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whom the stagnation of manufactures； the augmentation of octrois；
the rigor of winter； and the dearness of bread have reduced to
extreme distress。 Remember that in 1786 〃two hundred thousand
persons are counted whose property； all told； has not the intrinsic
worth of fifty crowns。〃 Remember that； from time immemorial； these
have been at war with the city watchmen。 Remember that in 1789
there are twenty thousand poachers in the capital and that； to
provide them with work； it is found necessary to establish national
workshops。 Remember 〃that twelve thousand are kept uselessly
occupied digging on the hill of Montmartre； and paid twenty sous per
day。 Remember that the wharves and quays are covered with them；
that the H？tel…de…Ville is invested by them； and that； around the
palace； they seem to be a reproach to the inactivity of disarmed
justice。〃 Daily they grow bitter and excited around the doors of the
bakeries； where； kept waiting a long time； they are not sure of
obtaining bread。 You can imagine the fury and the force with which
they will storm any obstacle to which their attention may be
directed。
II。 The Press。
Excitement of the press and of opinion。 … The people make their
choice。
Such an obstacle has been pointed out to them during the last two
years； it is the Ministry； the Court； the Government； in short the
entire ancient régime。 Whoever protests against it in favor of the
people is sure to be followed as far； and perhaps even farther； than
he chooses to lead。 The moment the Parliament of a large city
refuses to register fiscal edicts it finds a riot at its service。
On the 7th of June 1788； at Grenoble； tiles rain down on the heads
of the soldiery； and the military force is powerless。 At Rennes； to
put down the rebellious city； an army and after this a permanent
camp of four regiments of infantry and two of cavalry； under the
command of a Marshal of France； is required。＇6＇ … The following
year； when the Parliaments now side with the privileged class； the
disturbances again begin； but this time against the Parliaments。 In
February 1789； at Besan？on and at Aix； the magistrates are hooted
at； chased in the streets； besieged in the town hall； and obliged to
conceal themselves or take to flight。 If such is the disposition
in the provincial capitals； what must it be in the capital of the
kingdom？ For a start； in the month of August； 1788； after the
dismissal of Brienne and Lamoignon； the mob； collected on the Place
Dauphine； constitutes itself judge； burns both ministers in effigy；
disperses the watch； and resists the troops： no sedition； as bloody
as this； had been seen for a century。 Two days later； the riot
bursts out a second time； the people are seized with a resolve to go
and burn the residences of the two ministers and that of Dubois； the
lieutenant of police。 Clearly a new ferment has been infused
among the ignorant and brutal masses； and the new ideas are
producing their effect。 They have for a long time imperceptibly
been filtering downwards from layer to layer After having gained
over the aristocracy； the whole of the lettered portion of the
Third…Estate； the lawyers； the schools； all the young； they have
insinuated themselves drop by drop and by a thousand fissures into
the class which supports itself by the labor of its own hands。
Noblemen； at their toilettes； have scoffed at Christianity； and
affirmed the rights of man before their valets； hairdressers；
purveyors； and all those that are in attendance upon them。 Men of
letters； lawyers； and attorneys have repeated； in the bitterest
tone； the same diatribes and the same theories in the coffee…houses
and in the restaurants； on the promenades and in all public places。
They have spoken out before the lower class as if it were not
present； and； from all this eloquence poured out without precaution；
some bubbles besprinkle the brain of the artisan； the publican； the
messenger； the shopkeeper； and the soldier。
Hence it is that a year suffices to convert mute discontent into
political passion。 From the 5th of July 1787； on the invitation of
the King； who convokes the States…General and demands advice from
everybody； both speech and the press alter in tone。＇7＇ Instead of
general conversation of a speculative turn there is preaching； with
a view to practical effect； sudden； radical； and close at hand；
preaching as shrill and thrilling as the blast of a trumpet。
