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threatened with domiciliary visits and violence。 As to the
administrative authorities； their intervention cannot be expected
on； the department itself gives notice to the minister that； as the
law stands； it cannot put the chateau in the hands of the
regulars；＇19＇ as this would； it is said； excite the National Guard。
Besides； how without an army is this post to be wrested from the
hands which hold it？ It is impossible with only the resources which
the Constitution affords us。〃 Thus； in the defense of the oppressed；
the Constitution is a dead letter。 … Hence it is that the
refugees； finding protection only in themselves； undertake to help
each other。 No association can be more justifiable； more pacific；
more innocent。 Its object is 〃to demand the execution of the laws
constantly violated； and to protect persons and property。〃 In each
quarter they will try to bring together 〃all good citizens；〃 they
will form a committee of eight members； and； in each committee；
there will always be 〃an officer of justice or a member of the
administrative body with an officer or subaltern of the National
Guard。〃 Should any citizen be attacked in person or property the
association will draw up a petition in his favor。 Should any
particular act of violence require the employment of public force；
the members of the district will assemble under the orders of the
officer of justice and of the National Guard to enforce obedience。
〃In all possible cases〃 they 〃will avoid with the greatest care any
insult of individuals； they will consider that the object of the
meeting is solely to ensure public peace； and that protection from
the law to which every citizen is entitled。〃 … In short； they are
volunteer constables。 Turn the inquiry which way they will； a
hostile municipality and a prejudiced tribunal can put no other
construction upon it； they find nothing else。 The only evidence
against one of the leaders is a letter in which he tries to prevent
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 c