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outskirts to pillage the manufactories and break up or burn all the
machinery。 Henceforth these constitute the new leaders： for in
every mob it is the boldest and least scrupulous who march ahead and
set the example in destruction。 The example is contagious： the
beginning was the craving for bread； the end is murder and arson；
the savagery which is unchained adding its unlimited violence to the
limited revolt of necessity。
V。
Effect on the Population of the New Ideas。
Bad as it is； this savagery might； perhaps； have been overcome； in
spite of the dearth and of the brigands； but what renders it
irresistible is the belief of its being authorized； and that by
those whose duty it is to repress it。 Here and there words and
actions of a brutal frankness break forth； and reveal beyond the
somber present a more threatening future After the 9th of
January； 1789； among the mob which attacks the H？tel…de…Ville and
besieges the bakers' shops of Nantes； 〃shouts of Vive la
Liberté！＇26＇ 。mingled with those of Vive le Roi！ are heard。〃 A few
months later； around Plo？rmel； the peasants refuse to pay tithes；
alleging that the memorial of their seneschal's court demands their
abolition。 In Alsace； after March； there is the same refusal 〃in
many places；〃 many of the communities even maintain that they will
pay no more taxes until their deputies to the States…General shall
have fixed the precise amount of the public contributions。 In Isère
it is decided； by proceedings； printed and published； that 〃personal
dues〃 shall no longer be paid； while the landowners who are affected
by this dare not prosecute in the tribunals。 At Lyons； the people
have come to the conclusion 〃that all levies of taxes are to cease；〃
and； on the 29th of June； on hearing of the meeting of the three
orders； 〃astonished by the illuminations and signs of public
rejoicing；〃 they believe that the good time has come。〃 They think of
forcing the delivery of meat to them at four sous the pound； and
wine at the same rate。 The publicans insinuate to them the
prospective abolition of octrois。＇27＇ and that； meanwhile； the
King； in favor of the re…assembling of the three orders； has granted
three days' freedom from all duties at Paris； and that Lyons ought
to enjoy the same privilege。〃 Upon this the crowd； rushing off to
the barriers； to the gates of Sainte…Claire and Perrache； and to the
Guillotière bridge； burn or demolish the bureaux； destroy the
registers； sack the lodgings of the clerks； carry off the money and
pillage the wine on hand in the depot。 In the mean time a rumor
has circulated all round through the country that there is free
entrance into the town for all provisions。 During the following
days the peasantry stream in with enormous files of wagons loaded
with wine and drawn by several oxen； so that； in spite of the re…
established guard； it is necessary to let them enter all day without
paying the dues。 It is only on the 7th of July that these can again
be collected。 The same thing occurs in the southern provinces；
where the principal imposts are levied on provisions。 There also
the collections are suspended in the name of public authority。 At
Agde；＇28＇ 〃the people； considering the so…called will of the King as
to equality of classes； are foolish enough to think that they are
everything and can do everything。〃 Thus do they interpret in their
own way and in their own terms the double representation accorded to
the Third…Estate。 They threaten the town； consequently； with
general pillage if the prices of all provisions are not reduced； and
if the duties of the province on wine； fish； and meat are not
suppressed。 They also wish to nominate consuls who have sprung up
out of their body。〃 The bishop； the lord of the manor； the mayor and
the notables； against whom they forcibly stir up the peasantry in
the country； are obliged to proclaim by sound of trumpet that their
demands shall be granted。 Three days afterwards they exact a
diminution of one…half of the tax on grinding； and go in quest of
the bishop who owns the mills。 The prelate； who is ill； sinks down
in the street and seats himself on a stone； they compel him
forthwith to sign an act of renunciation； and hence 〃his mill；
valued at 15；000 livres； is reduced to 7；500 livres。〃 At Limoux；
under the pretext of searching for grain； they enter the houses of
the comptroller and tax contractors； carry off their registers； and
throw them into the water along with the furniture of their clerks。
In Provence it is worse； for most unjustly； and through
inconceivable imprudence； the taxes of the towns are all levied on
flour。 It is therefore to this impost that the dearness of bread is
directly attributed。 Hence the fiscal agent becomes a manifest
enemy； and revolts on account of hunger are transformed into
insurrections against the State。
VI。
The first jacquerie in Province。 … Feebleness or ineffectiveness of
repressive measures。
Here； again； political novelties are the spark that ignites the mass
of gunpowder。 Everywhere； the uprising of the people takes place on
the very day on which the electoral assembly meets。 From forty to
fifty riots occur in the provinces in less than a fortnight。
Popular imagination； like that of a child； goes straight to its
mark。 The reforms having been announced； people think them
accomplished and； to make sure of them； steps are at once taken to
carry them out。 Now that we are to have relief； let us relieve
ourselves。 〃This is not an isolated riot as usual；〃 writes the
commander of the troops；＇29＇ 〃here the faction is united and
governed by uniform principles； the same errors are diffused through
all minds。 。 。 。 。 The principles impressed on the people are
that the King desires equality。 No more bishops or lords； no more
distinctions of rank； no tithes； and no seignorial privileges。
Thus； these misguided people fancy that they are exercising their
rights； and obeying the will of the King。〃 The effect of
sonorous phrases is apparent。 The people have been told that the
States…General were to bring about the 〃regeneration of the kingdom〃
The inference is 〃that the date of their assembly was to be one of
an entire and absolute change of conditions and fortunes。〃 Hence；
〃the insurrection against the nobles and the clergy is as active as
it is widespread。〃 〃In many places it was distinctly announced that
there was a sort of war declared against landowners and property；〃
and 〃in the towns as well as in the rural districts the people
persist in declaring that they will pay nothing； neither taxes；
duties； nor debts。〃 Naturally； the first assault is against the
piquèt； or flour…tax。 At Aix； Marseilles； Toulon； and in more than
forty towns and market…villages； this is summarily abolished； at
Aupt and at Luc nothing remains of the weighing…house but the four
walls。 At Marseilles the home of the slaughter…house contractor and