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nobles！〃 Meanwhile； the chateau of Vauvilliers； to which his sick
wife had been carried； is devastated from top to bottom； the mob
search for her everywhere； and she only escapes by hiding herself in
a hay…loft。 Both are anxious to fly into Burgundy； but word is sent
them that at Dijon 〃the nobles are blockaded by the people；〃 and
that； in the country； they threaten to set their houses on fire。
There is no asylum to be had； either in their own homes nor in the
homes of others； nor in places along the roads； fugitives being
stopped in all the small villages and market…towns。 In Dauphiny＇42＇
〃the Abbess of St。 Pierre de Lyon； one of the nuns； M。 de Perrotin；
M。 de Bellegarde； the Marquis de la Tour…du…Pin； and the Chevalier
de Moidieu； are arrested at Champier by the armed population； led to
the C？te Saint…André； confined in the town…hall； whence they send to
Grenoble for assistance；〃 and； to have them released； the Grenoble
Committee is obliged to send commissioners。 Their only refuge is in
the large cities； where some semblance of a precarious order exists；
and in the ranks of the City Guards； which march from Lyons； Dijon；
and Grenoble； to keep the inundation down。 Throughout the country
scattered chateaux are swallowed up by the popular tide； and； as the
feudal rights are often in plebeian hands； it insensibly rises
beyond its first overflow。 There is no limit to an insurrection
against property。 This one extends from abbeys and chateaux to the
〃houses of the bourgeoisie。〃＇43＇ The grudge at first was confined
to the holders of charters； now it is extended to all who possess
anything。 Well…to…do farmers and priests abandon their parishes and
fly to the towns。 Travelers are put to ransom。 Thieves； robbers；
and returned convicts； at the head of armed bands； seize whatever
they can lay their hands on。 Cupidity becomes inflamed by such
examples； on domains which are deserted and in a state of confusion；
where there is nothing to indicate a master's presence； all seems to
lapse to the first comer。 A small farmer of the neighborhood has
carried away wine and returns the following day in search of hay。
All the furniture of a chateau in Dauphin is removed； even to the
hinges of the doors； by a large reinforcement of carts。 〃 It is
the war of the poor against the rich；〃 says a deputy； 〃and； on the
3rd of August； the Committee on Reports declares to the National
Assembly 〃that no kind of property has been spared。〃 In Franche…
Comté； 〃nearly forty chateaux and seignorial mansions have been
pillaged or burnt。〃＇44＇ From Lancers to Gray about three out of
five chateaux are sacked。 In Dauphin twenty…seven are burned or
destroyed； five in the small district of Viennese； and； besides
these； all the monasteries nine at least in Auvergne； seventy…
two； it is said； in Maconnais and Beaujolais； without counting those
of Alsace。 On the 31st of July； Lally…Tollendal； on entering the
tribune； has his hands full of letters of distress； with a list of
thirty…six chateaux burnt； demolished； or pillaged； in one province；
and the details of still worse violence against persons：＇45＇
〃in Languedoc； M。 de Barras； cut to pieces in the presence of his
wife who is about to be confined； and who is dead in consequence； in
Normandy； a paralytic gentleman left on a burning pile and taken off
from it with his hands burnt； in Franche…Comté； Madame de Bathilly
compelled； with an ax over her head； to give up her title…deeds and
even her estate； Madame de Listenay forced to do the same； with a
pitchfork at her neck and her two daughters in a swoon at her feet；
Comte de Montjustin； with his wife； having a pistol at his throat
for three hours； and both dragged from their carriage to be thrown
into a pond； where they are saved by a passing regiment of soldiers；
Baron de Montjustin； one of the twenty…two popular noblemen；
suspended for an hour in a well； listening to a discussion whether
he shall be dropped down or whether he should die in some other way；
the Chevalier d'Ambly； torn from his chateau and dragged naked into
the village； placed on a dung…heap after having his eyebrows and all
his hair pulled out； while the crowd kept on dancing around him。〃
In the midst of a disintegrated society； under the semblance only of
a government； it is manifest that an invasion is under way； an
invasion of barbarians which will complete by terror that which it
has begun by violence； and which； like the invasions of the Normans
in the tenth and eleventh centuries； ends in the conquest and
dispossession of an entire class。 In vain the National Guard and
the other troops that remain loyal succeed in stemming the first
torrent； in vain does the Assembly hollow out a bed for it and
strive to bank it in by fixed boundaries。 The decrees of the 4th of
August and the regulations which follow are but so many spiders'
webs stretched across a torrent。 The peasants； moreover； putting
their own interpretation on the decrees； convert the new laws into
authority for continuing in their course or beginning over again。
No more rents； however legitimate； however legal！
〃Yesterday；〃＇46＇ writes a gentleman of Auvergne； we were notified
that the fruit…tithe （percières） would no longer be paid； and that
the example of other provinces was only being followed which no
longer； even by royal order； pay tithes。〃 In Franche…Comté 〃numerous
communities are satisfied that they no longer owe anything either to
the King or to their lords。 。 。 。 The villages divide amongst
themselves the fields and woods belonging to the nobles。〃
It must be noted that charter…holding and feudal titles are still
intact in three…fourths of France； that it is the interest of the
peasant to ensure their disappearance； and that he is always armed。
To secure a new outbreak of jacqueries； it is only necessary that
central control； already thrown into disorder； should be withdrawn。
This is the work of Versailles and of Paris； and there； at Paris as
well as at Versailles； some； through lack of foresight and
infatuation； and others； through blindness and indecision the
latter through weakness and the former through violence all are
laboring to accomplish it。
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Notes：
＇1＇ Dusaulx； 374。 〃 I remarked that if there were a few among the
people at that time who dared commit crime； there were several who
wished it； and that every one endured it。〃 〃 Archives
Nationales；〃 DXXIX； 3。 （Letter of the municipal authorities of
Crémieu； Dauphiny； November 3； 1789。） 〃The care taken to lead them
first to the cellars and to intoxicate them； can alone give a
conception of the incredible excesses of rage to which they gave
themselves up in the sacking and burning of the chateaux。〃
＇2＇ Mercure de France； January 4； 1792。 （〃Revue politique de
l'année 1791；〃 by Mallet du Pan。）
＇3＇ Albert Babeau； I。 206。 （Let