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save public edifices and woods； is to be cut up into as many equal
lots as there are heads； the lots to be drawn for； and each
individual to take possession of his or her portion。＇58＇ The
Operation is carried out； for 〃those who are least well off are
infinitely flattered by it。〃 In the district of Arcis…sur…Aube；
there are not a dozen communes out of ninety in which more than two…
thirds of the voters had the good sense to pronounce against it。
》From this time forth the commune ceases to be an independent
proprietor； it has nothing to fall back upon。 In case of distress
it is obliged to lay on extra taxes and obtain； if it can； a few
additional sous。 Its future revenue is at present in the tightly
buttoned pockets of the new proprietors。 … The prevalence of
short…sighted views is once more due to the covetousness of
individuals。 Whether national or communal； it is always public
interest which succumbs； and it succumbs always under the
usurpations of indigent minorities； at one time through the
feebleness of public authority； which dares not oppose their
violence； and at another through the complicity of public authority；
which has conferred upon them the rights of the majority。
IV。
Cupidity of tenants。 … The third and fourth jacquerie。 …
Brittany and other provinces in 1790 and 1791。 … The burning of
chateaux。 … Title…deeds destroyed。 … Refusal of claims。 …
Destruction of reservoirs。 … Principal characteristics； prime
motive and ruling passion of the revolution
When there is a lack of public force for the protection of public
property； there is also a lack of it for the protection of private
property； for the same greed and the same needs attack both。 Let a
man owe anything either to the State or to an individual； and the
temptation not to pay is equally the same。 In both cases it
suffices to find a pretext for denying the debt； in finding this
pretext the cupidity of the tenant is as good as the selfishness of
the tax…payer。 Now that the feudal system is abolished let nothing
remain of it： let there be no more seignorial claims。 〃If the
Assembly has maintained some of them； yonder in Paris； it did so
inadvertently or through corruption： we shall soon hear of all being
suppressed。 In the meantime we will relieve ourselves； and burn the
agreements in the places where they are kept。〃
Such being the argument； the jacquerie breaks out afresh： in truth；
it is permanent and universal。 Just as in a body in which some of
the elements of its vital substance are affected by an organic
disease； the evil is apparent in the parts which seem to be sound：
even where as yet no outbreak has occurred； one is imminent；
constant anxiety； a profound restlessness； a low fever； denote its
presence。 Here； the debtor does not pay； and the creditor is afraid
to prosecute him。 In other places isolated eruptions occur。 At
Auxon；＇59＇ on an estate spared by the great jacquerie of July； 1789；
the woods are ravaged； and the peasants； enraged at being denounced
by the keepers； march to the chateau； which is occupied by an old
man and a child； everybody belonging to the village is there； men
and women； they hew down the barricaded door with their axes； and
fire on the neighbors who come to the assistance of its inmates。 …
In other places； in the districts of Saint…étienne and Montbrison；
〃the trees belonging to the proprietors are carried away with
impunity； and the walls of their grounds and terraces are
demolished； the complainants being threatened with death or with the
sight of the destruction of their dwellings。〃 Near Paris； around
Montargis； Nemours； and Fontainebleau； a number of parishes refuse
to pay the tithes and ground…rent （champart） which the Assembly has
a second time sanctioned； gibbets are erected and the collectors are
threatened with hanging； while； in the neighborhood of Tonnerre； a
mob of debtors fire upon the body of police which comes to enforce
the claims。 … Near Amiens； the Comtesse de la Mire；＇60＇ on her
estate of Davencourt； is visited by the municipal authorities of the
village； who request her to renounce her right to ground…rent
（champart） and thirds （tiers）。 She refuses and they insist； and she
refuses again； when they inform her that 〃 some misfortune will
happen to her。〃 In effect； two of the municipal officers cause the
tocsin to be rung； and the whole village rushes to arms。 One of the
