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the origins of contemporary france-2-第5章

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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

at Brignolles that of the director of the leather excise; are

sacked。  The determination is 〃to purge the land of excise…men。  〃 …

… This is only a beginning; bread and other provisions must become

cheap; and that without delay。  At Arles; the Corporation of

sailors; presided over by M。 de Barras; consul; had just elected its

representatives。  By way of conclusion to the meeting; they pass a

resolution insisting that M。 de Barras should reduce the price of

all comestibles。  On his refusal; they 〃open the window; exclaiming;

'We hold him; and we have only to throw him into the street for the

rest to pick him up。'〃 Compliance is inevitable。  The resolution is

proclaimed by the town…criers; and at each article which is reduced

in price the crowd shout; 〃Vive le Roi; vive M。 Barras !〃  One

must yield to brute force。  But the inconvenience is great for;

through the suppression of the flour…tax; the towns have no longer a

revenue。  On the other hand; as they are obliged to indemnify the

butchers and bakers; Toulon; for instance; incurs a debt of 2;500

livres a day。



In this state of disorder; woe to those who are under suspicion of

having contributed; directly or indirectly; to the evils; which the

people endure! At Toulon a demand is made for the head of the mayor;

who signs the tax…list; and of the keeper of the records。  They are

trodden under foot; and their houses are ransacked。  At Manosque;

the Bishop of Sisteron; who is visiting the seminary; is accused of

favoring a monopolist。  On his way to his carriage; on foot; he is

hooted and menaced。  He is first pelted with mud; and then with

stones。  The consuls in attendance; and the sub…delegate; who come

to his assistance; are mauled and repulsed。  Meanwhile; some of the

most furious begin; before his eyes; 〃to dig a ditch to bury him

in。〃 Protected by five or six brave fellows; amidst a volley of

stones; and wounded on the head and on many parts of his body; he

succeeds in reaching his carriage。  He is finally only saved because

the horses; which are likewise stoned; run away。  Foreigners;

Italians; bandits; are mingled with the peasants and artisans; and

expressions are heard and acts are seen which indicate a

jacquerie。'30' 〃The most excited said to the bishop; 'we are poor

and you are rich; and we mean to have all your property。'〃'31'

Elsewhere; 〃the seditious mob exacts contributions from all people

in good circumstances。  At Brignolles; thirteen houses are pillaged

from top to bottom; and thirty others partly half。   At Aupt; M。

de Montferrat; in defending himself; is killed and 〃hacked to

pieces。〃  At La Seyne; the mob; led by a peasant; assembles by

beat of drum。  Some women fetch a bier; and set it down before the

house of a leading bourgeois; telling him to prepare for death; and

that 〃they will have the honor of burying him。〃 He escapes; his

house is pillaged; as well as the bureau of the flour…tax。  The

following day; the chief of the band 〃
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