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refuse to pay the entrance duties； the octroi having been suppressed
at Paris； it ought also to be suppressed at Troyes。 The populace；
excited by this first disorderly act； gather into a mob for the
purpose of dividing the grain and arms amongst themselves； and the
next day the town…hall is invested by seven or eight thousand men；
armed with clubs and stones。 The day after； a band； recruited in
the surrounding villages； armed with flails； shovels； and pitch…
forks； enters under the leadership of a joiner who marches at the
head of it with a drawn saber； fortunately； 〃all the honest folks
among the burgesses 〃immediately form themselves into a National
Guard； and this first attempt at a Jacquerie is put down。 But the
agitation continues； and false rumors constantly keep it up。 … On
the 29th of July； on the report being circulated that five hundred
〃brigands〃 had left Paris and were coming to ravage the country； the
alarm bell sounds in the villages； and the peasants go forth armed。
Henceforth； a vague idea of some impending danger fills all minds；
the necessity of defense and of guarding against enemies is
maintained。 The new demagogues avail themselves of this to keep
their hold on the people； and when the time comes； to use it against
their chiefs。 … It is of no use to assure the people that the
latter are patriots； that the recently welcomed Necker with
enthusiastic shouts； that the priests； the monks； and canons were
the first to adopt the national cockade； that the nobles of the city
and its environs are the most liberal in France； that； on the 20th
of July； the burgess guard saved the town； that all the wealthy give
to the national workshops； that Mayor Huez； 〃a venerable and honest
magistrate；〃 is a benefactor to the poor and to the public。 All the
old leaders are objects of distrust。 On the 8th of August； a mob
demands the dismissal of the dragoons； arms for all volunteers；
bread at two sous the pound； and the freedom of all prisoners。 On
the 19th of August the National Guard rejects its old officers as
aristocrats； and elects new ones。 On the 27th of August； the crowd
invade the town…hall and distribute the arms amongst themselves。 On
the 5th of September； two hundred men； led by Truelle； president of
the new committee； force the salt depot and have salt delivered to
them at six sous per pound。 Meanwhile； in the lowest quarters of
the city； a story is concocted to the effect that if wheat is scarce
it is because Huez； the mayor； and M。 de St。 Georges； the old
commandant； are monopolists； and now they say of Huez what they said
five weeks before of Foulon； that 〃he wants to make the people eat
hay。〃 The many…headed brute growls fiercely and is about to spring。
As usual； instead of restraining him； they try to manage him。
〃You must put your authority aside for a moment；〃 writes the deputy
of Troyes to the sheriffs；〃 and act towards the people as to a
friend； be as gentle with them as you would be with your equals； and
rest assured that they are capable of responding to it。〃
Thus does Huez act； and he even does more； paying no attention to
their menaces； refusing to provide for his own safety and almost
offering himself as a sacrifice。
〃I have wronged no one；〃 he exclaimed； 〃why should any one bear me
ill…will？〃
His sole precaution is to provide something for the unfortunate poor
when he is gone： he bequeaths in his will 18；000 livres to the poor；
and； on the eve of his death； sends 100 crowns to the bureau of
charity。 But what avail self…abnegation and beneficence against
blind； insane rage！ On the 9th of September； three loads of flour
proving to be unsound； the people collect and shout out；
〃Down with the flour…dealers！ Down with machinery！ Down with the
mayor！ Death to the mayor； and let Truelle be put in his place！ 〃
Huez； on leaving his court…room； is knocked down； murdered by kicks
and blows； throttled； dragged to the reception hall； struck on his
head with a wooden…shoe and pitched down the grand staircase。 The
municipal officers strive in vain to protect him； a rope is put
around his neck and they begin to drag him along。 A priest； who
begs to be allowed at least to save his soul； is repulsed and
beaten。 A woman jumps on the prostrate old man； stamps on his face
and repeatedly thrusts her scissors in his eyes。 He is dragged
along with the rope around his neck up to the Pont de la Selle； and
thrown into the neighboring ford； and then drawn out； again dragged
through the streets and in the gutters； with a bunch of hay crammed
in his mouth。＇23＇
In the meantime； his house as well as that of the lieutenant of
police； that of the notary Guyot； and that of M。 de Saint…Georges；
are sacked； the pillaging and destruction lasts four hours； at the
notary's house； six hundred bottles of wine are consumed or carried
off； objects of value are divided； and the rest； even down to the
iron balcony； is demolished or broken； the rioters cry out； on
leaving； that they have still to burn twenty…seven houses； and to
take twenty…seven heads。 〃No one at Troyes went to bed that fatal
night。〃… During the succeeding days； for nearly two weeks； society
seems to be dissolved。 Placards posted about the streets proscribe
municipal officers； canons； divines； privileged persons； prominent
merchants； and even ladies of charity； the latter are so frightened
that they throw up their office； while a number of persons move off
into the country； others barricade themselves in their dwellings and
only open their doors with saber in hand。 Not until the 26th does
the orderly class rally sufficiently to resume the ascendancy and
arrest the miscreants。 Such is public life in France after the
14th of July： the magistrates in each town feel that they are at the
mercy of a band of savages and sometimes of cannibals。 Those of
Troyes had just tortured Huez after the fashion of Hurons； while
those of Caen did worse； Major de Belzance； not less innocent； and
under sworn protection；＇24＇ was cut to pieces like Laperouse in the
Fiji Islands； and a woman ate his heart。
VI。
Taxes are no longer paid。 … Devastation of the Forests。 … The new
game laws。
It is； under such circumstances； possible to foretell whether taxes
come in； and whether municipalities that sway about in every popular
breeze will have the authority to collect the odious revenues。
Towards the end of September；＇25＇ I find a list of thirty…six
committees or municipal bodies which； within a radius of fifty
leagues around Paris； refuse to ensure the collection of taxes。 One
of them tolerates the sale of contraband salt； in order not to
excite a riot。 Another takes the precaution to disarm the employees
in the excise department。 In a third the municipal officers were
the first to provide themselves with contraband salt and contraband
tobacco。
At Peronne and at Ham； the order having come to restore the toll…