to pick him up。'〃 Compliance is inevitable。 The resolution is
proclaimed by the town…criers； and at each article which is reduced
in price the crowd shout； 〃Vive le Roi； vive M。 Barras ！〃 One
must yield to brute force。 But the inconvenience is great for；
through the suppression of the flour…tax； the towns have no longer a
revenue。 On the other hand； as they are obliged to indemnify the
butchers and bakers； Toulon； for instance； incurs a debt of 2；500
livres a day。
In this state of disorder； woe to those who are under suspicion of
having contributed； directly or indirectly； to the evils； which the
people endure！ At Toulon a demand is made for the head of the mayor；
who signs the tax…list； and of the keeper of the records。 They are
trodden under foot； and their houses are ransacked。 At Manosque；
the Bishop of Sisteron； who is visiting the seminary； is accused of
favoring a monopolist。 On his way to his carriage； on foot； he is
hooted and menaced。 He is first pelted with mud； and then with
stones。 The consuls in attendance； and the sub…delegate； who come
to his assistance； are mauled and repulsed。 Meanwhile； some of the
most furious begin； before his eyes； 〃to dig a ditch to bury him
in。〃 Protected by five or six brave fellows； amidst a volley of
stones； and wounded on the head and on many parts of his body； he
succeeds in reaching his carriage。 He is finally only saved because
the horses； which are likewise stoned； run away。 Foreigners；
Italians； bandits； are mingled with the peasants and artisans； and
expressions are heard and acts are seen which indicate a
jacquerie。＇30＇ 〃The most excited said to the bishop； 'we are poor
and you are rich； and we mean to have all your property。'〃＇31＇
Elsewhere； 〃the seditious mob exacts contributions from all people
in good circumstances。 At Brignolles； thirteen houses are pillaged
from top to bottom； and thirty others partly half。 At Aupt； M。
de Montferrat； in defending himself； is killed and 〃hacked to
pieces。〃 At La Seyne； the mob； led by a peasant； assembles by
beat of drum。 Some women fetch a bier； and set it down before the
house of a leading bourgeois； telling him to prepare for death； and
that 〃they will have the honor of burying him。〃 He escapes； his
house is pillaged； as well as the bureau of the flour…tax。 The
following day； the chief of the band 〃