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tallest and most imposing subjects； that is to say； belonging to the
first families of the ancient monarchy； and； like one who knows his
business； he brings to bear every means； constraint and seduction；
threats and cajoleries； supplies in ready money； promises of promotion
with the influence of a uniform and gold…lace embroidery。＇37＇ It
matters little whether the enlistment is voluntary or extorted； the
moment a man becomes a functionary and is enrolled in the hierarchy；
he loses the best portion of his independence； once a dignitary and
placed at the top of the hierarchy； he gives his entire individuality
up； for henceforth he lives under the eye of the master； feels the
daily and direct pressure of the terrible hand which grasps him； and
he forcibly becomes a mere tool。＇38＇ These historic names； moreover；
contribute to the embellishment of the reign。 Napoleon hauls in a good
many of them； and the most illustrious among the old noblesse； of the
court of the robe and of the sword。 He can enumerate among his
magistrates； M。 Pasquier； M。 Séguier； M。 Molé； among his prelates； M。
de Boisgelin； M。 du Barral； M。 du Belley； M。 de Roquelaure； M。 de
Broglie； among his military officers； M。 de Fézensac； M。 de Ségur； M。
de Mortemart； M。 de Narbonne；＇39＇ among the dignitaries of his palace；
chaplains； chamberlains and ladies of honor … the Rohan； Croy；
Chevreuse； Montmorency； Chabot； Montesquiou； Noailles； Brancas；
Gontaut； Grammont； Beauvau； Saint…Aignan； Montalembert； Haussonville；
Choiseul…Praslin； Mercy d'Argenteau； Aubusson de la Feuillade； and
many others； recorded in the imperial almanac as formerly in the royal
almanac。
But they are only with him nominally and in the almanac。 Except
certain individuals； M。 de las Cases and M。 Philippe de Ségur； who
gave themselves up body and soul； even to following him to Saint
Helena； to glorifying； admiring and loving him beyond the grave； the
others are submissive conscripts and who remain more or less
refractory spirits。 He does nothing to win them over。 His court is
not； like the old court； a conversational ball…room； but a hall of
inspection； the most sumptuous apartment in his vast barracks； the
civil parade is a continuation of the military parade； one finds one's
self constrained； stiff； mute and uncomfortable。＇40＇
He does not know how to entertain as the head of his household； how to
welcome guests and be gracious or even polite to his pretended
courtiers； he himself declares that＇41＇ 〃they go two years without
speaking to him； and six months without seeing him； he does not like
them； their conversation displeases him。〃 When he addresses them it is
to browbeat them； his familiarities with their wives are those of the
gendarme or the pedagogue； while the little attentions he inflicts
upon them are indecorous criticisms or compliments in bad taste。 They
know that they are spied upon in their own homes and responsible for
whatever is said there； 〃the upper police is constantly hovering over
all drawing…rooms。〃＇42＇ For every word uttered in privacy； for any
lack of compliance； every individual； man or woman； runs the risk of
exile or of being relegated to the interior at a distance of forty
leagues。＇43＇ And the same with the resident gentry in the provinces；
they are obliged to pay court to the prefect； to be on good terms with
him； or at least attend his receptions； it is important that their
cards should be seen on his mantel piece。＇44＇ Otherwise； let them take
heed； for it is he who reports on their conduct to the minister Fouché
or to Savary who replaced him。 In vain do they live circumspectly and
confine themselves to a private life； a refusal to accept an office is
unpardonable； there is a grudge against them if they do not employ
their local influence in behalf of the reign。＇45＇ Accordingly； they
are； under the empire as under the republic； in law as in fact； in the
provinces as well as at Paris； privileged persons the wrong way； a
suspicious class under a special surveillance〃 and subject to
exceptional rigor。＇46＇ In 1808；＇47＇ Napoleon orders Fouché 〃to draw up
。 。 。 among the old and wealthy families who are not in the system 。 。
。 a list of ten in each department； and of fifty for Paris；〃 of which
the sons from sixteen to eighteen years of age shall be forced to
enter Saint…Cyr and from thence go into the army as second
lieutenants。 In 1813； still 〃in the highest classes of society；〃 and
