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in it； practical philanthropists following the example of English
noblemen； the Duc d'Harcourt； who settles the lawsuits of his
peasants； the Duc de Larochefoucauld…Liancourt who establishes a model
farm on his domain； and a school of industrial pursuits for the
children of poor soldiers； and the Comte de Brienne； whose thirty
villages are to demand liberty of the Convention。＇39＇ The rest； for
the most part liberals； content themselves with discussions on public
affairs and on political economy。 In fact； the difference in manners；
the separation of interests； the remoteness of ideas are so great that
contact between those most exempt from haughtiness and their immediate
tenantry is rare； and at long intervals。 Arthur Young； needing some
information at the house of the Duc de Larochefoucauld himself； the
steward is sent for。 〃At an English nobleman's； there would have been
three or four farmers asked to meet me； who would have dined with the
family amongst the ladies of the first rank。 I do not exaggerate when
I say that I have had this at least an hundred times in the first
houses of our islands。 It is； however； a thing that in the present
style of manners in France would not be met with from Calais to
Bayonne except； by chance； in the house of some great lord that had
been much in England； and then not unless it was asked for。 The
nobility in France have no more idea of practicing agriculture； and
making it a subject of conversation； except on the mere theory； as
they would speak of a loom or a bowsprit； than of any other object the
most remote from their habits and pursuits。〃 Through tradition；
fashion and deliberation； they are； and wish only to be； people of
society； their sole concern is to talk and to hunt。 Never have the
leaders of men so unlearned the art of leading men； the art which
consists of marching along the same pathway with them； but at the
head； and directing their labor by sharing in it。 … Our Englishman；
an eye…witness and competent； again writes： 〃Thus it is whenever you
stumble on a grand seignior； even one that was worth millions； you are
sure to find his property desert。 Those of the Duc de Bouillon and of
the Prince de Soubise are two of the greatest properties in France；
and all the signs I have yet seen of their greatness are heaths；
moors； deserts； and brackens。 Go to their residence； wherever it may
be； and you would probably find them in the midst of a forest very
well peopled with deer； wild boars and wolves。〃 〃The great
proprietors；〃 says another contemporary；＇40＇ 〃attracted to and kept in
our cities by luxurious enjoyments know nothing of their estates；〃
save 〃of their agents whom they harass for the support of a ruinous
ostentation。 How can ameliorations be looked for from those who even
refuse to keep things up and make indispensable repairs？〃 A sure proof
that their absence is the cause of the evil is found in the visible
difference between the domain worked under absent abbé…commendatory
and a domain superintended by monks living on the spot 〃The
intelligent traveler recognizes it〃 at first sight by the state of
cultivation。 〃If he finds fields well enclosed by ditches； carefully
planted； and covered with rich crops； these fields； he says to
himself； belong to the monks。 Almost always； alongside of these
fertile plains； is an area of ground badly tilled and almost barren；
presenting a painful contrast； and yet the soil is the same； being two
portions of the same domain； he sees that the latter is the portion of
the abbé…commendatory。〃 〃The abbatial manse。〃 said Lefranc de
Pompignan； 〃frequently looks like the property of a spendthrift； the
monastic manse is like a patrimony whereon nothing is neglected for
its amelioration；〃 to such an extent that 〃 the two…thirds 〃 which the
abbé enjoys bring him less than the third reserved by his monks。 … The
ruin or impoverishment of agriculture is； again； one of the effects of
absenteeism。 There was； perhaps； one…third of the soil in France；
which； deserted as in Ireland； was as badly tilled； as little
productive as in Ireland in the hands of the rich absentees； the
English bishops； deans and nobles。
Doing nothing for the soil； how could they do anything for men？ Now
and then； undoubtedly； especially with farms that pay no rent； the
steward writes a letter； alleging the misery of the farmer。 There is
no doubt； also； that； especially for thirty years back； they desire to
