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vicars； to dispossess； replace； often by force； and later on to
expel； intern； imprison； and support。 They are obliged to discuss；
trace out； teach and make public new territorial boundaries； those
of the commune； of the district and of the department。 They have to
convoke； lodge； and protect the numerous primary and secondary
Assemblies； to supervise their operations； which sometimes last for
weeks。 They must install those elected by them； justices of the
peace； officers of the National Guard； judges； public prosecutors；
curés； bishops； district and departmental administrators。 They are
to form new lists of tax…payers； apportion amongst themselves；
according to a new system of impost； entirely new real and personal
taxes； decide on claims； appoint an assessor； regularly audit his
accounts and verify his books； aid him with force； use force in the
collection of the excise and salt duties； which being reduced；
equalized； and transformed in vain by the National Assembly； afford
no returns in spite of its decrees。 They are obliged to find the
funds for dressing； equipping； and arming the National Guard； to
step in between it and the military commanders； and to maintain
concord between its diverse battalions。 They have to protect
forests from pillage； communal land from being invaded； to maintain
the octroi； to protect former functionaries； ecclesiastics； and
nobles； suspected and threatened； and； above all； to provide； no
matter how； provisions for the commune which lacks food； and
consequently； to raise subscriptions； negotiate purchases at a
distance and even abroad； organize escorts； indemnify bakers； supply
the market every week notwithstanding the dearth； the insecurity of
roads； and the resistance of cultivators。 … Even an absolute chief；
sent from a distance and from high place； the most energetic and
expert possible； supported by the best…disciplined and most obedient
troops； would scarcely succeed in such an undertaking； and there is
instead only a municipality which has neither the authority； the
means； the experience； the capacity； nor the will。
In the country； says an orator in the tribune；＇21＇ 〃the municipal
officers； in twenty thousand out of forty thousand municipalities；
do not know how to read or write。〃 The curé； in effect； is excluded
from such offices by law； and； save in La Vendée and the noble is
excluded by public opinion。 Besides； in many of the provinces；
nothing but patois is spoken。＇22＇ French； especially the philosophic
and abstract phraseology of the new laws and proclamations； remains
gibberish to their inhabitants。 They cannot possibly understand and
apply the complicated decrees and fine…spun instructions which reach
them from Paris。 They hurry off to the towns； get the duties of the
office imposed on them explained and commented on in detail； try to
comprehend； imagine they do； and then； the following week； come back
again without having understood anything； either the mode of keeping
state registers； the distinction between feudal rights which are
abolished and those retained； the regulations they should enforce in
cases of election； the limits which the law imposes as to their
powers and subordination。 Nothing of all this finds its way into
their rude； untrained brains； instead of a peasant who has just left
his oxen； there is needed here a legal adept aided by a trained
clerk。 … Prudential considerations must be added to their ignorance。
They do not wish to make enemies for themselves in their commune；
and they abstain from any positive action； especially in all tax
matters。 Nine months after the decree on the patriotic
contribution； 〃twenty…eight thousand municipalities are overdue； not
having （yet） returned either rolls or estimates。〃＇23＇ At the end of
January； 1792； 〃out of forty thousand nine hundred and eleven
municipalities； only five thousand four hundred and forty…eight have
deposited their registers； two thousand five hundred and eighty
rolls only are definitive and in process of collection。 A large
number have not even begun their sectional statements。〃＇24＇ … It is
much worse when； thinking that they do understand it； they undertake
to do their work。 In their minds； incapable of abstraction； the law
is transformed and deformed by extraordinary interpretations。 We
shall see what it becomes when it is brought to bear on feudal dues；
on the forests； on communal rights； on the circulation of corn； on
the taxes on provisions； on the supervision of the aristocrats； and
on the protection of persons and property。 According to them； it
authorizes and invites them to do by force； and at once； whatever
they need or desire for the time being。 … The municipal officers of
the large boroughs and towns； more acute and often able to
comprehend the decrees； are scarcely in a better condition to carry
them out effectively。 They are undoubtedly intelligent； inspired by
the best disposition； and zealous for the public welfare。 During
the first two years of the Revolution it is； on the whole； the best
informed and most liberal portion of the bourgeoisie which； in the
department as in the district； undertakes the management of affairs。
Almost all are men of the law； advocates； notaries； and attorneys；
with a small number of the old privileged class imbued with the same
spirit； a canon at Besan？on； a gentleman at N？mes。 Their intentions
are of the very best； they love order and liberty； they give their
time and their money； they hold permanent sessions and accomplish an
incredible amount of work； and they often voluntarily expose
themselves to great danger。 … But they are bourgeois philosophers；
and； in this latter particular； similar to their deputies in the
National Assembly； and； with this twofold character； as incapable as
their deputies of governing a disintegrated nation。 In this twofold
character they are ill…disposed towards the ancient régime； hostile
to Catholicism and feudal rights； unfavorable to the clergy and the
nobility； inclined to extend the bearing and exaggerate the rigor of
recent decrees； partisans of the Rights of Man； and； therefore；
humanitarians and optimists； disposed to excuse the misdeeds of the
people； hesitating； tardy and often timid in the face of an outbreak
… in short； admirable writers； exhorters； and reformers； but good
for nothing when it comes to breaking heads and risking their own
bones。 They have not been brought up in such a way as to become men
of action in a single day。 Up to this time they have always lived
as passive administrators； as quiet individuals； as studious men and
clerks； domesticated； conversational； and polished； to whom words
concealed facts； and who； on their evening promenade； warmly
discussed important principles of government； without any
consciousness of the practical machinery which； with a police…system
for its ultimate wheel； rendered themselves； their promenade； and
their conversation perfectly secure。 The