arbitrarily selected by the prefects； he takes ten thousand other
persons； exempt or redeemed from the conscription； even the married；
even fathers of families； who； under the title of guards of honor；
become soldiers； at first to be slaughtered in his service； and next；
and in the mean time； to answer for the fidelity of their relatives。
It is the old law of hostages； a resumption of the worst proceedings
of the Directory for his account and aggravated for his profit。 …
Decidedly； the imperial Régime； for the old royalists； resembles too
much the Jacobin régime； they are about as repugnant to one as to the
other； and their aversion naturally extends to the whole of the new
society。 … As they comprehend it； they are more or less robbed and
oppressed for a quarter of a century。 In order that their hostility
may cease； the indemnity of 1825 is essential； fifty years of gradual
adaptation； the slow elimination of two or three generations of
fathers and the slow elimination of two or three generations of sons。
Nothing is so difficult as the reparation of great social wrongs。 In
this case the incomplete reparation did not prove sufficient； the
treatment which began with gentleness ended with violence； and； as a
whole； the operation only half succeeded。
IV。 Education and Medical Care。
Confiscation of collective fortunes。 … Ruin of the Hospitals and
Schools。
Other wounds are not less deep； and their cure is not less urgent； for
they cause suffering； not only to one class； but to the whole people …
that vast majority which the government strives to satisfy。 Along with
the property of the émigrés； the Revolution has confiscated that of
all local or special societies； ecclesiastic or laic； of churches and
congregations； universities and academies； schools and colleges；
asylums and hospitals； and even the property of the communes。 All
these fortunes have been swallowed up by the public treasury； which is
a bottomless pit； and are gone forever。 … Consequently； all services
thus maintained； especially charitable institutions； public worship
and education； die or languish for lack of sustenance； the State；
which has no money for itself； has none for them。 And what is worse；
it hinders private parties from taking them in charge； being Jacobin；
that is to say intolerant and partisan； it has proscribed worship；
driven nuns out of the hospitals； closed Christian schools； and； with
its vast power； it prevents others from carrying out at their own
expense the social enterprises which it no longer cares for。
And yet the needs for which this work provides have never been so
great nor so imperative。 In ten years；＇48＇ the number of foundlings
increased from 23；000 to 62；000； it is； as the reports state； a
deluge： there are 1097 instead of 400 in Aisne； 1500 in Lot…et…
Garonne； 2035 in la Manche； 2043 in Bouches…du…Rh？ne； 2673 in
Calvados。 From 3000 to 4000 beggars are enumerated in each department
and about 300；000 in all France。＇49＇ As to the sick； the infirm； the
mutilated； unable to earn their living； it suffices； for an idea of
their multitude； to consider the régime to which the political doctors
have just subjected France； the Régime of fasting and bloodletting。
Two millions of Frenchmen have marched under the national flag； and
eight hundred thousand have died under it；＇50＇ among the survivors；
how many cripples； how many with one arm and with wooden legs！ All
Frenchmen have eaten dog…bread for three years and often have not had
enough of that to live on； over a million have died of starvation and
poverty； all the wealthy and well…to…do Frenchmen have been ruined and
have lived in constant fear of the guillotine； four hundred thousand
have wasted away in prisons； of the survivors； how many shattered
constitutions； how many bodies and brains disordered by an excess of
suffering and anxiety； by physical and moral wear and tear！＇51＇
Now； in 1800； assistance is lacking for this crowd of civil and
military invalids； the charitable establishments being no longer in a
condition to furnish it。 Under the Constituent Assembly； through the
suppression of ecclesiastical property and the abolition of octrois； a
large portion of their revenue had been cut off； that assigned to them
out of octrois and the tithes。 Under the Legislative Assembly and the
Convention； through the dispersion and persecution of nuns and monks；
they were deprived of a body of able male and female volunteer
servants who； insti