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in vain； but I have not found them the rural tyrants； which the
declaimers of the Revolution portray them。 Haughty with the bourgeois
they are generally kind to the villager。 〃Let any one travel through
the provinces；〃 says a contemporary advocate； 〃over the estates
occupied by the seigniors。 Out of one hundred one may be found
tyrannizing his dependents； all the others； patiently share the misery
of those subject to their jurisdiction 。 。 。 They give their debtors
time； remit sums due； and afford them every facility for settlement。
They mollify and temper the sometimes over…rigorous proceedings of the
fermiers； stewards and other men of business。〃＇8＇ An Englishwoman； who
observes them in Provence just after the Revolution； says that；
detested at Aix； they are much beloved on their estates。 〃Whilst they
pass the first citizens with their heads erect and an air of disdain；
they salute peasants with extreme courtesy and affability。〃 One of
them distributes among the women； children and the aged on his domain
wool and flax to spin during the bad season； and； at the end of the
year； he offers a prize of one hundred livres for the two best pieces
of cloth。 In numerous instances the peasant…purchasers of their land
voluntarily restore it for the purchase money。 Around Paris； near
Romainville； after the terrible storm of 1788 there is prodigal alms…
giving； 〃a very wealthy man immediately distributes forty thousand
francs among the surrounding unfortunates。〃 During the winter； in
Alsace and in Paris； everybody is giving； 〃in front of each hotel
belonging to a well…known family a big log is burning to which； night
and day； the poor can come and warm themselves。〃 In the way of
charity； the monks who remain on their premises and witness the public
misery continue faithful to the spirit of their institution。 On the
birth of the Dauphin the Augustins of Montmorillon in Poitou pay out
of their own resources the tailles and corvées of nineteen poor
families。 In 1781； in Provence； the Dominicans of Saint Maximin
support the population of their district in which the tempest had
destroyed the vines and the olive trees。 〃The Carthusians of Paris
furnish the poor with eighteen hundred pounds of bread per week。
During the winter of 1784 there is an increase of alms…giving in all
the religious establishments； their farmers distribute aid among the
poor people of the country； and； to provide for these extra
necessities； many of the communities increase the rigor of their
abstinences。〃 When at the end of 1789； their suppression is in
question； I find a number of protests in their favor； written by
municipal officers； by prominent individuals； by a crowd of
inhabitants； workmen and peasants； and these columns of rustic
signatures are eloquent。 Seven hundred families of Cateau…Cambrésis＇9＇
send in a petition to retain 〃the worthy abbés and monks of the Abbey
of St。 Andrew； their common fathers and benefactors； who fed them
during the tempest。〃 The inhabitants of St。 Savin； in the Pyrénées；
〃portray with tears of grief their consternation〃 at the prospect of
suppressing their abbey of Benedictines； the sole charitable
organization in this poor country。 At Sierk； Thionville； 〃the
Chartreuse；〃 say the leading citizens； 〃is； for us； in every respect；
the Ark of the Lord； it is the main support of from more than twelve
to fifteen hundred persons who come it every day in the week。 This
year the monks have distributed amongst them their own store of grain
at sixteen livres less than the current price。〃 The regular canons of
Domiévre； in Lorrraine； feed sixty poor persons twice a week； it is
essential to retain them； says the petition； 〃out of pity and
compassion for poor beings whose misery cannot be imagined； where
there no regular convents and canons in their dependency； the poor cry
with misery。〃＇10＇ At Moutiers…Saint…John； near Sémur in Burgundy； the
Benedictines of Saint…Maur support the entire village and supply it
this year with food during the famine。 Near Morley in Barrois； the
abbey of Auvey； of the Cistercian order； 〃was always； for every
village in the neighborhood； a bureau of charity。〃 At Airvault； in
Poitou； the municipal officers； the colonel of the national guard； and
numbers of 〃peasants and inhabitants〃 demand the conservation of the
regular canons of St。 Augustin。 〃Their existence；〃 says the petition；
〃is absolutely essential； as well for our town as for the country； and
we should suffer an irreparable loss in their suppression。〃 The
municipality and permanent council of Soissons writes that the
establishment of Saint…Jean des Vignes 〃has always earnestly claimed
its share of the public charges。 This is the institution which； in
times of calamity； welcomes homeless citizens and provides them with
subsistence。 It alone bears the expenses of the assembly of the
bailiwick at the time of the election of deputies to the National
Assembly。 A company of the regiment of Armagnac is actually lodged
under its roof。 This institution is always found wherever sacrifices
are to be made。〃 In scores of places declarations are made that the
monks are 〃the fathers of the poor。〃 In the diocese of Auxerre； during
the summer of 1789； the Bernardines of Rigny 〃stripped themselves of
all they possessed in favor of the inhabitants of neighboring
villages： bread； grain； money and other supplies； have all been
lavished on about twelve hundred persons who； for more than six weeks；
never failed to present themselves at their door daily。 。 。 Loans；
advances made on farms； credit with the purveyors of the house； all
has contributed to facilitating their means for relieving the people。〃
I omit many other traits equally forcible； we see that the
ecclesiastical and lay seigniors are not simple egoists when they live
at home。 Man is compassionate of ills of which he is a witness；
absence is necessary to deaden their vivid impression； they move the
heart when the eye contemplates them。 Familiarity； moreover； engenders
sympathy； one cannot remain insensible to the trials of a poor man to
whom； for over twenty years； one says good…morning every day on
passing him； with whose life one is acquainted； who is not an abstract
unit in the imagination； a statistical cipher； but a sorrowing soul
and a suffering body。 … And so much the more because； since the
writings of Rousseau and the economists； a spirit of humanity； daily
growing stronger； more penetrating and more universal； has arisen to
soften the heart。 Henceforth the poor are thought of； and it is
esteemed an honor to think of them。 We have only to read the registers
of the States…General＇11＇ to see that spirit of philanthropy spreads
from Paris even to the chateaux and abbeys of the provinces。 I am
satisfied that； except for a few country squires； either huntsmen or
drinkers； carried away by the need of physical exercise； and confined
through their rusticity to an animal life； most of the resident
seigniors resembled； in fact or in intention； the gentry whom
Marmontel； in his moral tales； then brought on the stage。 Fashion took
this direction； and people in France always follow the fashion。 There
is nothing feudal in their characters； they are 〃sensible〃 people；
mild； very courteous； tolerably cultivated； fond of generalities； and
easily and quickly roused； and very much in earnest。 For instance like
that amiable logician the Marquis de Ferrières； an old light…horseman；
deputy from Saumur in the National Assembly； author of an article on
Theism； a moral romance and genial memoirs of no great importance；
nothing could be more remote from the ancient harsh and despotic
temperament。 They would be glad to relieve the people； and they try to
favor them as much as they can。＇12＇ They are found detrimental； but they
are not wicked； the evil is in their situation and not in their
character。 It is their situation； in fact； which； allowing them rights
without exacting services； debars them from the public offices； the
beneficial influence； the effective patronage by which they might
justify their advantages and attach the peasantry to them。
But on this ground the central government has taken their place。
For a long time now have they been rather feeble against the
intendant； unable to protect their parish。 Twenty gentlemen cannot not
assemble and deliberate without the king's special permission。＇13＇ If
those of Franche…Comté happen to dine together and hear a mass once a
year； it is through tolerance； and even then this harmless group may
assemble only in the presence of the intendant。 Separated from his
equals； the seignior； again； is further away from his inferiors。 The
administration of the village is of no concern to him； he is not even
tasked with its supervision。 The apportionment of taxes； the militia
contingent； the repairs of the church； the summoning and presiding
over a parish assembly； the m