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Assembly； is not advised of it until eleven o'clock in the evening。
Mounting his horse； along with his guests and domestics； he makes a
charge on the insane wretches； and； with the aid of pistol and gun
shots； disperses them。 It was time； for the trench they had dug was
already eight feet deep； and the water was nearly on a level with
it： a half…hour later and the terrible rolling mass of waters would
have poured out on the inhabitants of the gorge。 … But such
vigorous strokes； which are rare and hardly ever successful； are no
defense against universal and continuous attacks。 The regular
troops and the gendarmerie； both of which are in the way of
reorganization or of dissolution； are not trustworthy； or are too
weak。 There are no more than thirty of the cavalry in Creuse； and
as many in Corrèze。 The National Guards of the towns are knocked up
by expeditions into the country； and there is no money with which to
provide for their change of quarters。 And finally； as the elections
are in the hands of the people； this brings into power men disposed
to tolerate popular excesses。 At Tulle； the electors of the second
class； almost all chosen from among the cultivators； and； moreover；
catechized by the club； nominate for deputies and public prosecutor
only the candidates who are pledged against rentals and against
water privileges。 … Accordingly； the general demolition of the
dikes begins as the month of May approaches。 This operation
continues unopposed on a vast pond； a league and a half from the
town； and lasts for a whole week； elsewhere； on the arrival of the
guards or of the gendarmerie； they are fired upon。 Towards the end
of September； all the embankments in the department are broken down：
nothing is left in the place of the ponds but fetid marshes； the
mill…wheels no longer turn； and the fields are no longer watered。
But those who demolish them carry away baskets full of fish； and the
soil of the ponds again becomes communal。 … Hatred is not the
motive which impels them； but the instinct of acquisition： all these
violent outstretched hands； which rigidly resist the law； are
directed against property； but not against the proprietor； they are
more greedy than hostile。 One of the noblemen of Corrèze；＇78＇ M。 de
Saint…Victour； has been absent for five years。 From the beginning
of the Revolution； although his feudal dues constitute one…half of
the income of his estate； he has given orders that no rigorous
measures shall be employed in their collection； and the result is
that； since 1789； none of them were collected。 Moreover； having a
reserve stock of wheat on hand； he lent grain； to the amount of four
thousand francs； to those of his tenants who had none。 In short； he
is liberal； and； in the neighboring town； at Ussel； he even passes
for a Jacobin。 In spite of all this； he is treated just like the
rest。 It is because the parishes in his domain are 〃clubbist；〃
governed by associations of moral and practical levelers； in one of
them 〃the brigands have organized themselves into a municipal body；〃
and have chosen their leader as procureur…syndic。 Consequently； on
the 22nd of August； eighty armed peasants opened the dam of his
large pond； at the risk of submerging a village in the neighborhood；
the inhabitants of which came and closed it up。 Five other ponds
belonging to him are demolished in the course of the two following
weeks； fish to the value of from four to five thousand francs are
stolen； and the rest perish in the weeds。 In order to make this
expropriation sure； an effort is made to burn his title…deeds； his
chateau； twice attacked in the night； is saved only by the National
Guard of Ussel。 His farmers and domestics hesitate； for the time
being； whether or not to cultivate the ground； and come and ask the
steward if they could sow the seeds。 There is no recourse to the
proper authorities： the administrators and judges； even when their
own property is concerned； 〃dare not openly show themselves；〃
because 〃they do not find themselves protected by the shield of the
law。 〃 … Popular will； traversing both the old and the new law；
obstinately persists in its work； and forcibly attains its ends。
Thus； whatever the grand terms of liberty； equality； and fraternity
may be； with which the Revolution graces itself； it is； in its
essence； a transfer of property； in this alone consists its chief
support； its enduring energy； its primary impulse and its historical
significance。 … Formerly； in antiquity； similar movements were
accomplished； debts were abolished or lessened； the possessions of
the rich were confiscated； and the public lands were divided； but
this operation was confined to a city and limited to a small
territory。 For the first time it takes place on a large scale and
in a modern State。 … Thus far； in these vast States； when the
deeper foundations have been disturbed； it has ever been on account
of foreign domination or on account of an oppression of conscience。
In France in the fifteenth century； in Holland in the sixteenth and
in England in the seventeenth century； the peasant； the mechanic；
and the laborer had taken up arms against an enemy or in behalf of
their faith。 On religious or patriotic zeal has followed the
craving for prosperity and comfort； and the new motive is as
powerful as the others； for in our industrial； democratic； and
utilitarian societies it is this which governs almost all lives； and
excites almost all efforts。 Kept down for centuries； the passion
recovers itself by throwing off government and privilege； the two
great weights which have borne it down。 At the present time this
passion launches itself impetuously with its whole force； with
brutal insensibility； athwart every kind of proprietorship that is
legal and legitimate； whether it be public or private。 The
obstacles it encounters only render it the more destructive ； beyond
property it attacks proprietors； and completes plunder with
proscriptions。
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Notes：
＇1＇ The expression is that of Jean Bon Saint…André to Mathieu Dumas；
sent to re…establish tranquillity in Montauban （1790）： 〃The day of
vengeance； which we have been awaiting for a hundred years； has
come！〃
＇2＇ De Dampmartin； I。 187 （an eye…witness）。
＇3＇ 〃Archives Nationales；〃 F7； 3223 and 3216。 Letters of M。 de
Bouzols； major general； residing at Montpellier； May 21； 25； 28；
1790。
＇4＇ Mary Lafon； 〃Histoire d'une Ville Protestante 〃。（with original
documents derived from the archives of Montauban）。
＇5＇ Archives Nationales；〃 F7； 2216。 Procés…verbal of the
Municipality of N？mes and report of the Abbé de Belmont。 … Report
of the Administrative commissioners； June 28； 1790。 … Petition of
the Catholics； April 20。 … Letters of the Municipality； the
commissioners； and M。 de Nausel； on the events of May 2 and 3。 …
Letter of M。 Rabaut Sai