Revolutionary pamphlets appear in quick succession： 〃Qu'est…ce que
le Tiers？〃 by Sieyès； 〃Mémoire pour le Peuple Fran？ais；〃 by Cerutti；
〃Considerations sur les Intérêts des Tiers…Etat；〃 by Rabtau Saint…
Etienne； 〃Ma Pétition；〃 by Target； 〃Les Droits des Etats…généraux；〃
by M。 d'Entraigues； and； a little later； 〃La France libre；〃 par
Camille Desmoulins； and others by hundreds and thousands。＇8＇ All of
which are repeated and amplified in the electoral assemblies； where
new…made citizens come to declaim and increase their own
excitement。＇9＇ The unanimous； universal and daily shout rolls along
from echo to echo； into barracks and into faubourgs； into markets；
workshops； and garrets。 In the month of February； 1789； Necker
avows 〃that obedience is not to be found anywhere； and that even the
troops are not to be relied on。〃 In the month of May； the
fisherwomen； and next the greengrocers； of the town market halls
come to recommend the interests of the people to the bodies of
electors； and to sing rhymes in honor of the Third…Estate。 In the
month of June pamphlets are in all hands； 〃even lackeys are poring
over them at the gates of hotels。〃 In the month of July； as the King
is signing an order； a patriotic valet becomes alarmed and reads it
over his shoulder。 There is no illusion here； it is not merely
the bourgeoisie which ranges itself against the legal authorities
and against the established regime。 It is the entire people as
well。 The craftsmen； the shopkeepers and the domestics； workmen of
every kind and degree； the mob underneath the people； the vagabonds；
street rovers； and beggars； the whole multitude； which； bound down
by anxiety for its daily bread； had never lifted its eyes to look at
the great social order of which it is the lowest stratum； and the
whole weight of which it bears。
III。
The Réveillon affair。
Suddenly the people stirs； and the superposed scaffolding totters。
It is the movement of a brute nature exasperated by want and
maddened by suspicion。 Have paid hands； which are invisible
goaded it on from beneath？ Contemporaries are convinced of this； and
it is probably the case。＇10＇ But the uproar made around the
suffering brute would alone suffice to make it shy； and explain its
arousal。 … On the 21st of April the Electoral Assemblies have
begun in Paris； there is one in each quarter； one for the clergy；
one for the nobles； and one for the Third…Estate。 Every day； for
almost a month； files of electors are seen passing along the
streets。 Those of the first degree continue to meet after having
nominated those of the second： the nation must needs watch its
mandatories and maintain its imprescriptible rights。 If this
exercise of their rights has been delegated to them； they still
belong to the nation； and it reserves to itself the privilege of
interposing when it pleases。 A pretension of this kind travels
fast； immediately after the Third…Estate of the Assemblies it
reaches the Third…Estate of the streets。 Nothing is more natural
than the desire to lead one's leaders： the first time any
dissatisfaction occurs； they lay hands on those who halt and make
them march on as directed。 On a Saturday； April 25th；＇11＇ a rumor
is current that Réveillon； an elector and manufacturer of wall…
paper； Rue Saint…Antoine； and Lerat； a commissioner； have 〃spoken
badly〃 at the Electoral Assembly of Sainte…Marguerite。 To speak
badly means to speak badly of the people。 What has Réveillon said？
Nobody knows； but popular imagination with its terrible powers of
invention and precision； readily fabricates or welcomes a murderous
phrase。 He said that 〃a working…man with a wife and children could
live on fifteen sous a day。〃 Such a man is a traitor； and must be
disposed of at once； 〃all his belongings must be put to fire and
sword。〃 The rumor； it must be noted； is false。＇12＇ Réveillon pays
his poorest workman twenty…five sous a day； he provides work for
three hundred and fifty； and； in spite of a dull season the previous
winter； he kept all on at the same rate of wages。 He himself was
once a workman； and obtained a medal for his inventions； and is
benevolent and respected by all respectable persons。 All this
avails nothing； bands of vagabonds and foreigners； who have just
passed through the barriers； do not look so closely into matters；
while the Journeymen； the carters； the cobblers； the masons； the
braziers； and the stone…cutters whom they go to s