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place in it a guard of sixty men： on the following day the
〃district〃 and the National Guard of Villefranche are to come and
inspect it。 … Be it noted that these orders are imaginary； for M。
de Chaponay asks in vain to see them； they cannot be produced。 The
cause of their setting out； probably； is the false rumor that the
National Guard of Villefranche is coming to deprive them of a booty
on which they had calculated。 … Nevertheless M。 de Chaponay
submits； he merely requests the municipal officers to make the
search themselves and in an orderly manner。 Upon this the
commandant of the National Guard of Lucenay exclaims； with some
irritation； that 〃all are equal and all must go in；〃 and at the same
moment all rush forward。 〃M。 de Chaponay orders the apartments to
be opened； they immediately shut them up； purposely to let the
sappers break through the doors with their axes。〃 … Everything is
pillaged； 〃plate； assignats； stocks of linen； laces and other
articles； the trees of the avenues are hacked and mutilated； the
cellars are emptied； the casks are rolled out on the terrace； the
wine is suffered to run out； and the chateau keep is demolished。 。
。 。 The officers urge on those that are laggard。〃 Towards nine
o'clock in the evening M。 de Chaponay is informed by his servants
that the municipal authorities have determined upon forcing him to
sign an abandonment of his feudal dues and afterwards beheading him。
He escapes with his wife through the only door which is left
unguarded； wanders about all night； exposed to the gun…shots of the
squads which are on his track； and reaches Lyons only on the
following day。 … ？Meanwhile the pillagers send him notice that if
he does not abandon his rentals； they will cut down his forests and
burn up everything on his estate。 The chateau； indeed； is fired
three distinct times； while； in the interval； the band sack another
chateau at Bayère； and； on again passing by that of M。 de Chaponay；
demolish a dam which had cost 10；000 livres。 … The public
prosecutor； for his part； remains quiet； notwithstanding the appeals
to him： he doubtless says to himself that a gentleman whose house
has been searched is lucky to have saved his life； and that others；
like M。 Guillin…Dumoutet； for example； have not been as fortunate。
The latter gentleman； formerly captain of a vessel belonging to the
India Company； afterwards Commandant at Senegal； now retired from
active life； occupied his chateau of Poleymieux with his young wife
and two infant children； his sisters； nieces； and sister…in…law …
in all； ten women belonging to his family and domestic service …
one Negro servant and himself； an old man of sixty years of age；
here is a haunt of militant conspirators which must be disarmed as
soon as possible。＇15＇ Unfortunately； a brother of M。 Guillin；
accused of treason to the nation； had been arrested ten months
previously； which was quite sufficient for the clubs in the
neighborhood。 In the month of December； 1790； the chateau had
already been ransacked by the people of the parishes in the
vicinity： nothing was found； and the Department first censured and
afterwards interdicted these arbitrary searches。 On this occasion
they will manage things better。 … On the 26th of June； 1791； at
ten o'clock in the morning； the municipal body of Poleymicux； along
with two other bodies in their scarves； and three hundred National
Guards； are seen approaching； under the usual pretext of searching
for arms。 Madame Guillin presents herself； reminds them of the
interdict of the Department； and demands the legal order under which
they act。 They refuse to give it。 M。 Guillin descends in his turn
and offers to open his doors to them if they will produce the order。
They have no order to show him。 During the colloquy a certain man
named Rosier； a former soldier who had deserted twice； and who is
now in command of the National Guard； seizes M。 Guillin by the
throat； the old captain defends himself； presents a pistol at the
man； which misses fire； and then； throwing the fellow off； withdraws
into the house； closing the door behind him。 … Soon after this； the
tocsin sounds in the neighborhood； thirty parishes start up； and two
thousand men arrive。 Madame Guillin； by entreaties； succeeds in
having delegates appointed； chosen by the crowd； to inspect the
chateau。 These delegates examine the apartments； and declare that
