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every project of innovation； to the most liberal ideas and to the
boldest of systems。 Everybody thought himself on the road to
perfection without being under any embarrassment or fearing any kind
of obstacle。 We were proud of being Frenchmen and； yet again；
Frenchmen of the eighteenth century。 。 。 。 Never was a more
terrible awakening preceded by a sweeter slumber or by more seductive
dreams。〃
They do not content themselves with dreams； with pure desires； with
passive aspirations。 They are active； and truly generous； a worthy
cause suffices to secure their devotion。 On the news of the American
rebellion； the Marquis de Lafayette； leaving his young wife pregnant；
escapes； braves the orders of the court； purchases a frigate； crosses
the ocean and fights by the side of Washington。 〃The moment the
quarrel was made known to me；〃 he says； 〃my heart was enlisted in it；
and my only thought was to rejoin my regiment。〃 Numbers of gentlemen
follow in his footsteps。 They undoubtedly love danger； 〃the chance
of being shot is too precious to be neglected。〃＇51＇ But the main
thing is to emancipate the oppressed； 〃we showed ourselves
philosophers by becoming paladins；〃＇52＇ the chivalric sentiment
enlisting in the service of liberty。 Other services besides these；
more sedentary and less brilliant； find no fewer zealots。 The chief
personages of the provinces in the provincial assemblies；＇53＇ the
bishops； archbishops； abbés； dukes； counts； and marquises； with the
wealthiest and best informed of the notables in the Third…Estate； in
all about a thousand persons； in short the social elect； the entire
upper class convoked by the king； organize the budget； defend the tax…
payer against the fiscal authorities； arrange the land…registry；
equalize the taille； provide a substitute for the corvée； provide
public roads； multiply charitable asylums； educate agriculturists；
proposing； encouraging and directing every species of reformatory
movement。 I have read through the twenty volumes of their procès…
verbaux： no better citizens； no more conscientious men； no more
devoted administrators can be found； none gratuitously taking so much
trouble on themselves with no object but the public welfare。 Never
was an aristocracy so deserving of power at the moment of losing it；
the privileged class； aroused from their indolence； were again
becoming public men； and； restored to their functions； were returning
to their duties。 In 1778； in the first assembly of Berry； the Abbé
de Seguiran； the reporter； has the courage to state that 〃the
distribution of the taxes should be a fraternal partition of public
obligations。〃＇54＇ In 1780 the abbés； priors and chapters of the same
province contribute 60；000 livres of their funds； and a few gentlemen；
in less than twenty…four hours； contribute 17；000 livres。 In 1787；
in the assembly of Alen？on the nobility and the clergy tax themselves
30；000 livres to relieve the indigent in each parish subject to
taxation＇55＇。 in the month of April； 1787； the king； in an assembly
of the notables； speaks of 〃the eagerness with which archbishops and
bishops come forward claiming no exemption in their contributions to
the public revenue。〃 In the month of March； 1789； on the opening of
the bailiwick assemblies； the entire clergy； nearly all the nobility；
in short； the whole body of the privileged class voluntarily renounce
their privileges in relation to taxation。 The sacrifice is voted
unanimously； they themselves offer it to the Third…Estate； and it is
worth while to see their generous and sympathetic tone in the
manuscript procès…verbaux。
〃The nobility of the bailiwick of Tours；〃 says the Marquis de
Lusignan；＇56＇ 〃considering that they are men and citizens before being
nobles； can make amends in no way more in conformity with the spirit
of justice and patriotism that animates the body； for the long silence
to which it has been condemned by the abuse of ministerial power； than
in declaring to their fellow…citizens that； in future； they will claim
none of the pecuniary advantages secured to them by custom； and that
they unanimously and solemnly bind themselves to bear equally； each in
proportion to his fortune； all taxes and general contributions which
the nation shall prescribe。〃
〃I repeat；〃 says the Comte de Buzan？ois at the meeting of the
Third…Estate of Berry； 〃that we are all brothers； and that we are
