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electoral assemblies。 … The rural code in Nivernais。 … The four
central provinces in 1790。 … Why high prices are kept up。 …
Anxiety and insecurity。 … Stagnation of the grain market。 …
The departments near Paris in 1791。 … The supply and price of
grain regulated by force。 … The mobs in 1792。 … Village armies
of Eure and of the lower Seine and of Aisne。 … Aggravation of the
disorder after August 10th。 … The dictatorship of unbridled
instinct。 … Its practical and political expedients。
Passions of this stamp are the product of human cultivation； and
break loose only within narrow bounds。 Another passion exists which
is neither historic nor local； but natural and universal； the most
indomitable； most imperious； and most formidable of all； namely； the
fear of hunger。 There is no such thing with this passion as delay；
or reflection； or looking beyond itself。 Each commune or canton
wants its bread； and a sure and unlimited supply of it。 Our
neighbor may provide for himself as best he can； but let us look out
for ourselves first and then for other people。 Each group of
people； accordingly； through its own decrees； or by main force；
keeps for itself whatever subsistence it possesses； or takes from
others the subsistence which it does not possess。 ii
At the end of 1789；＇10＇ 〃Roussillon refuses aid to Languedoc； Upper
Languedoc to the rest of the province； and Burgundy to Lyonnais；
Dauphiny shuts herself up； and Normandy retains the wheat purchased
for the relief of Paris。〃 At Paris； sentinels are posted at the
doors of all the bakers； on the 21st of October one of the latter is
hung； and his head is borne about on a pike。 On the 27th of
October； at Vernon； a corn…merchant named Planter； who the preceding
winter had supported the poor for six leagues around； has to take
his turn。 At the present moment the people do not forgive him for
having sent flour to Paris； and he is hung twice； but is saved
through the breaking of the rope each time。 It is only by force
and under an escort that it is possible to insure the arrival of
grain in a town； the excited people or the National Guards
constantly seize it on its passage。 In Normandy the militia of Caen
stops wheat on the highways which is destined for Harcourt and
elsewhere。＇11＇ In Brittany； Auray and Vannes retain the convoys for
Nantes； and Lannion those for Brest。 Brest having attempted to
negotiate； its commissioners are seized； and； with knives at their
throats； are forced to sign a renunciation； pure and simple； of the
grain which they have paid for； and they are led out of Lannion and
stoned on the way。 Eighteen hundred men； consequently； leave Brest
with four cannon； and go to recover their property with their guns
loaded。 These are the customs prevalent during the great famines of
feudal times； and； from one end of France to the other； to say
nothing of the out…breaks of the famished in the large towns；
similar outrages or attempts at recovery are constantly occurring。
… 〃 The armed population of Nantua； Saint…Claude； and Septmoncel；〃
says a dispatch；＇12＇ 〃have again cut off provisions from the Gex
region； there is no wheat coming there from any direction； all the
roads being guarded。 Without the aid of the government of Geneva；
which is willing to lend to this region eight hundred Cuttings of
wheat； we should either die of starvation or be compelled to take
grain by force from the municipalities which keep it to themselves。〃
Narbonne starves Toulon； the navigation of the Languedoc canal is
intercepted； the people on its banks repulse two companies of
soldiers； burn a large building； and want to destroy the canal
itself。〃 Boats are stopped； wagons are pillaged； bread is forcibly
lowered in price； stones are thrown and guns discharged； the
populace contend with the National Guard； peasants with townsmen；
purchasers with dealers； artisans and laborers with farmers and
land…owners； at Castelnaudary； Niort； Saint…Etienne； in Aisne； in
Pas…de…Calais； and especially along the line stretching from
Montbrison to Angers … that is to say； for almost the whole of the
extent of the vast basin of the Loire； … such is the spectacle
presented by the year 1790。 … And yet the crop has not been a bad
one。 But there is no circulation of grain。 Each petty center has
formed a league for the monopoly of food； and hence the fasting of
others and the convulsions of the entire body are the first effects
of the unbridled freedom which the Constitution and circumstances
have conferred on each local group。
〃We are told to assemble； vote； and elect men that will attend to
our business； let us attend to it ourselves。 We have had enough of
talk and hypocrisy。 Bread at two sous； and let us go after wheat
where it can be found！〃 Such is the reasoning of the peasantry； and；
in Nivernais； Bourbonnais； Berri； and Touraine； electoral gatherings
are the firebrands of the insurrections。＇13＇ At Saint…Sauge； 〃the
first work of the primary meeting is to oblige the municipal
officers to fix the price of wheat under the penalty of being
decapitated。〃 At Saint…Géran the same course is taken with regard to
bread； wheat； and meat； at Chatillon…en…Bayait it is done with all
supplies； and always a third or a half under the market price；
without mentioning other exactions。 … They come by degrees to the
drafting of a tariff for all the valuables they know； proclaiming
the maximum price which an article may reach； and so establishing a
complete code of rural and social economy。 We see in the turbulent
and spasmodic wording of this instrument their dispositions and
sentiments； as in a mirror。＇14＇ It is the program of villagers。
Its diverse articles； save local variations； must be executed； now
one and now the other； according to the occasion； the need； and the
time； and； above all； whatever concerns provisions。 … The wish； as
usual； is the father of the thought； the peasantry thinks that it is
acting by authority： here； through a decree of the King and the
National Assembly； there； by a commission directly entrusted to the
Comte d'Estrées。 Even before this； in the market…place of Saint…
Amand； 〃a man jumped on a heap of wheat and cried out； 'In the name
of the King and the nation； wheat at one…half the market…price！〃' An
old officer of the Royal Grenadiers； a chevalier of the order of
Saint…Louis； is reported to be marching at the head of several
parishes； and promulgating ordinances in his own name and that of
the King； imposing a fine of eight livres on whoever may refuse to
join him。 … On all sides there is a swarm of working people； and
resistance is fruitless。 There are too many of them； the
constabulary being drowned in the flood。 For； these rustic
legislators are the National Guard itself； and when they vote
reductions upon； or requisitions for； supplies； they enforce their
demands with their guns。 The municipal officials； willingly or