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abroad。〃 In the suburbs of Rouen they imagine that grain is
purposely 〃 engulfed in the swamps； ponds； and clay…pits。〃 At Laon；
imbecile and Jacobin committees attribute the dearness of provisions
to the avidity of the rich and the malevolence of the aristocrats
according to them； 〃jealous millionaires grow rich at the expense of
the people。 They know the popular strength；〃 and； not daring to
measure their forces with it； 〃in an honorable fight；〃 have recourse
〃to treachery。〃 To conquer the people easily they have determined to
reduce them in advance by extreme suffering and by the length of
their fast； and hence they monopolize 〃wheat； rye； and meal； soap；
sugar； and brandy。〃＇18＇ … Similar reports suffice to excite a
suffering crowd to acts of violence； and it must inevitably accept
for its leaders and advisers those who urge it forward on the side
to which it is inclined。 The people always require leaders； and
they are chosen wherever they can be found； at one time amongst the
elite； and at another amongst the dregs。 Now that the nobles are
driven out； the bourgeoisie in retirement； the large cultivators
under suspicion； while animal necessities exercise their blind and
intermittent despotism； the appropriate popular ministers consist of
adventurers and of bandits。 They need not be very numerous； for in
a place full of combustible matter a few firebrands suffice to start
the conflagration。 〃About twenty； at most； can be counted in the
towns of étampes and Dourdan； men with nothing to lose and
everything to gain by disturbances； they are those who always
produce excitement and disorder； while other citizens afford them
the means through their indifference。〃 Those whose names are known
among the new guides of the crowd are almost all escaped convicts
whose previous habits have accustomed them to blows； violence；
frequently to murder； and always to contempt for the law。 At
Brunoy；＇19＇ the leaders of the outbreak are 〃two deserters of the
18th regiment； sentenced and unpunished； who； in company with the
vilest and most desperate of the parish； always go about armed and
threatening。〃 At étampes； 〃the two principal assassins of the mayor
are a poacher repeatedly condemned for poaching； and an old
carabiniere dismissed from his regiment with a bad record against
him。〃＇20＇ Around these are artisans 〃without a known residence；〃
wandering workmen； journeymen and apprentices； vagrants and highway
rovers； who flock into the towns on market…days and are always …
ready for mischief when an opportunity occurs。 Vagabonds； indeed；
now roam about the country everywhere； all restrictions against them
having ceased。
〃For a year past；〃 write several parishes in the neighborhood of
Versailles； 〃we have seen no gendarmes except those who come with
decrees；〃 and hence the multiplication of 〃murders and brigandage 〃
between étampes and Versailles； on the highways and in the country。
Bands of thirteen； fifteen； twenty and twenty…two beggars rob the
vineyards； enter farm…houses at night； and compel their inmates to
lodge and feed them； returning in the same way every fortnight； all
farms or isolated dwellings being their prey。 An ecclesiastic is
killed in his own house in the suburbs of Versailles； on the 26th of
September； 1791； and； on the same day； a bourgeois and his wife are
garroted and robbed。 On the 22nd of September； near Saint…Rémi…
Honoré； eight bandits ransack the dwelling of a farmer。 On the 25th
of September； at Villers…le…Sec； thirteen others strip another
farmer； and then add with much politeness； 〃It is lucky for your
masters that they are not here； for we would have roasted them at
yonder fire。〃 Six similar outrages are committed by armed ruffians
in dwelling…places； within a radius of from three to four leagues；
accompanied with the threats of the chauffeurs。＇21＇ 〃After
enterprises of such force and boldness；〃 write the people of this
region； 〃there is not a well…to…do man in the country who can rely
upon an hour's security in his house。 Already many of our best
cultivators are giving up their business； while others threaten to
do the same in case these disorders continue。〃 … What is worse
still is the fact that in these outrages most of the bandits were
〃in the national uniform。〃 The most ignorant； the poorest； and most
fanatical of the National Guard thus enlist for the sake of plunder。
It is so natural for men to believe in their right to that of which
they feel the need； that the possessors of wheat thus become its
monopolists； and the superfluity of the rich the property of the
poor！ This is what the peasants say who devastate the forest of
Bruyères…le…Chatel： 〃We have neither wood； bread； nor work …
necessity knows no law。〃
The necessaries of life are not to be had cheap under such a system。
There is too much anxiety； and property is too precarious； there are
too many obstacles to commerce ； purchases； sales； shipments；
arrivals and payments are too uncertain。 How are goods to be stored
and transported in a country where neither the central government；
the local authorities； the National Guard； nor the regular troops
perform their duties； and where every transaction in produce； even
the most legal and the most serviceable； is subject to the caprice
of a dozen villains whom the populace obey。 … Wheat remains in the
barn； or is secreted； or is kept waiting； and only reaches by
stealth the hands of those who are rich enough to pay； not only its
price； but the extra cost of the risk。 Thus forced into a narrow
channel； it rises to a rate which the depreciation of the assignats
augments； its dearness being not only maintained； but ever on the
increase。 Thereupon popular instinct invents for the cure of the
evil a remedy which serves to aggravate it： henceforth； wheat must
not travel； it is impounded in the canton in which it is gathered。
At Laon； 〃the people have sworn to die rather than let their food be
carried off。〃 At étampes； to which the municipality of Angers
dispatches an administrator of its hospital to buy two hundred and
fifty sacks of flour； the commission cannot be executed； the
delegate not even daring to avow for several days the object of his
coming； all he can do is 〃to visit incognito； and at night； the
different flour…dealers in the valley； who would offer to furnish
the supply； but fear for their lives and dare not even leave their
houses。〃 … The same violence is shown in the more distant circle of
departments which surround the first circle。 At Aubigny； in
Cher；＇22＇ grain…wagons are stopped； the district administrators are
menaced； two have a price set on their heads； a portion of the
National Guard sides with the mutineers。 At Chaumont； in Haute…
Marne； the whole of the National Guard is in a state of mutiny； a
convoy of over three hundred sacks is stopped； the H？tel…de…Ville
forced； and the insurrection lasts four days； the directory of the
department takes fl