domestics has an arm broken by a ball； and for three hours the
countess and her two children are subject to the grossest insults
and to blows： she is forced to sign a paper which she is not allowed
to read； and； in warding off the stroke of a saber； her arm is cleft
from the elbow to the wrist； the chateau is pillaged； and she owes
her escape to the zeal of some of her servants。 … Large eruptions
take place at the same time over entire provinces； one succeeds the
other almost without interruption； the fever encroaching on parts
which were supposed to be cured； and to such an extent that the
virulent ulcers finally combine and form one over the whole surface
of the social body。
By the end of December； 1789； the chronic fermentation comes to a
head in Brittany。 Imagination； as usual； has forged a plot； and； as
the people say； if they make an attack it is in their own defense。
… A report spreads＇61＇ that M。 de Goyon； near Lamballe； has
assembled in his chateau a number of gentlemen and six hundred
soldiers。 The mayor and National Guard of Lamballe immediately
depart in force； they find everything tranquil there； and no company
but two or three friends； and no other arms than a few fowling…
pieces。 … The impulse； however； is given； and； on the 15th of
January； the great federation of Pontivy has excited the wildest
enthusiasm。 The people drink； sing； and shout in honor of the new
decrees before armed peasants who do not comprehend the French
tongue； still less legal terms； and who； on their return home；
arguing with each other in bas…breton； interpret the law in a
peculiar way。 〃A decree of the Assembly； in their eyes； is a decree
of arrest〃 and as the principal decrees of the Assembly are issued
against the nobles； they are so many decrees of arrest against them。
… Some days after this； about the end of January； during the whole
of February； and down to the month of April； the execution of this
theory is tumultuously carried out by mobs of villagers and
vagabonds around Nantes； Auray； Redon； Dinan； Plo？rmel； Rennes；
Guingamp； and other villages。 Everywhere； writes the Mayor of
Nantes；＇62＇ 〃the country…people believe that in burning deeds and
contracts they get rid of their debts； the very best of them concur
in this belief；〃 or let things take their course； the excesses are
enormous； because many gratify 〃special animosities； and all are
heated with wine。 … At Beuvres； 〃the peasants and vassals of the
manor； after burning title…deeds； establish themselves in the
chateau； and threaten to fire it if other papers； which they allege
are concealed there； are not surrendered。〃 Near Redon the Abbey of
Saint…Sauveur is reduced to ashes。 Redon is menaced； and Plo？rmel
almost besieged。 At the end of a month thirty…seven chateaux are
enumerated as attacked： twenty…five in which the title…deeds are
burnt； and twelve in which the proprietors are obliged to sign an
abandonment of their rights。 Two chateaux which began to burn are
saved by the National Guard。 That of Bois…au…Voyer is entirely
consumed； and several have been sacked。 By way of addition； 〃more
than fifteen procureurs…fiscaux； clerks； notaries； and officers of
seignorial courts have been plundered or burnt；〃 while proprietors
take refuge in the towns because the country is now uninhabitable
for them。
A second tumor makes its appearance at the same time at another
point。＇63＇ It showed itself in Lower Limousin in the beginning of
January。 From thence the purulent inflammation spreads to Quercy；
Upper Languedoc； Perigord； and Rouergue； and in February from Tulle
to Montauban； and from Agen to Périgueux and Cahors； extending over
three departments。 … Then； also； expectancy is the creator；
according to rule； of its own object。 By dint of longing for a law
for the suppression of all claims； it is imagined that it is passed；
and the statement is current that 〃the King and the National
Assembly have ordered deputations to set up the maypole＇64＇ and to
'light up' the chateaux。〃 … Moreover； and always in accordance
with current practice； bandits； people without occupation； take the
lead of the furious crowd and manage things their own way。 As soon
as a band is formed it arrests all the peaceable people it can find
on the roads； in the fields； and in isolated farmhouses； and takes
good care to put them in front in case of blows。 … These
miscreants add terror to compulsion。 They erect gibbets for any one
that pays casual duti