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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 flight； and the people seize on the powder and
cannons。 At Douai； in the 〃Nord；〃 to save a grain…dealer； he is put
in prison； the mob forces the gates； the soldiers refuse to fire；
and the man is hung； while the directory of the department takes
refuge in Lille。 At Montreuil…sur…Mer； in Pas…de…Calais； the two
leaders of the insurrection； a brazier and a horse…shoer； 〃Bèquelin；
called Petit…Gueux；〃 the latter with his saber in hand； reply to the
summons of the municipal authorities； that 〃not a grain shall go now
that they are masters；〃 and that if they dare to make such
proclamations 〃they will cut off their heads。〃 There are no means of
resistance。 The National Guard； when it is convoked； does not
respond； the volunteers when called upon turn their muskets down；
and the crowd； assembled beneath the windows； shouts out its
huzzahs。 So much the worse for the law when it opposes popular
passion： 〃We will not obey it；〃 they say； 〃people make laws to
please themselves。〃 … By way of practical illustration； at Tortes；
in Seine…Inférieure； six thousand armed men belonging to the
surrounding parishes form a deliberative armed body； the better to
establish their rights； they bring two cannon with them fastened by
ropes on a couple of carts； twenty…two companies of the National
Guard； each under its own banner； march beside them； while all
peaceable inhabitants are compelled to fall in 〃under penalty of
death；〃 the municipal officers being at their head。 This improvised
parliament promulgates a complete law in relation to grain； which；
as a matter of form； is sent for acceptance to the department； and
to the National Assembly； and one of its articles declares that all
husbandmen shall be forbidden 〃to sell their wheat elsewhere than on
the market…places。〃 With no other outlet for it； wheat must be
brought to the corn markets （halles）； and when these are full the
price must necessarily fall。
What a profound deception！ Even in the granary of France wheat
remains dear； and costs about one…third more than would be necessary
to secure the sale of bread at two sous the pound； in conformity
with the will of the people。 For instance；＇23＇ at Gonesse； Dourdan；
Corbeil； Mennecy； Brunoy； Limours； Brie…Comte…Robert； and especially
at étampes and Montlhéry； the holders of grain are compelled almost
weekly； through the clamors and violence of the people； to reduce
prices one…third and more。 It is impossible for the authorities to
maintain； on their corn…exchange； the freedom of buying and selling。
The regular troops have been sent off by the people beforehand。
Whatever the tolerance or connivance of the soldiers may be； the
people have a vague sentiment that they are not there to permit the
ripping open of sacks of flour； or the seizing of farmers by the
throat。 To get rid of all obstacles and of being watched； they make
use of the municipality itself； and force it to effect its own
disarmament。 The municipal officers； besieged in the town…hall； at
times threatened with pistols and bayonets；＇24＇ dispatch to the
detachments they are expecting an order to turn back； and entreat
the Directory not to send any more troops； for； if any come； they
have been told that 〃they will be sorry for it。〃 Nowhere are there
regular troops。 At étampes； the people repeat that 〃they are sent
for and paid by the flour…dealers；〃 at Montlhéry； that 〃they merely
serve to arm citizens against each other；〃 at Limours； that 〃they
make grain dearer。〃 All pretexts seem good in this direction； the
popular will is absolute； and the authorities complacently meet its
decrees half…way。 At Montlhéry； the municipal body orders the
gendarmerie to remain at the gates of the town； which gives full
play to the insurrection。 … The administrators； however； are not
relieved by leaving the people free to act； they are obliged to
sanction their exactions by ordinances。 They are taken out of the
H？tel…de…Ville； led to the marketplace； and there forthwith； under
the dictation of the uproar which establishes prices； they； like
simple clerks； proclaim the reduction。 When； moreover； the armed
rabble of a village marches forth to tyrannize over a neighboring
market； it carries its mayor along with it in spite of himself； as
an official instrument which belongs to it。＇25＇ 〃There is no
resistance against force；〃 writes the mayor of Vert…le…Petit； 〃we
had to set forth immediately。〃 … 〃 They assured me；〃 says the
Mayor of Fontenay； 〃that； if I did not obey them； they would hang
me。〃 … On any municipal officer hazarding a remonstrance； they
tell him that 〃he is getting to be an aristocrat。〃 Aristocrat and
hung； the argument is irresistible； and all the more so because it
is actually applied。 At Corbeil； the procureur…syndic who tries to
enforce the law is almost beaten to death； and three houses in which
they try to find him are demolished。 At Montlhéry； a seed merchant；
accused of mixing the flour of beans （twice as dear） with wheaten
flour； is massacred in his own house。 At étampes； the mayor who
promulgates the law is cudgeled to death。 Mobs talk of nothing but
〃burning and destroying；〃 while the farmers； abused； hooted at；
forced to sell； threatened with death and robbed； run away；
declaring they will never return to the market again。
Such is the first effect of popular dictatorship。 Like all
unintelligent forces； it operates in a direction the reverse of its
intention： to dearness it adds dearth； and empties； instead of
replenishing； the markets。 That of étampes often contained fifteen
or sixteen hundred sacks of flour； the week following this
insurrection there were； at most； sixty brought to it。 At
Montlhéry； where six thousand men had collected together； each one
obtains for his share only a small measure； while the bakers of the
town have none at all。 This being the case； the enraged National
Guards tell the farmers that they are coming to see them on their
farms。 And they really go。＇26＇ Drums roll constantly on the roads
around Montlhéry； Limours； and other large market…towns。 Columns of
two； three； and four hundred men are seen passing under the lead of
their commandant and of the mayor whom they take along with them。
They enter each farm； mount into the granaries； estimate the
quantity of grain thrashed out； and force the proprietor to sign an
agreement to bring it to market the following week。 Sometimes； as
they are hungry； they compel people to give them something to eat
and drink on the spot； and it will not do to enrage them； … a
farmer and his wife come near being hung in their own barn。
Their effort is useless： Wheat is impounded and hunted up in vain；
it takes to the earth or slips off like a frightened animal。 In
vain do insurrections continue。 In vain do armed mobs； in all