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cause； assigns them to the State：
〃The founders presented them to the Church； that is to say； to the
nation。〃＇56＇ 〃Since the nation has permitted their possession by the
clergy； she may re…demand that which is possessed only through her
authorization。〃 〃The principle must be maintained that every nation
is solely and veritably proprietor of the possessions of its
clergy。〃
This principle； it must be noted； as it is laid down； involves the
destruction of ecclesiastical and lay corporations； along with the
confiscation of all their possessions； and soon we shall see
appearing on the horizon the final and complete decree＇57＇ by which
the Legislative Assembly；
〃considering that a State truly free should not suffer any
corporation within its bosom； not even those which； devoted to
public instruction； deserve well of the country；〃 not even those
〃which are solely devoted to the service of the hospitals…and the
relief of the sick；〃
suppresses all congregations； all associations of men or of women；
lay or ecclesiastical； all endowments for pious； charitable； and
missionary purposes； all houses of education； all seminaries and
colleges； and those of the Sorbonne and Navarre。 Add to these the
last sweep of the broom： under the Legislative Assembly the division
of all communal property； except woods： under the Convention； the
abolition of all literary societies； academies of science and of
literature； the confiscation of all their property； their libraries；
museums； and botanical gardens； the confiscation of all communal
possessions not previously divided； and the confiscation of all the
property of hospitals and other philanthropic establishments。＇58＇
The abstract principle； proclaimed by the Constituent Assembly；
reveals； by degrees； its exterminating virtues。 France now； owing
to it； contains nothing but dispersed； powerless； ephemeral
individuals； and confronting them； the State； the sole； the only
permanent body that has devoured all the others； a veritable
Colossus； alone erect in the midst of these insignificant dwarfs。
Substituted for the others； it is henceforth to perform their
duties； and spend the money well which they have expended badly。
In the first place； it abolishes tithes； not gradually and by means
of a process of redemption； as in England； but at one stroke； and
with no indemnity； on the ground that the tax； being an abusive；
illegitimate impost； a private tax levied by individuals in cowl and
cassock on others in smock frocks； is a vexatious usurpation； and
resembles the feudal dues。 It is a radical operation； and in
conformity with principle。 Unfortunately； the puerility of the
thing is so gross as to defeat its own object。 In effect； since the
days of Charlemagne； all the estates in the country which have been
sold and resold over and over again have always paid tithes； and
have never been purchased except with this charge upon them； which
amounts to about one…seventh of the net revenue of the country。
Take off this tax and one…seventh is added to the income of the
proprietor； and； consequently； a seventh to his capital。 A present
is made to him of one hundred francs if his land is worth seven
hundred…francs； and of one thousand if it is worth seven thousand；
of ten thousand if it is worth seventy thousand； and of one hundred
thousand if it is worth seven hundred thousand。 Some people gain
six hundred thousand francs by this act； and thirty thousand francs
in Income。＇59＇ Through this gratuitous and unexpected gift； one
hundred and twenty…three millions of revenue； and two milliards and
a half of capital； is divided among the holders of real estate in
France； and in a manner so ingenious that the rich receive the most。
Such is the effect of abstract principles。 To afford a relief of
thirty millions a year to the peasants in wooden shoes； an assembly
of democrats adds thirty millions a year to the revenue of wealthy
bourgeois and thirty millions a year to opulent nobles。 The first
part of this operation moreover； is but another burden to the State；
for； in taking off the load from the holders of real property； it
has encumbered itself； the State henceforth； without pocketing a
penny； being obliged to defray the expenses of worship in their
place。 … As to the second part of the operation； which consists in
the confiscation of four milliards of real estate； it proves； after
all； to be ruinous； although promising to be lucrative。 It makes
the same impression on our statesmen that the inheritance of a great
estate makes on a needy and fanciful upstart。 Regarding it as a
bottomless well of gold； he draws upon it without stint and strives
to realize all his fancies； as he can afford to pay for it all； he
is free to smash it all。 It is thus that the Assembly suppresses
and compensates magisterial offices to the amount of four hundred
and fifty millions； financial securities and obligations to the
amount of three hundred and twenty…one millions； the household
charges of the King； Queen； and princes； fifty…two millions；
military services and encumbrances； thirty…five millions； enfeoffed
tithes； one hundred millions； and so on。＇60＇ 〃In the month of May；
1789；〃 says Necker； 〃the re…establishment of order in the finances
were mere child's…play。〃 At the end of a year； by dint of involving
itself in debt； by increasing its expenses； and by abolishing or
abandoning its income； the State lives now on the paper…currency it
issues； eats up its capital； and rapidly marches onward to
bankruptcy。 Never was such a vast inheritance so quickly reduced to
nothing； and to less than nothing。
Meanwhile； we can demonstrate； from the first few months； what use
the administrators will be able to make of it； and the manner in
which they will endow the service to which it binds them。 No
portion of this confiscated property is reserved for the maintenance
of public worship； or to keep up the hospitals； asylums； and
schools。 Not only do all obligations and all productive real
property find their way into the great national crucible to be
converted into assignats＇61＇； but a number of special buildings； all
monastic real estate and a portion of the ecclesiastical real
estate； diverted from its natural course； becomes swallowed up in
the same gulf。 At Besan？on；＇62＇ three churches out of eight； with
their land and treasure； the funds of the chapter； all the money of
the monastic churches； the sacred vessels； shrines； crosses；
reliquaries； votive offerings； ivories； statues； pictures； tapestry；
sacerdotal dresses and ornaments； plate； jewels and precious
furniture； libraries； railings； bells； masterpieces of art and of
piety； all are broken up and melted in the Mint； or sold by auction
for almost nothing。 This is the way in which the intentions of the
founders and donors are carried out。 How are so many
communities； which are deprived of their rentals； to support their
schools； hospices； and asylums？ Even after the decree＇63＇ which；
exceptionally and provisionally； orders the whole of their revenue
to be accounted for to them； will it be paid over now that it is
collected by a local administration whose coffers are always empty；
and whose intentions are almost always hostile？ Every establishment
for benevolent and educational purposes is evidently sinking； now
that the special streams which nourished them run into and are lost
in the dry bed of the public treasury。＇64＇ Already； in 1790； there
are no funds with which to pay the monks and nuns their small
pensions for their maintenance。 In Franche…Comté the Capuchins of
Baume have no bread； and； to live； they are obliged to re…sell； with
the consent of the district； a portion of the stores of their
monastery which had been confiscated。 The Ursuline nuns of Ornans
live on the means furnished them by private individuals in order to
keep up the only school which the town possesses。 The Bernardine
nuns of Pontarlier are reduced to the lowest stage of want： 〃We are
satisfied；〃 the district reports； 〃that they have nothing to put
into their mouths。 We have to contribute something every day
amongst ourselves to keep them from starving。〃＇65＇ Only too
thankful are they when the local administration gives them something
to eat； or allows others to give them something。 In many places it
strives to famish them； or takes delight in annoying them。 In
March； 1791； the department of Doubs； in spite of the entreaties of
the district； reduces the pension of the Visitant nuns to one
hundred and one livres for the choristers； and fifty for the lay…
sisters。 Two months before this； the municipality of Besan？on；
putting its own interpretation on the decree which allowed nuns to
dress as they pleased； enjoins them all； including even the sisters
of charity； to abandon their old costume； which few among them had
the means of replacing。 Helplessness； indifference； or
male