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redemption。 Neither the procedure nor its conditions are
practicable。 It has made no provisions for facilitating the
agreement of parties and the satisfaction of feudal liens； no
special arbitrators； nor bank for loans； nor system of annuities。
And worse still； instead of clearing the road it has barred it by
legal arrangements。 The lease…holder is not to redeem his annual
rent without at the same time compounding for the contingent rent：
he is not allowed on his own to redeem his quota since he is tied up
in solidarity with the other partners。 Should his hoard be a small
one； so much the worse for him。 Not being able to redeem the whole；
he is not allowed to redeem a part。 Not having the money with which
to relieve himself from both ground…rents and lord's dues he cannot
relieve himself from ground…rents。 Not having the money to
liquidate the debt in full of those who are bound along with him…
self； he remains a captive in his ancient chains by virtue of the
new law which announces to him his freedom。
In the face of these unexpected trammels the peasant becomes
furious： His fixed idea； from the outbreak of the Revolution； is
that he no longer owes anything to anybody； and； among the speeches；
decrees； proclamations； and instructions which rumor brings to his
ears； he comprehends but one phrase； and is determined to comprehend
no other； and that is； that henceforth his obligations are removed。
He does not swerve from this； and since the law hinders； instead of
aiding him； he will break the law。 In fact； after the 4th of
August； 1789； feudal dues cease to be collected。 The claims which
are maintained are not enforced any more than those which are
suppressed。 Whole communities come and give notice to the lord of
the manor that they will not pay any more rent。 Others； with sword
in hand； compel him to give them acquittances。 Others again； to be
more secure； break open his safe； and throw his title…deeds into the
fire。＇24＇ Public force is nowhere strong enough to protect him in
his legal rights。 Officers dare not serve writs； the courts dare
not give judgment； administrative bodies dare not decree in his
favor。 He is despoiled through the connivance； the neglect； or the
impotence of all the authorities which ought to defend him。 He is
abandoned to the peasants who fell his forests； under the pretext
that they formerly belonged to the commune； who take possession of
his mill； his wine…press； and his oven； under the pretext that
territorial privileges are suppressed。＇25＇ Most of the gentry of the
provinces are ruined； without any resource； and have not even their
daily bread； for their income consisted in seignorial rights； and in
rents derived from their real property； which they had let on
perpetual leases； and now； in accordance with the law； one…half of
this income ceases to be paid； while the other half ceases to be
paid in spite of the law。 One hundred and twenty…three millions of
revenue； representing two thousand millions and a half of capital in
the money of that time； double； at least； that of the present day；
thus passes as a gift； or through the toleration of the National
Assembly； from the hands of creditors into those of their debtors。
To this must be added an equal sum for revenue and capital arising
from the tithes which are suppressed without compensation； and by
the same stroke。 This is the commencement of the great
revolutionary operation； that is to say； of the universal bankruptcy
which； directly or indirectly； is to destroy all contracts； and
abolish all debts in France。 Violations of property； especially of
private property； cannot be made with impunity。 The Assembly
desired to lop off only the feudal branch； but； in admitting that
the State can annul； without compensation； the obligations which it
has guaranteed； it put the ax to the root of the tree； and other
rougher hands are already driving it in up to the haft。
Nothing now remains to the noble but his title； his territorial
name； and his armorial bearings； which are innocent distinctions；
since they no longer confer any jurisdiction or pre…eminence upon
him； and which； as the law ceases to protect him； the first comer
may borrow with impunity。 Not only； moreover； do they do no harm；
but they are even worthy of respect。 With many of the nobles the
title of the estate covers the family name； the former alone being
made use of。 If one were substituted for the other； the public
would have difficulty in discovering M。 de Mirabeau； Lafayette； and
M。 de Moutmorency； under the new names Riquetti； M。 Mottié； and M。
Bouchard。 Besides； it would be wrong to the bearer of it； to whom
the abolished title is a legitimate possession； often precious； it
being a certificate of quality and descent； an authentic personal
distinction of which he cannot be deprived without losing his
position； rank； and worth； in the human world around him。 The
Assembly； however； with a popular principle at stake； gives no heed
to public utility； nor to the rights of individuals。 The feudal
system being abolished； all that remains of it must be got rid of。
A decree is passed that 〃hereditary nobility is offensive to reason
and to true liberty；〃 that； where it exists； 〃there is no political
equality。〃＇26＇ Every French citizen is forbidden to assume or retain
the titles of prince； duke； count； marquis； chevalier； and the like；
and to bear any other than the 〃true name of his family；〃 he is
prohibited from making his servants wear liveries； and from having
coats…of…arms on his house or on his carriage。 In case of any
infraction of this law a penalty is inflicted upon him equal to six
times the sum of his personal taxes； he is to be struck off the
register of citizens； and declared incapable of holding any civil or
military office。 There is the same punishment if to any contract or
acquittance he affixes his accustomed signature； if； through habit
or inadvertence； he adds the title of his estate to his family name
if； with a view to recognition； and to render his identity
certain； he merely mentions that he once bore the former name。 Any
notary or public officer who shall write； or allow to be written； in
any document the word ci…devant （formerly） is to be suspended from
his functions。 Not only are old names thus abolished； but an effort
is made to efface all remembrance of them。 In a little while； the
childish law will become a murderous one。 It will be but a little
while and； according to the terms of this same decree； a military
veteran of seventy…seven years； a loyal servant of the Republic； and
a brigadier…general under the Convention； will be arrested on
returning to his native village； because he has mechanically signed
the register of the revolutionary committee as Montperreux instead
of Vannod； and； for this infraction； he will be guillotined along
with his brother and his sister…in…law。＇27＇
Once on this road； it is impossible