anxious to share your burdens。 。 。 。 We desire to have but one
single voice go up to the assembly and thus manifest the union and
harmony which should prevail there。 I am directed to make the
proposal to you to unite with you in one memorandum。 〃
〃These qualities are essential in a deputy；〃 says the Marquis de
Barbancon speaking for the nobles of Chateauroux； 〃integrity； firmness
and knowledge； the first two are equally found among the deputies of
the three orders； but knowledge will be more generally found in the
Third…Estate； which is more accustomed to public affairs。〃
〃A new order of things is unfolding before us；〃 says the Abbé
Legrand in the name of the clergy of Chateauroux； 〃the veil of
prejudice is being torn away and giving place to Reason。 She is
possessing herself of all French hearts； attacking at the root
whatever is based on former opinion and deriving her power only from
herself。〃
Not only do the privileged classes make advances but it is no
effort to them； they use the same language as the people of the Third…
Estate； they are disciples of the same philosophers and seem to start
from the same principles。 The nobility of Clermont in Beauvoisis＇57＇
orders its deputies 〃to demand； first of all； an explicit declaration
of the rights belonging to all men。〃 The nobles of Mantes and Meulan
affirm 〃that political principles are as absolute as moral principles；
since both have reason for a common basis。〃 The nobles of Rheims
demand 〃that the king be entreated to order the demolition of the
Bastille。〃 Frequently； after such expressions and with such a yielding
disposition； the delegates of the nobles and clergy are greeted in the
assemblies of the 'Third…Estate with the clapping of hands； 〃tears〃
and enthusiasm。 On witnessing such effusions how can one avoid
believing in concord？ And how can one foresee strife at the first turn
of the road on which they have just fraternally entered hand in hand？
Wisdom of this melancholy stamp is not theirs。 They set out with
the principle that man； and especially the man of the people； is good；
why conjecture that he may desire evil for those who wish him well？
They are conscientious in their benevolence and sympathy for him。
Not only do they utter these sentiments but they give them proof。
〃At this moment；〃 says a contemporary；＇58＇ 〃the most active pity
animates all breasts； the great dread of the opulent is to appear
insensible。〃 The archbishop of Paris； subsequently followed and
stoned； is the donator of 100；000 crowns to the hospital of the H？tel…
Dieu。 The intendant Berthier； who is to be massacred； draws up the
new assessment…roll of the Ile…de…France； equalizing the taille； which
act allows him to abate the rate； at first； an eighth； and next； a
quarter＇59＇。 The financier Beaujon constructs a hospital。 Necker
refuses the salary of his place and lends the treasury two millions to
re…establish public credit。 The Duc de Charost； from 1770＇60＇ down；
abolishes seigniorial corvées on his domain and founds a hospital in
his seigniory of Meillant。 The Prince de Beaufremont； the presidents
de Vezet； de Chamolles； de Chaillot； with many seigniors beside in
Franche…Comté； follow the example of the king in emancipating their
serfs＇61＇。 The bishop of Saint…Claude demands； in spite of his
chapter； the enfranchisement of his mainmorts。 The Marquis de
Mirabeau establishes on his domain in Limousin a gratuitous bureau for
the settlement of lawsuits； while daily； at Fleury； he causes nine
hundred pounds of cheap bread to be made for the use of 〃the poor
people； who fight to see who shall have it。〃＇62＇ M。 de Barral； bishop
of Castres； directs his curates to preach and to diffuse the
cultivation of potatoes。 The Marquis de Guerchy himself mounts on
the top of a pile of hay with Arthur Young to learn how to construct a
hay…stack。 The Marquis de Lasteyrie imports lithography into France。
A number of grand seigniors and prelates figure in the agricultural
societies； compose or translate useful books； familiarize themselves
with the applications of science； study political economy； inform
themselves about industries； and interest themselves； either as
amateurs or promoters； in every public amelioration。 〃 Never；〃 says
Lacretelle again； 〃were the French so combined together to combat the
evils to which nature makes us pay tribute； and those which in a
thousand ways creep into all social institutions。〃 Can it be admitted