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a trap； and that there was a desire to get rid of them by
treachery。＇36＇ Seized with rage they set fire to the chateau； and
during the following week＇37＇ destroy three abbeys； ruin eleven
chateaux and pillage others。 〃 All records are destroyed； the
registers and court…rolls are carried off； and the deposits
violated。〃 Starting from this spot； 〃the hurricane of
insurrection〃 stretches over the whole of Alsace from Huningue to
Landau。＇38＇ The insurgents display placards； signed Louis； stating
that for a certain lapse of time they shall be permitted to exercise
justice themselves； and； in Sundgau； a well…dressed weaver；
decorated with a blue belt； passes for a prince； the King's second
son。 They begin by falling on the Jews； their hereditary leeches；
they sack their dwellings； divide their money among themselves； and
hunt them down like so many fallow…deer。 At Bale alone； it is said
that twelve hundred of these unfortunate fugitives arrived with
their families。 The distance between the Jew creditor and the
Christian proprietor is not great； and this is soon cleared。
Remiremont is only saved by a detachment of dragoons。 Eight hundred
men attack the chateau of Uberbrünn。 The abbey of Neubourg is taken
by storm。 At Guebwiller； on the 31st of July； five hundred
peasants； subjects of the abbey of Murbach； make a descent on the
abbot's palace and on the house of the canons。 Cupboards； chests；
beds； windows； mirrors； frames； even the tiles of the roof and the
hinges of the casements are hacked to pieces： 〃They kindle fires on
the beautiful inlaid floors of the apartments； and there burn up the
library and the title…deeds。〃 The abbot's superb carriage is so
broken up that not a wheel remains entire。 〃Wine streams through
the cellars。 One cask of sixteen hundred measures is half lost； the
plate and the linen are carried off。〃 Society is evidently being
overthrown； while with the power； property is changing hands。
These are their very words。 In Franche…Comte＇39＇ the inhabitants of
eight communes come and declare to the Bernardins of Grace…Dieu and
of Lieu…Croissant 〃that； being of the Third…Estate； it is time now
for the people to rule over abbots and monks； considering that the
domination of the latter has lasted too long；〃 and thereupon they
carry off all the titles to property and to rentals belonging to the
abbey in their commune。 In Upper Dauphiny； during the destruction
of M。 de Murat's chateau； a man named Ferréol struck the furniture
with a big stick； exclaiming； 〃Hey； so much for you； Murat； you have
been master a good while； now it's our turn！〃＇40＇ Those who rifle
houses； and steal like highway robbers； think that they are
defending a cause； and reply to the challenge； 〃Who goes there？〃 〃We
are for the brigand Third…Estate！〃 Everywhere the belief prevails
that they are clothed with authority； and they conduct themselves
like a conquering horde under the orders of an absent general。 At
Remiremont and at Luxeuil they produce an edict； stating that 〃all
this brigandage； pillage； and destruction〃 is permitted。 In
Dauphiny； the leaders of the bands say that they possess the King's
orders。 In Auvergne； 〃they follow imperative orders； being advised
that such is his Majesty's will。〃 Nowhere do we see that an
insurgent village exercises personal vengeance against its lord。 If
the people fire on the nobles they encounter； it is not through
personal hatred。 They are destroying the class； and do not pursue
individuals。 They detest feudal privileges； holders of charters；
the cursed parchments by virtue of which they are made to pay； but
not the nobleman who； when he resides at home； is of humane
intentions； compassionate； and even often beneficent。 At Luxeuil；
the abbot； who is forced with uplifted ax to sign a relinquishment
of his seignorial rights over twenty…three estates； has dwelt among
them for forty…six years； and has been wholly devoted to them。＇41＇
In the canton of Crémieu； 〃where the havoc is immense；〃 all the
nobles； write the municipal officers； are 〃patriots and benevolent。〃
In Dauphiny； the engineers； magistrates； and prelates； whose
chateaux are sacked； were the first to espouse the cause of the
people and of public liberties against the ministers。 In Auvergne；
the peasants themselves 〃manifest a good deal of repugnance to act
in this way against such kind masters。〃 But it must be done； the
only concession which can be made in consideration of the kindness
which had been extended to them is； not to burn the chateau of the
ladies of Vanes； who had been so charitable； but they burn all their
title…deeds； and torture the business agent at three different times
by fire； to force him to deliver a document which he does not
possess； they then only withdraw him from the fire half…broiled；
because the ladies； on their knees； implore mercy for him。 They are
like the soldiers on a campaign who execute orders with docility；
for which necessity is the only plea； and who； without regarding
themselves as brigands； commit acts of brigandage。
But here the situation is more tragic； for it is war in the midst of
peace； a war of the brutal and barbaric multitude against the highly
cultivated； well…disposed and confiding； who had not anticipated
anything of the kind； who had not even dreamt of defending
themselves； and who had no protection。 The Comte de Courtivron；
with his family； was staying at the watering…place of Luxeuil with
his uncle； the Abbé of Clermont…Tonnerre； an old man of seventy
years。 On the 19th of July； fifty peasants from Fougerolle break
into and demolish everything in the houses of an usher and a
collector of the excise。 Thereupon the mayor of the place intimates
to the nobles and magistrates who are taking the waters； that they
had better leave the house in twenty…four hours； as 〃he had been
advised of an intention to burn the houses in which they were
staying；〃 and he did not wish to have Luxeuil exposed to this danger
on account of their presence there。 The following day； the guard；
as obliging as the mayor； allows the band to enter the town and to
force the abbey： the usual events follow； renunciations are
extorted； records and cellars are ransacked； plate and other effects
are stolen。 M。 de Courtivron escaping with his uncle during the
night； the alarm bell is sounded and they are pursued； and with
difficulty obtain refuge in Plombières。 The bourgeoisie of
Plombières； however； for fear of compromising themselves； oblige
them to depart。 On the road two hundred insurgents threaten to kill
their horses and to smash their carriage； and they only find safety
at last at Porentruy； outside of France。 On his return； M。 de
Courtivron is shot at by the band which has just pillaged the abbey
of Lure； and they shout out at him as he passes； 〃Let's massacre the
nobles！〃 Meanwhile； the chateau of Vauvilliers； to which his sick
wife had been carried； is devastated from top to