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masons； 〃excellent patriots；〃 says one of the clubbists of the
quarter：＇24＇ they always vote on our side； we make them do what we
want。〃 Numbers of day…laborers； cab…drivers； cartmen and workmen of
every class； thus earn their forty sous； and have no idea that
anything else might be demanded from them。 On entering the hall； when
the meeting opens； they write down their names； after which they go
out 〃to take a drink；〃 without thinking themselves obliged to listen
to the rigmarole of the orators； towards the end； they come back； make
all the noise that is required of them with their lungs； feet and
hands； and then go and 〃take back their card and get their money。〃＇25＇
… With paid applauders of this stamp； they soon get the better of any
opponents； or； rather； all opposition is suppressed beforehand。 〃The
best citizens keep silent〃 in the section assemblies； or 〃stay away；〃
these are simply 〃gambling…shops〃 where 〃the most absurd； the most
unjust； the most impolitic of resolutions are passed at every
moment。＇26＇ Moreover； citizens are ruined there by the unlimited
sectional expenditure； which exceeds the usual taxation and the
communal expenses； already very heavy。 At one time； some carpenter or
locksmith； member of the Revolutionary Committee； wants to construct；
enlarge or decorate a hall； and it is necessary to agree with him。
Again； a poor speech is made； full of exaggeration and political
extravagance； of which three； four； five and six thousand impressions
are ordered to be printed。 Then； to cap the climax； following the
example of the Commune； no accounts are rendered； or； if this is done
for form's sake； no fault must be found with them； under penalty of
suspicion； etc。〃 The twelve leaders； proprietors and distributors
of civism； have only to agree amongst themselves to share the profits；
each according to his appetite； henceforth； cupidity and vanity are
free to sacrifice the common weal； under cover of the common interest。
… The pasture is vast and it is at the disposal of the leaders。 In
one of his orders of the day； Henriot says：＇27＇
〃I am very glad to announce to my brethren in arms that all the
positions are at the disposal of the government。 The actual
government； which is revolutionary； whose intentions are pure； and
which merely desires the happiness of all； 。 。 。 。 will search
everywhere； even into the attics for virtuous men； 。 。 。 。 poor
and genuine sans…culottes。〃 And there is enough to satisfy them
thirty…five thousand places of public employment in the capital
alone：＇28＇ it is a rich mine； already； before the month of May； 1793；
〃the Jacobin club boasted of having placed nine thousand agents in the
administration；〃＇29＇ and since the 2nd of June； 〃virtuous men； poor；
genuine sans…culottes；〃 arrive in crowds from 〃their garrets；〃 dens
and hired rooms； each to grab his share。 They besiege and install
themselves by hundreds the ancient offices in the War； Navy and
Public…Works departments； in the Treasury and Ministry of Foreign
Affairs。 Here they rule； constantly denouncing all the remaining；
able employees thus creating vacancies in order to fill them。＇30＇ Then
there are twenty new administrative departments which they keep for
themselves： commissioners of the first confiscation of national
property； commissioners of national property arising from emigrants
and the convicted； commissioners of conscripted carriage…horses；
commissioners on clothing； commissioners on the collecting and
manufacturing of saltpeter； commissioners on monopolies； civil…
commissioners in each of the forty…eight sections； commissioners on
propagandas in the departments； Commissioners on provisions； and many
others。 Fifteen hundred places are counted in the single department
of subsistence in Paris；＇31＇ and all are salaried。 Here； already； are
a number of desirable offices。 … Some are for the lowest rabble； two
hundred； at twenty sous a day； paid to 〃stump…speakers；〃 employed to
direct opinion in the Palais…Royal； also among the Tuileries groups；
as well as in the tribunes of the Convention and of the H？tel…de…
Ville；＇32＇ two hundred more at four hundred francs per annum； to
waiters in coffee…houses； gambling…saloons and hotels； for watching
foreigners and customers； hundreds of places at two； three； and five
francs a day with meals； for the guardians of seals； and for
