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mechanical brain。 … One idea alone emerges； the hope of immediate
relief。 The persuasion that one is entitled to it； the resolution
to aid it with every possible means。 Consequently； an anxious
waiting； a ready fervor； a tension of the will simply due to the
waiting for the opportunity to let go and take off like a
irresistible arrow towards the unknown end which will reveal itself
all of a sudden。 Hunger is to mark this sudden target out for them。
The market must be supplied with wheat； the farmers and land…owners
must bring it； wholesale buyers； whether the Government or
individuals； must not be allowed to send it elsewhere。 The wheat
must be sold at a low price； the price must be cut down and fixed；
so that the baker can sell bread at two sous the pound。 Grain；
flour； wine； salt； and provisions must pay no more duties。
Seignorial dues and claims； ecclesiastical tithes； and royal or
municipal taxes must no longer exist。 On the strength of this idea
disturbances broke out on all sides in March； April； and May。
Contemporaries 〃 do not know what to think of such a scourge；＇14＇
they cannot comprehend how such a vast number of criminals； without
visible leaders； agree amongst themselves everywhere to commit the
same excesses just at the time when the States…General are going to
begin their sittings。〃 The reason is that； under the ancient régime；
the conflagration was smoldering in a closed chamber； the great door
is suddenly opened； the air enters； and immediately the flame breaks
out。
III。
The provinces during the first six months of 1789。 … Effects of the
famine。
At first there are only intermittent； isolated fires； which are
extinguished or go out of themselves； but； a moment after； in the
same place； or very near it； the sparks again appear。 Their number；
like their recurrence； shows the vastness； depth； and heat of the
combustible matter； which is about to explode。 In the four months；
which precede the taking of the Bastille； over three hundred
outbreaks may be counted in France。 They take place from month to
month and from week to week； in Poitou； Brittany； Touraine；
Orléanais； Normandy； Ile…de…France； Picardy； Champagne； Alsace；
Burgundy； Nivernais； Auvergne； Languedoc； and Provence。 On the 28th
of May the parliament of Rouen announces robberies of grain；
〃violent and bloody tumults； in which men on both sides have
fallen；〃 throughout the province； at Caen； Saint…L？； Mortain；
Granville； Evreux； Bernay； Pont…Andemer； Elboeuf； Louviers； and in
other sections besides。 On the 20th of April Baron de Bezenval；
military commander in the Central Provinces； writes： 〃I once more
lay before M。 Necker a picture of the frightful condition of
Touraine and of Orléanais。 Every letter I receive from these two
provinces is the narrative of three or four riots； which are put
down with difficulty by the troops and constabulary；〃＇15＇ and
throughout the whole extent of the kingdom a similar state of things
is seen。 The women； as is natural； are generally at the head of
these outbreaks。 It is they who； at Montlhéry； rip open the sacks
of grain with their scissors。 On learning each week； on market day
that the price of a loaf of bread advances three； four； or seven
sous； they break out into shrieks of rage： at this rate for bread；
with the small salaries of the men； and when work fails；＇16＇ how can
a family be fed？ Crowds gather around the sacks of flour and the
doors of the bakers。 Amidst outcries and reproaches some one in the
crowd makes a push； the proprietor or dealer is hustled and knocked
down。 The shop is invaded； the commodity is in the hands of the
buyers and of the famished； each one grabbing for himself； pay or no
pay； and running away with the booty。 Sometimes a party is made
up beforehand＇17＇ At Bray…sur…Seine； on the 1st of May； the
villagers for four leagues around； armed with stones； knives； and
cudgels； to the number of four thousand； compel the metayers and
farmers； who have brought grain with them； to sell it at 3 livres；
instead of 4 livres 10 sous the bushel。 They threaten to do the
same thing on the following market…day： but the farmers do not
return； the storehouse remains empty。 Now soldiers must be at hand；
or the inhabitants of Bray will be pillaged。 At Bagnols； in
Languedoc； on the 1st and 2nd of April； the peasants； armed with
cudgels and assembled by tap of drum； 〃traverse the town；
threatening to burn and destroy everything if flour and money are
not given to them。〃 They go to private houses for grain； divide it
amongst themselves at a reduced price； 〃promising to pay when the
next crop comes round；〃 and force the Consuls to put bread at two
sous the pound； and to increase the day's wages four sous。
Indeed this is now the regular thing； it is not the people who obey
the authorities； but the authorities who obey the people。 Consuls；
sheriffs； mayors； municipal officers； town…clerks； become confused
and hesitating in the face of this huge clamor； they feel that they
are likely to be trodden under foot or thrown out of the windows。
Others； with more firmness； being aware that a riotous crowd is mad；
and having scruples to spill blood； yield for the time being； hoping
that at the next market…day there will be more soldiers and better
precautions taken。 At Amiens； 〃after a very violent outbreak；〃＇18＇
they decide to take the wheat belonging to the Jacobin monks； and；
protected by the troops； to sell it to the people at a third below
its value。 At Nantes； where the town hall is attacked； they are
forced to lower the price of bread one sou per pound。 At Angoulême；
to avoid a recourse to arms； they request the Comte d'Artois to
renounce his dues on flour for two months； reduce the price of
bread； and compensate the bakers。 At Cette they are so maltreated
they let everything take its course； the people sack their dwellings
and get the upper hand； they announce by sound of trumpet that all
their demands are granted。 On other occasions； the mob dispenses
with their services and acts for itself。 If there happens to be no
grain on the market…place； the people go after it wherever they can
find it to proprietors and farmers who are unable to bring it for
fear of pillage； to convents； which by royal edict are obliged
always to have one year's crop in store； to granaries where the
Government keeps its supplies； and to convoys which are dispatched
by the intendants to the relief of famished towns。 Each for himself
so much the worse for his neighbor。 The inhabitants of Fougères
beat and drive out those who come from Ernée to buy in their market；
a similar violence is shown at Vitré to the in…habitants of
Maine。＇19＇ At Sainte…Léonard the people stop the grain started for
Limoges； at Bost that intended for Aurillac； at Saint…Didier that
ordered for Moulins； and at Tournus that dispatched to Macon。 In
vain are escorts added to the convoys； troops of men and women