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commissioners； a body of two hundred dragoons； and eight hundred men
of the guard of burgesses； are 〃paralyzed； and completely stupefied；
by the vile populace。 A mild treatment only increases its
insubordination and insolence。〃 This populace proscribes whomsoever it
pleases； and six days ago a gibbet； erected by its hands； has announced
to the new magistrates the fate that awaits them。
〃 What will become of us this winter；〃 they exclaim； 〃in our
impoverished country； where bread is not to be had！ We shall be the
prey of wild beasts！〃
III。
Public feeling。 … Famine
These people； in truth； are hungry； and； since the Revolution； their
misery has increased。 Around Puy…en…Velay the country is laid
waste； and the soil broken up by a terrible tempest； a fierce
hailstorm； and a deluge of rain。 In the south； the crop proved to
be moderate and even insufficient。
〃To trace a picture of the condition of Languedoc；〃 writes the
intendant；＇9＇ 〃would be to give an account of calamities of every
description。 The panic which prevails in all communities； and which
is stronger than all laws； stops traffic； and would cause famine
even in the midst of plenty。 Commodities are enormously expensive；
and there is a lack of cash。 Communities are ruined by the enormous
outlays to which they are exposed： The payment of the deputies to
the seneschal's court； the establishment of the burgess guards；
guardhouses for this militia； and the purchase of arms； uniforms；
and outlays in forming communes and permanent councils。 To this
must be add the cost of the printing of all kinds； and the
publication of trivial deliberations。 Further the loss of time due
to disturbances occasioned by these circumstances； and the utter
stagnation of manufactures and of trade。〃 All these causes combined
〃have reduced Languedoc to the last extremity。〃…
In the Center； and in the North； where the crops are good；
provisions are not less scarce； because wheat is not put in
circulation； and is kept concealed。
〃For five months；〃 writes the municipal assembly of Louviers；＇10＇
〃not a farmer has made his appearance in the markets of this town。
Such a circumstance was never known before； although； from time to
time； high prices have prevailed to a considerable extent。 On the
contrary； the markets were always well supplied in proportion to the
high price of grain。〃
In vain the municipality orders the surrounding forty…seven
parishes to provide them with wheat。 They pay no attention to the
mandate； each for himself and each for his own house； the intendant
is no longer present to compel local interests to give way to public
interests。
〃In the wheat districts around us；〃 says a letter from one of the
Burgundy towns； 〃we cannot rely on being able to make free
purchases。 Special regulations； supported by the civic guard；
prevent grain from being sent out； and put a stop to its
circulation。 The adjacent markets are of no use to us。 Not a sack
of grain has been brought into our market for about eight months。〃
At Troyes； bread costs four sous per pound； at Bar…sur…Aube； and in
the vicinity； four and a half sous per pound。 The artisan who is
out of work now earns twelve sous a day at the relief works； and； on
going into the country； he sees that the grain crop is good。 What
conclusion can he come to but that the dearth is due to the
monopolists； and that； if he should die of hunger； it would be
because those scoundrels have starved him？ By virtue of this
reasoning whoever has to do with these provisions； whether
proprietor； farmer； merchant or administrator； all are considered
traitors。 It is plain that there is a plot against the people： the
government； the Queen； the clergy； the nobles are all parties to it；
and likewise the magistrates and the wealthy amongst the bourgeoisie
and the rich。 A rumor is current in the Ile…de…France that sacks of
flour are thrown into the Seine； and that the cavalry horses are
purposely made to eat unripe wheat in stalk。 In Brittany； it is
maintained that grain is exported and stored up abroad。 In
Touraine； it is certain that this or that wholesale dealer allows it
to sprout in his granaries rather than sell it。 At Troyes； a story
prevails that another has poisoned his flour with alum and arsenic；
commissioned to do so by the bakers。 Conceive the effect of
suspicions like these upon a suffering multitude！ A wave of hatred
ascends from the empty stomach to the morbid brain。 The people are
everywhere in quest of their imaginary enemies； plunging forward
with closed eyes no matter on whom or on what； not merely with all
the weight of their mass； but with all the energy of their fury。
IV。
Panic。 … General arming。
》From the earliest of these weeks they were already alarmed。
Accustomed to being led； the human herd is scared at being left to
itself； it misses its leaders who it has trodden under foot； in
throwing off their trammels it has deprived itself of their
protection。 It feels lonely； in an unknown country； exposed to
dangers of which it is ignorant； and against which it is unable to
guard itself。 Now that the shepherds are slain or disarmed； suppose
the wolves should unexpectedly appear！ … And there are wolves … I
mean vagabonds and criminals … who have but just issued out of the
darkness。 They have robbed and burned； and are to be found at every
insurrection。 Now that the police force no longer puts them down；
they show themselves instead of keeping themselves concealed。 They
have only to lie in wait and come forth in a band； and both life and
property will be at their mercy。 … Deep anxiety； a vague feeling of
dread； spreads through both town and country： towards the end of
July the panic； like a blinding； suffocating whirl of dusts；
suddenly sweeps over hundreds of leagues of territory。 The brigands
are coming！ They are burning the crops！ They are only six leagues
off； and then only two … the refugees who have run away from the
disorder prove it。
On the 28th of July； at Angoulême；＇11＇ the alarm bell is heard about
three o'clock in the afternoon； the drums beat to arms； and cannon
are mounted on the ramparts。 The town has to be put in a state of
defense against 15；000 bandits who are approaching； and from the
walls a cloud of dust on the road is discovered with terror。 It
proves to be the post…wagon on its way to Bordeaux。 After this the
number of brigands is reduced to 1；500； but there is no doubt that
they are ravaging the country。 At nine o'clock in the evening
20；000 men are under arms； and thus they pass the night； always
listening without hearing anything。 Towards three o'clock in the
morning there is another alarm； the church bells ringing and the
people forming a battle array。 They are convinced that the brigands
have burned Ruffec； Vernenil； La Rochefoucauld； and other places。
The next day countrymen flock in to give their aid against