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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
nature。 The light tissue of habit and of rational ideas in which
civilization has enveloped man； is torn asunder and is floating in
rags around him； the bare arms of the savage show themselves； and
they are striking out。 The only guide he has for his conduct is
that of primitive days； the startled instinct of a craving stomach。
Henceforth that which rules in him and through him is animal
necessity with its train of violent and narrow suggestions；
sometimes sanguinary and sometimes grotesque。 Incompetent or
savage； in all respects like a Negro monarch； his sole political
expedients are either the methods of a slaughter house or the dreams
of a carnival。 Two commissioners whom Roland； Minister of the
Interior； sends to Lyons； are able to see within a few days the
carnival and the slaughter…house。＇34＇ … On the one hand the
peasants； all along the road； arrest everybody； the people regard
every traveler as an aristocrat who is running away … which is so
much the worse for those who fall into their hands。 Near Autun；
four priests who； to obey the law； are betaking themselves to the
frontier； are put in prison 〃for their own protection；〃 they are
taken out a quarter of an hour later； and； in spite of thirty…two of
the mounted police； are massacred。 〃Their carriage was still
burning as I passed； and the corpses were stretched out not far off。
Their driver was still in durance； and it was it vain that I
solicited his release。〃 … On the other hand； at Lyons； the power
has fallen into the hands of the degraded women of the streets。
〃They seized the central club； constituted themselves commissaries
of police； signed notices as such； and paid visits of inspection to
store…houses；〃 they drew up a tariff of provisions； 〃from bread and
meat up to common peaches； and peaches of fine quality。〃 They
announced that 〃whoever dared to dispute it would be considered a
traitor to the country； an adherent of the civil list； and
prosecuted as such。〃 All this is published； proclaimed and applied
by 〃female commissaries of police；〃 themselves the dregs of the
lowest sinks of corruption。 Respectable housewives and workwomen
had nothing to do with it； nor 〃working…people of any class。〃 The
sole actors of this administrative parody are 〃 scamps； a few
bullies of houses of ill…fame； and a portion of the dregs of the
female sex。〃 … To this end comes the dictatorship of instinct；
yonder let loose on the highway in a massacre of priests； and here；
in the second city of France； in the government of strumpets。
III。
Egotism of the tax…payer。 … Issoudun in 1790。 … Rebellion against
taxation。 … Indirect taxes in 1789 and 1790。 … Abolition of the
salt tax； excise； and octrois。 … Direct taxation in 1789 and 1790。
… Delay and insufficiency of the returns。 … New levies in 1791
and 1792。 … Delays； partiality； and concealment in preparing the
rolls。 … Insufficiency of； and the delay in； the returns。 …
Payment in assignats。… The tax…payer relieves himself of one…half。
… Devastation of the forests。 … Division of the communal
property。
The fear of starvation is only the sharper form of a more general
passion； which is the desire of possession and the determination not
to give anything up。 No popular instinct； had been longer； more
rudely； more universally offended under the ancient régime； and
there is none which gushes out more readily under constraint； none
which requires a higher or broader public barrier； or one more
entirely constructed of solid blocks； to keep it in check。 Hence it
is that this passion from the commencement breaks down or engulfs
the slight and low boundaries； the tottering embankments of
crumbling earth between which the Constitution pretends to confine
it。 … The first flood sweeps away the pecuniary claims of the
State； of the clergy； and of the noblesse。 The people regard them
as abolished； or； at least； they consider their debts discharged。
Their idea； in relation to this； is formed and fixed； for them it is
that which constitutes the Revolution。 The people have no longer a
creditor； they are determined to have none； they will pay nobody；
and first of all； they will make no further payment to the State。
On the 14th of July； 1790； the day of the Federation； the population
of Issoudun； in Touraine； solemnly convoked for the purpose； had
just taken the solemn oath which was to ensure public peace； social
harmony； and respect for the law for evermore。＇35＇ Here； probably；
as elsewhere； arrangements had been made for an stirring ceremonial；
there were young girls dressed in white； and learned and
impressionable magistrates were to pronounce philosophical
harangues。 All at once they discover that the people gathered on
the public square are provided with clubs； scythes； and axes； and
that the National Guard will not prevent their use； on the contrary；
the Guard itself is composed almost wholly of wine growers and
others interested in the suppression of the duties on wine； of
coopers； innkeepers； workmen； carters of casks； and others of the
same stamp； all rough fellows who have their own way of interpreting
the Social Contract。 The whole mass of decrees； acts； and
rhetorical flourishes which are dispatched to them from Paris； or
which emanate from the new authorities； are not worth a halfpenny
tax maintained on each bottle of wine。 There are to be no more
excise duties； they will only take the civic oath on this express
condition； and that very evening they hang； in effigy； their two
deputies； who 〃had not supported their interests〃 in the National
Assembly。 A few months later； of all the National Guard called upon
to protect the clerks； only the commandant and two officers respond
to the summons。 If a docile taxpayer happens to be found； he is not
allowed to pay the dues； this seems a defection and almost
treachery。 An entry of three puncheons of wine having been made；
they are stove in with stones； a portion is drunk； and the rest
taken to the barracks to debauch the soldiers； M。 de Sauzay；
commandant of the 〃Royal Roussillon；〃 who was bold enough to save
the clerks； is menaced； and for this misdeed he barely escapes being
hung himself。 When the municipal body is called upon to interpose
and employ force； it replies that 〃for so small a matter； it is not
worth while to compromise the lives of the citizens；〃 and the
regular troops sent to the H？tel…de…Ville are ordered by the people
not to go except with the but…ends of their muskets in the air。
Five days after this the windows of the excise office are smashed；
and the public notices are torn down； the fermentation does not
subside； and M。 de Sauzay writes that a regiment would be necessary
to restrain the town。 At Saint…Amand the insurrection breaks out
violently； and is only put down by violence。