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invaded； when the frontier fortresses surrender without resistance；
when the Prussians are entering Champagne； when the insurrection in
La Vendée adds the lacerations of civil war to the threats of a
foreign war； and when the cry of treachery arises on all sides？ …
Already； on the 14th of May； at Metz；＇77＇ M。 de Fiquelmont； a former
canon； seen chatting with a hussar on the Place Saint…Jacques； was
charged with tampering with people on behalf of the princes； carried
off in spite of a triple line of guards； and beaten； pierced； and
slashed with sticks； bayonets； and sabers； while the mad crowd
around the murderers uttered cries of rage： and from month to month；
in proportion as popular fears increase； popular imagination becomes
more heated and its delirium grows。 … You can see this yourself by
one example。 On the 31st of August； 1792；＇78＇ eight thousand non…
juring priests； driven out of their parishes； are at Rouen； a town
less intolerant than the others； and； in conformity with the decree
which banishes them； are preparing to leave France。 Two vessels
have just carried away about a hundred of them； one hundred and
twenty others are embarking for Ostend in a larger vessel。 They
take nothing with them except a little money； some clothes； and one
or at most two portions of their breviary； because they intend to
return soon。 Each has a regular passport； and； just at the moment
of leaving； the National Guard have made a thorough inspection so as
not to let a suspected person escape。 It makes no difference。 On
reaching Quilleboeuf the first two convoys are stopped。 A report
has spread； indeed； that the priests are going to join the enemy and
enlist； and the people living round about jump into their boats and
surround the vessels。 The priests are obliged to disembark amidst a
tempests of 〃yells； blasphemies； insults； and abuse：〃 one of them； a
white…headed old man； having fallen into the mud； the cries and
shouts redouble； if he is drowned so much the better； there will be
one less！ On landing all are put in prison； on bare stones； without
straw or bread； and word is sent to Paris to know what must be done
with so many cassocks。 In the meantime the third vessel； short of
provisions； has sent two priests to Quilleboeuf and to Pont…Audemer
to have twelve hundred pounds of bread baked： pointed out by the
village militia； they are chased out like wild beasts； pass the
night in a wood； and find their way back with difficulty empty…
handed。 The vessel itself being signaled； is besieged。 〃In all the
municipalities on the banks of the river drums beat incessantly to
warn the population to be on their guard。 The appearance of an
Algerian or Tripolitan corsair on the shores of the Adriatic would
cause less excitement。 One of the seamen of the vessel published a
statement that the trunks of the priests transported were full of
every kind of arms。〃 and the country people constantly imagine that
they are going to fall upon them sword and pistol in hand。 For
several long days the famished convoy remains moored in the stream；
are carefully watched。 Boats filled with volunteers and peasants
row around it uttering insults and threats： in the neighboring
meadows the National Guards form themselves in line of battle。
Finally； a decision is arrived at。 The bravest； well armed get into
skiffs； approach the vessel cautiously； choose the most favorable
time and spot； rush on board； and take possession； and are perfectly
astonished to find neither enemies nor arms。 … Nevertheless； the
priests are confined on board； and their deputies； must make their
appearance before the mayor。 The latter； a former usher and good
Jacobin； being the most frightened； is the most violent。 He refuses
to stamp the passports； and； seeing two priests approach； one
provided with a sword…cane and the other with an iron…pointed stick；
thinks that there is to be a sudden attack。 〃Here are two more of
them；〃 he exclaims with terror； 〃they are all going to land。 My
friends； the town is in danger！ 〃 … On hearing this the crowd
becomes alarmed； and threatens the deputies； the cry of 〃To the lamp
post！〃 is heard； and； to save them； National Guards are obliged to
conduct them to prison in the center of a circle of bayonets。 …
It must be noted that these madmen are 〃at bottom the kindest people
in the world。〃 After the boarding of the ship； one of the most
ferocious； by profession a barber； seeing the long beards of these
poor priests； instantly cools down； draws forth his tools； and good…
naturedly sets to work； spending several hours in shaving them。 In
ordinary times ecclesiastics received nothing but salutations； three
years previously they were 〃respected as fathers and guides。〃 But at
the present moment the rustic； the man of the lower class； is out of
his bearings。 Forcibly and against nature； he has been made a
theologian； a politician； a police captain； a local independent
sovereign； and in such a position his head is turned。 Among these
people who seem to have lost their senses； only one； an officer of
the National Guard； remains cool； he is； besides； very polite； well…
behaved； and an agreeable talker； he comes in the evening to comfort
the prisoners and to take tea with them in prison； in fact； he is
accustomed to tragedies and； thanks to his profession； his nerves
are in repose … this person is the executioner。 The others； 〃whom
one would take for tigers；〃 are bewildered sheep； but they are not
the less dangerous； for； carried away by their delirium； they bear
down with their mass on whatever gives them umbrage。 … On the
road from Paris to Lyons＇79＇ Roland's commissioners witness this
terrible fright。 〃The people are constantly asking what our
generals and armies are doing； they have vengeful expressions
frequently on their lips。 Yes； they say； we will set out； but we
must （at first） purge the interior。〃
Something appalling is in preparation。 The seventh jacquerie is
drawing near； this one universal and final … at first brutal； and
then legal and systematic； undertaken and carried out on the
strength of abstract principles by leaders worthy of the means they
employ。 Nothing like it ever occurred in history； for the first
time we see brutes gone mad； operating on a grand scale and for a
long time； under the leadership of blockheads who have become
insane。
There is a certain strange malady commonly encountered in the
quarters of the poor。 A workman； over…taxed with work； in misery
and badly fed； takes to drink； he drinks more and more every day；
and liquors of the strongest kind。 After a few years his nervous
system； already weakened by spare diet； becomes over…excited and out
of balance。 An hour comes when the brain； under a sudden stroke；
ceases to direct the machine； in vain does it command； for it is no
longer obeyed； each limb； each joint； each muscle； acting separately
and for itself starts convulsively throug