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than that of Protestants and vagabonds during the worst years of the
Ancient Régime。 of them and who abuse the use of them？ Why should
one be on an equality for purposes of payment； and distinguished
〃Does not the law allow （nonjuring） priests the liberty of saying
mass？ Why then can we not listen to their mass except at the risk of
our lives？ Does not the law command all citizens to preserve the
public peace？ Why then are those whom the cry to arms has summoned
forth to maintain public order assailed as aristocrats？ Why is the
refuge of citizens which the laws have declared sacred； violated
without orders； without accusation； without any appearance of wrong…
doing？ Why are all prominent citizens and those who are well off
disarmed in preference to others？ Are weapons exclusively made for
those but lately deprived only for purposes of annoyance and insult〃
He has spoken right。 Those who now rule form an aristocracy in an
inverse sense； contrary to the law； and yet more contrary to
nature。＇21＇ For； by a violent inversion； the lower grades in the
graduated scale of civilization and culture now are found uppermost；
while the superior grades are found at the uniform。 The Constitution
having suppressed inequality； this has again arisen in an inverse
sense。 The populace； both of town and country； taxes； imprisons；
pillages； and slays more arbitrarily； more brutally； more unjustly
than feudal barons； and for its serfs or villains it has its ancient
chieftains。
V。
Persecutions in private life。
Let us suppose that； in order not to excite suspicion； they are
content to be without arms； to form no more associations； not to
attend elections； to shut themselves up at home； to strictly confine
themselves within the harmless precincts of domestic life。 The same
distrust； the same animosity； still pursues them there。 … At
Cahors；＇22＇ where the municipal authorities； in spite of the law；
had just expelled the Carthusians who； under legal sanction； chose
to remain and live in common； two of the monks； before their
departure； give to M。 de Beaumont； their friend and neighbor； four
dwarf pear…trees and some onions in blossom in their garden。 On the
strength of this； the municipal body decree that
〃the sieur Louis de Beaumont； formerly count； is guilty of having
audaciously and maliciously damaged national property；〃 condemns him
to pay a fine of three hundred livres； and orders 〃that the four
pear…trees； pulled up in the so…called Carthusian garden； be brought
on the following day； Wednesday； to the door of the said sieur de
Beaumont； and there remain for four consecutive days； guarded； day
and night； by two fusiliers； at the expense of the said sieur de
Beaumont； and upon the said trees shall be placed the following
inscription； to wit： Louis de Beaumont； destroyer of the national
property。 And the judgment herewith rendered shall be printed to
the number of one thousand copies； read； published； and posted at
the expense of the said sieur de Beaumont； and duly addressed
throughout the department of Lot to the districts and municipalities
thereof； as well as to all societies of the Friends of the
Constitution and of Liberty。〃
Every line of this legal invective discloses the malignant envy of
the local recorder； who revenges himself for having formerly bowed
too low。 … The following year； M。 de Beaumont； having formally and
under notarial sanction bought a church which was sold by the
district； along with the ornaments and objects of worship it
contained； the mayor and municipal officers； followed by a lot of
workmen； come and carry away and destroy everything …
confessionals； altars； and even the saint's canonised body； which
had been interred for one hundred and fifty years： so that； after
their departure； 〃the edifice resembled a vast barn filled with
ruins and rubbish。〃＇23＇ It must be noted that； at this very time； M。
de Beaumont is military commandant at Perigord。 The treatment he
undergoes shows what is in reserve for ordinary nobles。 I do not
recommend them to attend official sales of property。＇24＇ … Will
they even be free in their domestic enjoyments； and on entering a
drawing…room are they sure of quietly passing an evening there？ …
At Paris； even； a number of persons of rank； among them the
ambassadors of Denmark and Venice； are listening to a concert in a
mansion in the Faubourg Saint…Honoré given by a foreign virtuoso；
when a cart enters the court loaded with fifty bundles of hay； the
monthly supply for the horses。 A patriot； who sees the cart driven
in； imagines that the King is concealed underneath the hay； and that
he has come there for the purpose of plotting with the aristocrats
about his flight。 A mob gathers； and the National Guard arrives；
along with a commissioner； while four grenadiers stand guard around
the cart。 The commissioner； in the meantime； inspects the hotel； he
sees music…stands； and the arrangements for a supper； comes back；
has the cart unloaded； and states to the people that he has found
nothing suspicious。 The people do not believe him； and demand a
second inspection。 This is made by twenty…four delegates； the
bundles of hay； moreover； are counted； and several of them are
unbound； but all in vain。 Disappointed and irritated； having
anticipated a spectacle； the crowd insists that all the invited
guests； men and women； should leave the house on foot； and only get
into their carriages at the end of the street。 〃First comes a file
of empty carriages；〃 next； 〃all the guests in their evening attire；
and the ladies in full dress； trembling with fear； with downcast
eyes； between two rows of men； women； and children； who stare them
in the face； and overwhelm them with insults。〃＇25＇
Suspected of holding secret meetings； and called to account in his
own house； has the noble at least the right to frequent a public
saloon； to eat in a restaurant； and to take the fresh air in a
balcony？ … The Vicomte de Mirabeau； who has just dined in the
Palais…Royal； stands at the window to take the air； and is
recognized； there is a gathering； and the cry is soon heard； 〃Down
with Mirabeau…Tonneau （barrel…Mirabeau）！〃＇26＇ 〃Gravel is flung at
him from all sides； and occasionally stones。 One of the window…
panes is broken by a stone。 Immediately picking up the stone； he
shows it to the crowd； and； at the same time； quietly places it on
the sill of the window； in token of moderation。〃 There is a loud
outcry； his friends force him to withdraw inside； and Bailly； the
mayor； comes in person to quiet the aggressors。 In this case there
are good reasons for their hatred。 The gentleman whom they stone is
a bon…vivant； large and fat； fond of rich epicurean Suppers； and on
this account the populace imagine him to be a monster； and even
worse； an ogre。 With regard to these nobles； whose greatest
misfortune is to be over…polished and too worldly； the over…excited
imagination re