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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
unwillingly； must needs serve the insurgents。 At Donjon the
Electoral Assembly has seized the mayor of the place and threatened
to kill him； or to burn his house； if he did not put the cutting of
wheat at forty sous； whereupon he signs； and all the mayors with
him； 〃under the penalty of death。〃 As soon as this is done the
peasants； 〃to the sound of fifes and drums；〃 spread through the
neighboring parishes and force the delivery of wheat at forty sous；
and show such a determined spirit that the four brigades of
gendarmes sent out against them think it best to retire。 … Not
content with taking what they want； they provide for reserve
supplies； wheat is a prisoner。 In Nivernais and Bourbonnais； the
peasants trace a boundary line over which no sack of grain of that
region must pass； in case of any infraction of this law the rope and
the torch are close at hand for the delinquent。 … It remains to
make sure that this rule is enforced。 In Berri bands of peasants
visit the markets to see that their tariff is everywhere maintained。
In vain are they told that they are emptying the markets； 〃they
reply that they know how to make grain come； that they will take it
from private hands； and money besides； if necessary。〃 In fact； the
granaries and cellars belonging to a large number of persons are
pillaged。 Farmers are constrained to put their crops into a common
granary； and the rich are put to ransom； 〃the nobles are compelled
to contribute； and obliged to give entire domains as donations；
cattle are carried off； and they want to take the lives of the
proprietors；〃 while the towns； which defend their storehouses and
markets； are openly attacked。＇15＇ Bourbon…Lancy； Bourbon…
l'Archambault； Saint…Pierre…le…Moutier； Montlu？on； Saint…Amand；
Chateau…Gontier； Decises； each petty community is an islet assailed
by the mounting tide of rustic insurrection。 The militia pass the
night under arms； detachments of the National Guards of the large
towns with regular troops come and garrison them。 The red flag is
continuously raised for eight days at Bourbon…Lancy； and cannon
stand loaded and pointed in the public square。 On the 24th of May
an attack is made on Saint…Pierre…le…Moutier； and fusillades take
place all night on both sides。 On the 2nd of June； Saint…Amand；
menaced by twenty…seven parishes； is saved only by the preparations
it makes and by the garrison。 About the same time Bourbon…Lancy is
attacked by twelve parishes combined； and Chateau…Gontier by the
sabotiers of the forests in the vicinity。 A band of from four to
five hundred villagers arrests the convoys of Saint…Amand； and
forces their escorts to capitulate； another band entrenches itself
in the Chateau de la Fin； and fires throughout the day on the
regulars and the National Guard。 … The large towns themselves are
not safe。 Three or four hundred rustics； led by their municipal
officers； forcibly enter Tours； to compel the municipality to lower
the price of corn and diminish the rate of leases。 Two thousand
slate…quarry…men； armed with guns； spits； and forks； force their way
into Angers to obtain a reduction on bread； fire upon the guard； and
are charged by the troops and the National Guard； a number remain
dead in the streets； two are hung that very evening； and the red
flag is displayed for eight days。 〃The town；〃 say the dispatches；
〃would have been pillaged and burnt had it not been for the Picardy
regiment。〃 Fortunately； as the crop promises to be a good one；
prices fall。 As the Electoral Assemblies are closed； the
fermentation subsides； and towards the end of the year； like a clear
spell in a steady storm； the gleam of a truce appears in the civil
war excited by hunger。
But the truce does not last long； as it is broken in twenty places
by isolated explosions； and towards the month of July； 1791； the
disturbances arising from the uncertainty of basic food supplies
begin again； to cease no more。 We will consider but one group in
this universal state of disorder … that of the eight or ten
departments which surround Paris and furnish it with supplies。
These districts； Brie and Beauce； are rich wheat regions； and not
only was the crop of 1790 good； but that of 1791 is ample。
Information is sent to the minister from Laon＇16＇ that； in the
department of Aisne； 〃there is a supply of wheat for two years 。 。
。 that the barns； generally empty by the month of April； will not
be so this season before July；〃 and； consequently； 〃subsistence is
assured。〃 But this does not suffice； for the source of the evil is
not in a scarcity of wheat。 In order that everybody； in a vast and
populous country； where the soil； cultivation； and occupations
differ； may eat； it is essential that food should be attainable by
the non…producers； and for it to reach them freely； without delay；
solely by the natural operation of supply and demand； it is
essential that there should be a police able to protect property；
transactions； and transport。 Just in proportion as the authority of
a State becomes weakened； and in proportion as security diminishes；
the distribution of subsistence becomes more and more difficult： a
gendarmerie； therefore； is an indispensable wheel in the machine by
which we are able to secure our daily bread。 Hence it is that； in
1791； daily bread is wanting to a large number of men。 Simply
through the working of the Constitution； all restraints； already
slackened both at the extremities and at the center； are becoming
looser and more loose each day。 The municipalities； which are
really sovereign； repress the people more feebly； some because the
latter are the bolder and themselves more timid； and others because
they are more radical and always consider them in the right。 The
National Guard is wearied； never comes forward； or refuses to use
its arms。 The active citizens are disgusted； and remain at home。
At étampes；＇17＇ where they are convoked by the commissioners of the
department to take steps to re…establish some kind of order； only
twenty assemble； the others excuse themselves by saying that； if the
populace knew that they opposed its will； 〃their houses would be
burnt；〃 and they accordingly stay away。 〃Thus；〃 write the
commissioners； 〃the common…weal is given up to artisans and laborers
whose views are limited to their own existence。〃 … It is；
accordingly； the lower class which rules； and the information upon
which it bases its decrees consists of rumors which it accepts or
manufactures； to hide by an appearance of right the outrages which
are due to its cupidity or to the brutalities of its hunger。 At
étampes； 〃they have been made to believe that the grain which had
been sold for supplying the departments below the Loire； is shipped
at Paimb？uf and taken out of the kingdom from there to be sold
abroad。〃 In the suburbs of Rouen they imagine that grain is
purposely 〃 engulfed