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第107章

the origins of contemporary france-2-第107章

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a gentleman from going to Coblentz; striving to prove to him that he

will be more useful at Caen。  The principal evidence against the

association is that of a townsman whom they wished to enroll; and of

whom they demanded his opinions。  He had stated that he was in favor

of the execution of the laws; upon which they told him: 〃In this

case you belong to us; and are more of an aristocrat than you think

you are。  Their aristocracy; in effect; consists wholly in the

suppression of brigandage。  No claim is more unpalatable; because it

interposes an obstacle to the arbitrary acts of a party which thinks

it has a right to do as it pleases。  On the 4th of October the

regiment of Aunis left the town; and all good citizens were handed

over to the militia; 〃in uniform or not;〃 they alone being armed。

That day; for the first time in a long period; M。 Bunel; the former

curé of Saint…Jean; with the consent and assistance of his sworn

successor; officiates at the mass。  There is a large gathering of

the orthodox; which causes uneasiness among the patriots。  The

following day M。 Bunel is to say mass again; whereupon; through the

municipal authorities; the patriots forbid him to officiate; to

which he submits。  Nevertheless; for lack of due notice; a crowd of

the faithful have arrived and the church is filled。  A dangerous

mob! The patriots and National Guards arrive 〃to preserve order;〃

which has not been disturbed; and which they alone disturb。

Threatening words are exchanged between the servants of the nobles

and the National Guard。  The latter draw their swords; and a young

man is hewn down and trampled on; M。 de Saffrey; who comes to his

assistance unarmed; is himself cut down and pierced with bayonets;

and two others are wounded。  …  Meanwhile; in a neighboring street;

M。 Achard de Vagogne; seeing a man maltreated by armed men;

approaches; in order to make peace。  The man is shot down and M。

Achard is covered with saber and bayonet gashes: 〃there is not a

thread on him which is not dyed with the blood that ran down even

into his shoes。〃 In this condition he is led to the chateau along

with M。 de Saifrey。  Others break down the door of the house of M。

du Rosel; an old officer of seventy…five years; of which fifty…nine

have been passed in the service; and pursue him even over the wall

of his garden。  A fourth squad seizes M。 d'Héricy; another venerable

officer; who; like M。 du Rosel; was ignorant of all that was going

on; and was quietly leaving for his country seat。  …  The town is

full of tumult; and; through the orders of the municipal

authorities; the general alarm is sounded。



The time for the special constables to act has come; about sixty

gentlemen; with a number of merchants and artisans; set out。

According to the rules of their association; and with significant

scruple; they beg an Officer of the National Guard; who happens to

be passing; to put himself at their head; they reach the Place

Saint…Sauveur; encounter the superior officer sent after them by the

municipal authorities; and; at his first command; follow him to the

H?tel…de…Ville。  On reaching this; without any resistance on their

part; they are arrested; disarmed; and searched。  The rules and

regulations of their league are found on their persons; they are

evidently hatching a counter…revolution。  The uproar against them is

terrible。  〃To keep them safe;〃 they are conducted to the chateau;

while many of them are cruelly treated on the way by the crowd。

Others; seized in their houses  …  M。 Levaillant and a servant of M。

d'Héricy  …  are carried off bleeding and pierced with bayonets。

Eighty…two prisoners are thus collected; while fears are constantly

entertained that they may escape。  〃Their bread and meat are cut up

into little pieces; to see that nothing is concealed therein; the

surgeons; who are likewise treated as aristocrats; are denied access

to them。〃 Nocturnal visits are; at the same time; paid to their

houses; every stranger is ordered to present himself at the H?tel…

de…Ville; to state why he comes to the town to reside; and to give

up his arms; every nonjuring priest is forbidden to say mass。  The

Department; which is disposed to resist; has its hands tied and

confesses its powerlessness。  〃The people;〃 it writes; 〃know their

strength: they know that we have no power; excited by disreputable

citizens; they permit whatever serves their passions or their

interests; they influence our deliberations; and force us to those

which; under other circumstances; we should carefully avoid。〃  …

Three days after this the victors celebrate their triumph 〃with

drums; music; and lighted torches; the people are using hammers to

destroy on the mansions the coats…of…arms which had previously been

covered over with plaster;〃 the defeat of the aristocrats is

accomplished。  …  And yet their innocence is so clearly manifest

that the Legislative Assembly itself cannot help recognizing it。

After eleven weeks of durance the order is given to set them free;

with the exception of two; a youth of less than eighteen years and

an old man; almost an octogenarian; on whom two letters;

misunderstood; still leave a shadow of suspicion。  …  But it is not

certain that the people are disposed to give them up。  The National

Guard refuses to discharge them in open daylight and serve as their

escort。  Even the evening before numerous groups of women; a few men

mingled with them; talk of murdering all those fellows the moment

they set foot outside the chateau。〃 They have to be let out at two

o'clock in the morning; secretly; under a strong guard; and to leave

the town at once as six months before they left the rural districts。

…  Neither in country nor in the town'20' are they under the

protection of civil or religious law; a gentleman; who is not

compromised in the affair; remarks that their situation is worse

than that of Protestants and vagabonds during the worst years of the

Ancient Régime。  of them and who abuse the use of them? Why should

one be on an equality for purposes of payment; and distinguished



〃Does not the law allow (nonjuring) priests the liberty of saying

mass? Why then can we not listen to their mass except at the risk of

our lives? Does not the law command all citizens to preserve the

public peace? Why then are those whom the cry to arms has summoned

forth to maintain public order assailed as aristocrats? Why is the

refuge of citizens which the laws have declared sacred; violated

without orders; without accusation; without any appearance of wrong…

doing? Why are all prominent citizens and those who are well off

disarmed in preference to others? Are weapons exclusively made for

those but lately deprived only for purposes of annoyance and insult〃



He has spoken right。  Those who now rule form an aristocracy in an

inverse sense; contrary to the law; and yet more contrary to

nature。'21'  For; by a violent inversion; the lower grades in the

graduated scale of civilization and culture now are found uppermost;

while the superior grades are found at the uniform。 The Constitution

having suppressed inequality; this has again arisen in an inverse

sense。  The populace; both of town and country; taxes; imprisons;

pillages; and slays more arbitrarily; more brutally; more unjustly

than feudal barons; and for its serfs or villains it has its ancient

chieftains。



V。

Persecutions in private life。



Let us suppose that; in order not to excite suspicion; they are

content to be without arms; to form no more associations; not to

attend elections; to shut themselves up at home; to strictly confine

themselves within the harmless precincts of domestic life。  The same

distrust; the same animosity; still pursues them there。  …  At

Cahors;'22' where the municipal authorities; in spite of the law;

had just expelled the Carthusians who; under legal sanction; chose

to remain and live in common; two of the monks; before their

departure; give

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