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brought to the corn markets （halles）； and when these are full the
price must necessarily fall。
What a profound deception！ Even in the granary of France wheat
remains dear； and costs about one…third more than would be necessary
to secure the sale of bread at two sous the pound； in conformity
with the will of the people。 For instance；＇23＇ at Gonesse； Dourdan；
Corbeil； Mennecy； Brunoy； Limours； Brie…Comte…Robert； and especially
at étampes and Montlhéry； the holders of grain are compelled almost
weekly； through the clamors and violence of the people； to reduce
prices one…third and more。 It is impossible for the authorities to
maintain； on their corn…exchange； the freedom of buying and selling。
The regular troops have been sent off by the people beforehand。
Whatever the tolerance or connivance of the soldiers may be； the
people have a vague sentiment that they are not there to permit the
ripping open of sacks of flour； or the seizing of farmers by the
throat。 To get rid of all obstacles and of being watched； they make
use of the municipality itself； and force it to effect its own
disarmament。 The municipal officers； besieged in the town…hall； at
times threatened with pistols and bayonets；＇24＇ dispatch to the
detachments they are expecting an order to turn back； and entreat
the Directory not to send any more troops； for； if any come； they
have been told that 〃they will be sorry for it。〃 Nowhere are there
regular troops。 At étampes； the people repeat that 〃they are sent
for and paid by the flour…dealers；〃 at Montlhéry； that 〃they merely
serve to arm citizens against each other；〃 at Limours； that 〃they
make grain dearer。〃 All pretexts seem good in this direction； the
popular will is absolute； and the authorities complacently meet its
decrees half…way。 At Montlhéry； the municipal body orders the
gendarmerie to remain at the gates of the town； which gives full
play to the insurrection。 … The administrators； however； are not
relieved by leaving the people free to act； they are obliged to
sanction their exactions by ordinances。 They are taken out of the
H？tel…de…Ville； led to the marketplace； and there forthwith； under
the dictation of the uproar which establishes prices； they； like
simple clerks； proclaim the reduction。 When； moreover； the armed
rabble of a village marches forth to tyrannize over a neighboring
market； it carries its mayor along with it in spite of himself； as
an official instrument which belongs to it。＇25＇ 〃There is no
resistance against force；〃 writes the mayor of Vert…le…Petit； 〃we
had to set forth immediately。〃 … 〃 They assured me；〃 says the
Mayor of Fontenay； 〃that； if I did not obey them； they would hang
me。〃 … On any municipal officer hazarding a remonstrance； they
tell him that 〃he is getting to be an aristocrat。〃 Aristocrat and
hung； the argument is irresistible； and all the more so because it
is actually applied。 At Corbeil； the procureur…syndic who tries to
enforce the law is almost beaten to death； and three houses in which
they try to find him are demolished。 At Montlhéry； a seed merchant；
accused of mixing the flour of beans （twice as dear） with wheaten
flour； is massacred in his own house。 At étampes； the mayor who
promulgates the law is cudgeled to death。 Mobs talk of nothing but
〃burning and destroying；〃 while the farmers； abused； hooted at；
forced to sell； threatened with death and robbed； run away；
declaring they will never return to the market again。
Such is the first effect of popular dictatorship。 Like all
unintelligent forces； it operates in a direction the reverse of its
intention： to dearness it adds dearth； and empties； instead of
replenishing； the markets。 That of étampes often contained fifteen
or sixteen hundred sacks of flour； the week following this
insurrection there were； at most； sixty brought to it。 At
Montlhéry； where six thousand men had collected together； each one
obtains for his share only a small measure； while the bakers of the
town have none at all。 This being the case； the enraged National
Guards tell the farmers that they are coming to see them on their
farms。 And they really go。＇26＇ Drums roll constantly on the roads
around Montlhéry； Limours； and other large market…towns。 Columns of
two； three； and four hundred men are seen passing under the lead of
their commandant and of the mayor whom they take along with them。
They enter each farm； mount into the granaries； estimate the