they can find nothing but the arms ordinarily kept on hand。 This
declaration is of no effect： the multitude； whose excitement is
increased by waiting； feel their strength； and have no idea of
returning empty…handed。 A volley is fired； and the chateau windows
are riddled with balls。 As a last effort Madame Guillin； with her
two children in her arms； comes out； and going to the municipal
officers； calls upon them to do their duty。 Far from doing this
they retain her as a hostage； and place her in such a position that；
if there is firing from the chateau； she may receive the bullets。
Meanwhile； the doors are forced； the house is pillaged from top to
bottom； and then set on fire； M。 Guillin； who seeks refuge in the
keep； is almost reached by the flames。 At this moment； some of the
assailants； less ferocious than the rest； prevail upon him to
descend； and they answer for his life。 Scarcely has he shown
himself when others fall on him； they cry that he must be killed；
that he has a life…rent of 36；000 francs from the State； and 〃this
will be so much saved for the nation。〃 〃He is hacked to pieces
alive；〃 his head is cut off and borne upon a pike； his body is cut
up； and sent piece by piece to each parish； several wash their hands
in his blood； and besmear their faces with it。 It seems as if
tumult； clamor； incendiarism； robbery； and murder had aroused in
them not only the cruel instincts of the savage； but the carnivorous
appetites of the brute； some of them； seized by the gendarmerie at
Chasselay； had roasted the dead man's arm and dined upon it。＇16＇ …
Madame Guillin； who is saved through the compassion of two of the
inhabitants of the place； succeeds； after encountering many dangers；
in reaching Lyons； she and her children lost everything； 〃the
chateau； its dependencies； the crop of the preceding year； wine；
grain； furniture； plate； ready money； assignats； notes； and
contracts。〃 Ten days later； the department gives notice to the
National Assembly that 〃similar projects are still being plotted and
arranged； and that there are （always） threats of burning chateaux
and rent…rolls；〃 that no doubt of this can possibly exist： 〃the
inhabitants of the country only await the opportunity； to renew
these scenes of horror。〃＇17＇
IV。
The nobles obliged to leave the rural districts。 … They take
refuge in towns。 … The dangers they incur。 … The eighty…two
gentlemen of Caen
Amidst these multiplied and reviving Jacqueries there is nothing
left but flight； and the nobles； driven out of the rural districts；
seek refuge in the towns。 But here also a jacquerie awaits them。 As
the effects of the Constitution are developed； successive
administrations become feebler and more partial； the unbridled
populace has become more excitable and more violent； the enthroned
club has become more suspicious and more despotic。 Henceforth the
club； through or in opposition to the administrative bodies； leads
the populace； and the nobles will find it as hostile as the
peasants。 All their reunions； even when liberal； are closed like
that in Paris； through the illegal interference of mobs； or through
the iniquitous action of the popular magistrates。 All their
associations； even when legal and salutary； are broken up by brute
force or by municipal intolerance； They are punished for having
thought of defending themselves； and slaughtered because they try to
avoid assassination。 … Three or four hundred gentlemen； who were
threatened on their estates； sought refuge with their families in
Caen；＇18＇ and they trusted to find one there； for； by three
different resolutions； the municipal body promised them aid and
protection。 Unfortunately； the club thinks otherwise； and； on
August 23； 1791； prints and posts up a list of their names and
residences； declaring that since 〃their suspected opinions have
compelled them to abandon the rural districts；〃 they are emigrants
in the interior；〃 from which it follows that 〃their conduct must be
scrupulously watched；〃 because 〃it may be the effect of some
dangerous plot against the country。〃 Fifteen are especially
designated； among others 〃the former curé of Saint…Loup； the great
bloodhound of the aristocrats； and all of them very suspicious
persons； harboring the worst intentions。〃 … Thus denounced and
singled out； it is evident that they can no longer sleep peacefully：
moreover； now that their addresses are published； they are openly
threatened with domiciliary visits and violence。 As to