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vain do insurrections continue。 In vain do armed mobs； in all the
market…towns of the department；＇27＇ subject grain to a forced
reduction of price。 Wheat becomes scarcer and dearer from month to
month； rising in price from twenty…six francs to thirty…three。 And
because the outraged farmer 〃brings now a very little；〃 just 〃what
is necessary to sacrifice in order to avoid threats； he sells at
home； or in the inns； to the flour…dealers from Paris。〃 … The
people； in running after abundance； have thus fallen deeper down
into want： their brutality has aggravated their misery； and it is to
themselves that their starvation is owing。 But they are far from
attributing all this to their own insubordination； the magistrates
are accused； these； in the eyes of the populace； are 〃in league with
the monopolists。〃 On this incline no stoppage is possible。 Distress
increases rage； and rage increases distress； and on this fatal
declivity men are precipitated from one outrage to another。
After the month of February； 1792； such outrages are innumerable；
the mobs which go in quest of grain or which cut down its price
consist of armies。 One of six thousand men comes to control the
market of Montlhéry。＇28＇ There are seven to eight …thousand men who
invade the market…place of Verneuil； and there is an army of ten and
another of twenty…five thousand men； who remain organized for ten
days near Laon。 One hundred and fifty parishes have sounded the
tocsin； and the insurrection spreads for ten leagues around。 Five
boats loaded with grain are stopped； and； in spite of the orders of
district； department； minister； King； and National Assembly； they
refuse to surrender them。 Their contents； in the meantime； are made
the most of： 〃The municipal officers of the different parishes；
assembled together； pay themselves their fees； to wit ： one hundred
sous per diem for the mayor； three livres for the municipal
officers； two livres ten sous for the guards； two livres for the
porters。 They have ordered that these sums should be paid in grain；
and they reduce grain； it is said； fifteen livres the sack。 It is
certain that they have divided it amongst themselves； and that
fourteen hundred sacks have been distributed。〃 In vain do the
commissioners of the National Assembly make speeches to them three
hours in length。 The discourse being finished； they deliberate； in
presence of the commissioners； whether the latter shall be hung；
drowned； or cut up； and their heads put on the five points of the
middle of the abbey railing。 On being threatened with military
force； they make their dispositions accordingly。 Nine hundred men
who relieve each other watch day and night on the ground； in a well
chosen and permanent encampment； while lookouts stationed in the
belfries of the surrounding villages have only to sound the alarm to
bring together twenty…five thousand men in a few hours。 … So long
as the Government remains on its feet it carries on the combat as
well as it can； but it grows weaker from month to month； and； after
the 10th of August； when it lies on the ground； the mob takes its
place and becomes the universal sovereign。 From this time forth not
only is the law which protects provisioning powerless against the
disturbers of sale and circulation； but the Assembly actually
sanctions their acts； since it decrees＇29＇ the stoppage of all
proceedings commenced against them； remits sentences already passed；
and sets free all who are imprisoned or in irons。 Behold every
administration； with merchants； proprietors； and farmers abandoned
to the famished； the furious； and to robbers； henceforth food
supplies are for those who are disposed and able to take them。
〃You will be told；〃 says a petition；＇30＇ 〃that we violate the law。
We reply to these perfidious insinuations that the salvation of the
people is the supreme law。 We come in order to keep the markets
supplied； and to insure an uniform price for wheat throughout the
Republic。 For； there is no doubt about it； the purest patriotism
dies out （sic） when there is no bread to be had。 。 。 。
Resistance to oppression … yes； resistance to oppression is the
most sacred of duties； is there any oppression more terrible than
that of wanting bread？ Undoubtedly； no 。 。 。 。 Join us and '？a
ira； ？a ira！' We cannot end our petition better than with this
patriotic air。〃
This supplication was written on a drum； amidst a circle of
firearms； and with such accompaniments it is equivalent to a
command。 … They are well aware of it； and of their own authority
they often confer upon themselves not only the right but also the
title。 In Loire…et…Cher；＇31＇ a band of from four to five thousand
men assume the name of 〃Sovereign Power。〃 They go from one market…
town to another； to Saint…Calais； Montdoubleau； Blois； Vend？me；
reducing the cost of provisions； their troop increasing like a
snowball … for they threaten 〃to burn the effects and set fire to
the houses of all who are not as courageous as themselves。〃
In this state of social disintegration； insurrection is a gangrene
in which the healthy are infected by the morbid parts。 Mobs are
everywhere produced and re…produced； incessantly； large and small；
like abscesses which break out side by side； and painfully irritate
each other and finally combine。 There are the towns against the
rural districts and rural districts against the towns。 On the one
hand 〃every farmer who transports anything to the market passes （at
home） for an aristocrat；＇32＇ and becomes the horror of his fellow…
citizens in the village。〃 On the other hand the National Guards of
the towns spread themselves through the rural districts and make
raids to save themselves from death by hunger。＇33＇ It is admitted
in the rural districts that each municipality has the right to
isolate itself from the rest。 It is admitted in the towns that each
town has the right to derive its provisions from the country。 It is
admitted by the indigent of each commune that the commune must
provide bread gratis or at a cheap rate。 On the strength of this
there is a shower of stones and a fusillade； department against
department； district against district； canton against canton； all
fight for food； and the strongest get it and keep it for themselves。
… I have simply described the North； where； for the past three
years； the crops are good。 I have omitted the South； where trade is
interrupted on the canal of the Deux Mers； where the procureur…
syndic of Aude has lately been massacred for trying to secure the
passage of a convoy； where the harvest has been poor； where； in many
places； bread costs eight sous the pound； where； in almost every
department； a bushel of wheat is sold twice as dear as in the North！
Strange phenomenon！ and the most instructive of all； for in it we
see down into the depths of humanity； for； as on a raft of
shipwrecked beings without food； there is a reversion to a state of
natu