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tobacco。
At Peronne and at Ham； the order having come to restore the toll…
houses； the people destroy the soldiers' quarters； conduct all the
employees to their homes； and order them to leave within twenty…four
hours； under penalty of death。 After twenty months' resistance
Paris will end the matter by forcing the National Assembly to give
in and by obtaining the final suppression of its octroi。＇26＇ Of
all the creditors whose hand each one felt on his shoulders； that of
the exchequer was the heaviest； and now it is the weakest； hence
this is the first whose grasp is to be shaken off； there is none
which is more heartily detested or which receives harsher treatment。
Especially against collectors of the salt…tax； custom…house
officers； and excisemen the fury is universal。 These；
everywhere；＇27＇ are in danger of their lives and are obliged to fly。
At Falaise； in Normandy； the people threaten to 〃cut to pieces the
director of the excise。〃 At Baignes； in Saintonge； his house is
devastated and his papers and effects are burned； they put a knife
to the throat of his son； a child six years of age； saying； 〃Thou
must perish that there may be no more of thy race。〃
For four hours the clerks are on the point of being torn to pieces；
through the entreaties of the lord of the manor； who sees scythes
and sabers aimed at his own head； they are released only on the
condition that they 〃abjure their employment。〃 Again； for two
months following the taking of the Bastille； insurrections break out
by hundreds； like a volley of musketry； against indirect taxation。
》From the 23rd of July the Intendant of Champagne reports that 〃the
uprising is general in almost all the towns under his command。〃 On
the following day the Intendant of Alen？on writes that； in his
province； 〃the royal dues will no longer be paid anywhere。〃 On the
7th of August； M。 Necker states to the National Assembly that in the
two intendants' districts of Caen and Alen？on it has been necessary
to reduce the price of salt one…half； that 〃in an infinity of places
〃 the collection of the excise is stopped or suspended； that the
smuggling of salt and tobacco is done by 〃convoys and by open force
〃 in Picardy； in Lorraine； and in the Trois…évêchés； that the
indirect tax does not come in； that the receivers…general and the
receivers of the taille are 〃at bay〃 and can no longer keep their
engagements。 The public income diminishes from month to month； in
the social body； the heart； already so feeble； faints； deprived of
the blood which no longer reaches it； it ceases to propel to the
muscles the vivifying current which restores their waste and adds to
their energy。
〃All controlling power is slackened；〃 says Necker； 〃everything is a
prey to the passions of individuals。〃 Where is the power to
constrain them and to secure to the State its dues？ The clergy；
the nobles； wealthy townsmen； and certain brave artisans and
farmers； undoubtedly pay； and even sometimes give spontaneously。
But in society those who possess intelligence； who are in easy
circumstances and conscientious； form a small select class； the
great mass is egotistic； ignorant； and needy； and lets its money go
only under constraint； there is but one way to collect the taxes；
and that is to extort them。 From time immemorial； direct taxes in
France have been collected only by bailiffs and seizures； which is
not surprising； as they take away a full half of the net income。
Now that the peasants of each village are armed and form a band； let
the collector come and make seizures if he dare ！ 〃 Immediately
after the decree on the equality of the taxes；〃 writes the
provincial commission of Alsace；＇28＇ 〃the people generally refused
to make any payments； until those who were exempt and privileged
should have been inscribed on the local lists。〃 In many places the
peasants threaten to obtain the reimbursement of their installments；
while in others they insist that the decree should be retrospective
and that the new rate…payers should pay for the past year。 〃No
collector dare send an official to distrain； none that are sent dare
fulfill their mission。〃 〃 It is not the good bourgeois〃 of whom
there is any fear； 〃but the rabble who make the latter and every one
else afraid of them；〃 resistance and disorder everywhere come from
〃people that have nothing to lose。〃 Not only do they shake off
taxation； but they usurp property； and declare that； being the
Nation； whatever belongs to the Nation belongs to them。 The forests
of Alsace are laid waste； the seignorial as well as communal； and
wantonly destroyed with the wastefulness of children or of maniacs。
〃In many places； to avoid the trouble of removing the woods； they
are burnt； and the people content themselves with carrying off the
ashes。〃 After the decrees of August 4th； and in spite of the law
which licenses the proprietor only to hunt on his own grounds； the
impulse to break the law becomes irresistible。 Every man who can
procure a gun begins operations；＇29＇ the crops which are still
standing are trodden under foot； the lordly residences are invaded
and the palings are scaled； the King himself at Versailles is
wakened by shots fired in his park。 Stags； fawns； deer； wild boars；
hares； and rabbits； are slain by thousands； cooked with stolen wood；
and eaten up on the spot。 There is a constant discharge of musketry
throughout France for more than two months； and； as on an American
prairie； every living animal belongs to him who kills it。 At
Choiseul； in Champagne； not only are all the hares and partridges of
the barony exterminated； but the ponds are exhausted of fish； the
court of the chateau even is entered； to fire on the pigeon…house
and destroy the pigeons； and then the pigeons and fish； of which
they have too many； are offered to the proprietor for sale It is
〃the patriots〃 of the village with 〃smugglers and bad characters〃
belonging to the neighborhood who make this expedition； they are
seen in the front ranks of every act of violence； and it is not
difficult to foresee that； under their leadership； attacks on public
persons and public property will be followed by attacks on private
persons and private property。
VII。
Attack upon private individuals and private property。 … Aristocrats
denounced to the people as their enemies。 … Effect of news from
Paris。… Influence of the village attorneys。 … Isolated acts of
violence。 … A general rising of the peasantry in the east。 … War
against the castles； feudal estates； and property。 … Preparations
for other Jacqueries。
Indeed； an outlawed class already exists； they are called 〃
aristocrats。〃 This deadly term； applied at first to the nobles and
prelates in the States…General who declined to take part in the
reunion of the three orders； is extended so as to embrace all whose
titles； offices； alliances； and manner of living distinguish them
from the multitude。 That which entitled them to respec