quantity of grain thrashed out； and force the proprietor to sign an
agreement to bring it to market the following week。 Sometimes； as
they are hungry； they compel people to give them something to eat
and drink on the spot； and it will not do to enrage them； … a
farmer and his wife come near being hung in their own barn。
Their effort is useless： Wheat is impounded and hunted up in vain；
it takes to the earth or slips off like a frightened animal。 In
vain do insurrections continue。 In vain do armed mobs； in all the
market…towns of the department；＇27＇ subject grain to a forced
reduction of price。 Wheat becomes scarcer and dearer from month to
month； rising in price from twenty…six francs to thirty…three。 And
because the outraged farmer 〃brings now a very little；〃 just 〃what
is necessary to sacrifice in order to avoid threats； he sells at
home； or in the inns； to the flour…dealers from Paris。〃 … The
people； in running after abundance； have thus fallen deeper down
into want： their brutality has aggravated their misery； and it is to
themselves that their starvation is owing。 But they are far from
attributing all this to their own insubordination； the magistrates
are accused； these； in the eyes of the populace； are 〃in league with
the monopolists。〃 On this incline no stoppage is possible。 Distress
increases rage； and rage increases distress； and on this fatal
declivity men are precipitated from one outrage to another。
After the month of February； 1792； such outrages are innumerable；
the mobs which go in quest of grain or which cut down its price
consist of armies。 One of six thousand men comes to control the
market of Montlhéry。＇28＇ There are seven to eight …thousand men who
invade the market…place of Verneuil； and there is an army of ten and
another of twenty…five thousand men； who remain organized for ten
days near Laon。 One hundred and fifty parishes have sounded the
tocsin； and the insurrection spreads for ten leagues around。 Five
boats loaded with grain are stopped； and； in spite of the orders of
district； department； minister； King； and National Assembly； they
refuse to surrender them。 Their contents； in the meantime； are made
the most of： 〃The municipal officers of the different parishes；
assembled together； pay themselves their fees； to wit ： one hundred
sous per diem for the mayor； three livres for the municipal
officers； two livres ten sous for the guards； two livres for the
porters。 They have ordered that these sums should be paid in grain；
and they reduce grain； it is said； fifteen livres the sack。 It is
certain that they have divided it amongst themselves； and that
fourteen hundred sacks have been distributed。〃 In vain do the
commissioners of the National Assembly make speeches to them three
hours in length。 The discourse being finished； they deliberate； in
presence of the commissioners； whether the latter shall be hung；
drowned； or cut up； and their heads put on the five points of the
middle of the abbey railing。 On being threatened with military
force； they make their dispositions accordingly。 Nine hundred men
who relieve each other watch day and night on the ground； in a well
chosen and permanent encampment； while lookouts stationed in the
belfries of the surrounding villages have only to sound the alarm to
bring together twenty…five thousand men in a few hours。 … So long
as the Government remains on its feet it carries on the combat as
well as it can； but it grows weaker from month to month； and； after
the 10th of August； when it lies on the ground； the mob takes its
place and becomes the universal sovereign。 From this time forth not
only is the law which protects provisioning powerless against the
disturbers of sale and circulation； but the Assembly actually
sanctions their acts； since it decrees＇29＇ the stoppage of all
proceedings commenced against them； remits sentences already passed；
and sets free all who are imprisoned or in irons。 Behold every
administration； with merchants； proprietors； and farmers abandoned
to the famished； the furious； and to robbers； henceforth food
supplies are for those who are disposed and able to take them。
〃You will be told；〃 says a petition；＇30＇ 〃that we violate the law。
We reply to these perfidious insinuations that the salvation of the
people is the supreme law。 We come in order to keep the markets
supplied； and to insure an uniform price for wheat throughout the
Republic。 For； there is no do