be humane； they descant among themselves about the rights of man； the
sight of the pale face of a hungry peasant would give them pain。 But
they never see him； does it ever occur to them to fancy what it is
like under the awkward and complimentary phrases of their agent？
Moreover； do they know what hunger is？ Who amongst them has had any
rural experiences？ And how could they picture to themselves the misery
of this forlorn being？ They are too remote from him to that； too
ignorant of his mode of life。 The portrait they conceive of him is
imaginary； never was there a falser representation of the peasant；
accordingly the awakening is to be terrible。 They view him as the
amiable swain； gentle； humble and grateful； simple…hearted and right…
minded； easily led； being conceived according to Rousseau and the
idylls performed at this very epoch in all private drawing rooms。＇41＇
Lacking a knowledge him they overlook him； they read the steward's
letter and immediately the whirl of high life again seizes them and；
after a sigh bestowed on the distress of the poor； they make up their
minds that their income for the year will be short。 A disposition of
this kind is not favorable to charity。 Accordingly； complaints arise；
not against the residents but against the absentees。＇42＇ 〃The
possessions of the Church； says a letter； serve only to nourish the
passions of their holders。〃 〃According to the canons； says another
memorandum； every beneficiary must give a quarter of his income to the
poor； nevertheless in our parish there is a revenue of more than
twelve thousand livres； and none of it is given to the poor unless it
is some small matter at the hands of the curate。〃 〃The abbé de Conches
gets one…half of the tithes and contributes nothing to the relief of
the parish。〃 Elsewhere； 〃the chapter of Ecouis； which owns the
benefice of the tithes is of no advantage to the poor； and only seeks
to augment its income。〃 Nearby； the abbé of Croix…Leufroy； 〃a heavy
tithe…owner； and the abbé de Bernay； who gets fifty…seven thousand
livres from his benefice； and who is a non…resident； keep all and
scarcely give enough to their officiating curates to keep them alive。〃
〃I have in my parish； says a curate of Berry；＇43＇ six simple benefices
of which the titularies are always absent。 They enjoy together an
income of nine thousand livres； I sent them in writing the most urgent
entreaties during the calamity of the past year； I received from one
them two louis only； and most of them did not even answer me。〃
Stronger is the reason for a conviction that in ordinary times they
will make no remission of their dues。 Moreover； these dues； the
censives； the lods et ventes； tithes； and the like； are in the hands
of a steward； and he is a good steward who returns a large amount of
money。 He has no right to be generous at his master's expense； and he
is tempted to turn the subjects of his master to his own profit。 In
vain might the soft seignorial hand be disposed to be easy or
paternal； the hard hand of the proxy bears down on the peasants with
all its weight； and the caution of a chief gives place to the
exactions of a clerk。… How is it then when； instead of a clerk on the
domain； a fermier is found； an adjudicator who； for an annual sum；
purchases of seignior the management and product of his dues？ In
election of Mayenne；＇44＇ and certainly also in many others； the
principal domains are rented in this way。 Moreover there are a number
of dues； like the tolls； the market…place tax； that on the flock
apart； the monopoly of the oven and of the mill which can scarcely be
managed otherwise； the seignior must necessarily employ an adjudicator
who spares him the disputes and trouble of collecting。＇45＇ This
happens often and the demands and the greed of the contractor； who is
determined to gain or； at least； not to lose； falls on the peasantry：
〃He is a ravenous wolf；〃 says Renauldon； 〃let loose on the estate。
He draws upon it to the last sou； he crushes the subjects； reduces
them to beggary； forces the cultivators to desert。 The owner； thus
rendered odious； finds himself obliged to tolerate his exactions to
able to profit by them。〃
Imagine； if you can； the evil which a country usurer exercises；
armed against them with such burdensome rights； it is the feudal
seigniory in the hands of Harpagon； or rather of old Grandet。 When；
indeed； a tax becomes insupportable we see； by the local complaints；
that it is nearly alwa