garrisoning the domiciles of 〃suspects〃； thousands； with premiums；
pay； and full license； for brigands who； under Ronsin； compose the
revolutionary army； and for the gunners； paid guard and gendarmes of
Henriot。 … The principal posts； however； are those which subject
lives and freedom to the discretion of those who occupy them： for；
through this more than regal power； they possess all other power； and
such is that of the men composing the forty…eight revolutionary
committees； the bureaus of the Committee of General Security and of
the Commune； and the staff…officers of the armed force。 They are the
prime…movers and active incentives of the system of Terror； all picked
Jacobins and tested by repeated selection； all designated or approved
by the Central Club； which claims for itself the monopoly of
patriotism； and which； erected into a supreme council of the party；
issues no patent of orthodoxy except to its own henchmen。＇33＇
They immediately assume the tone and arrogance of dictatorship。 〃
Pride has reached its highest point：＇34＇ 。。。 One who； yesterday； had
no post and was amiable and honest； has become haughty and insolent
because； deceived by appearances； his fellow…citizens have elected him
commissioner； or given him some employment or other。〃 Henceforth； he
behaves like a Turkish agha amongst infidels； and； in command； carries
things out with a high hand。 … On the 20th of Vendémiaire； year II。；
〃in the middle of the night；〃 the committee of the Piques section
summons M。 Bélanger； the architect。 He is notified that his house is
wanted immediately for a new Bastille。 … 〃But； said he； 'I own no
other； and it is occupied by several tenants； it is decorated with
models of art； and is fit only for that purpose。' … 'Your house or you
go to prison！' … 'But I shall be obliged to indemnify my tenants。' …
'Either your house or you go to prison； as to indemnities； we have
vacant lodgings for your tenants； as well as for yourself； in （the
prisons of） La Force； or Sainte…Pélagie。' Twelve sentinels on the post
start off at once and take possession of the premises； the owner is
allowed six hours to move out and is forbidden； henceforth； to return；
the bureaus； to which he appeals； interpret his obedience as 'tacit
adhesion；' and； very soon； he himself is locked up。〃＇35＇ …
Administrative tools that cut so sharply need the greatest care； and；
from time to time； they are carefully oiled：＇36＇ on the 20th of July；
1793； two thousand francs are given to each of the forty…eight
committees； and eight thousand francs to General Henriot； 〃for
expenses in watching anti…revolutionary maneuvers；〃 on the 7th of
August； fifty thousand francs 〃to indemnify the less successful
members of the forty…eight committees；〃 three hundred thousand francs
to Gen。 Henriot 〃for thwarting conspiracies and securing the triumph
of liberty；〃 fifty thousand francs to the mayor； 〃for detecting the
plots of the malevolent；〃 on the 10th of September； forty thousand
francs to the mayor； president and procureur…syndic of the department；
〃for measures of security； 〃 on the 13th of September； three hundred
thousand francs to the mayor 〃for preventing the attempts of the
malevolent；〃 on the 15th of November； one hundred thousand francs to
the popular clubs； 〃because these are essential to the propagation of
sound principles。〃 … Moreover； besides gratuities and a fixed salary；
there are the gratifications and perquisites belonging to the
office。＇37＇ Henriot appoints his comrades on the staff of paid spies
and denunciators； and； naturally； they take advantage of their
position to fill their pockets； under the pretext of incivism； they
multiply domiciliary visits； make the master of the house ransom
himself； or steal what suits them on the premises。＇38＇ … In the
Commune； and on the revolutionary…committees； every extortion can be；
and is； practiced。
〃I know；〃 says Quevremont； 〃two citizens who have been put in prison；
without being told why； and； at the end of three weeks or a month； let
out and do you know how？ By paying； one of them； fifteen thousand
livres； and the other； twenty…five thousand。 。 。 。 Gambron； at La
Force； pays one thousand five hundred livres a month for a room not to
live amongst lice； and besides this； he had to pay a bribe of two
thousand livres on entering。 This happened to many others who； again；
dared not speak of it； except in a whisper。〃＇39＇
Woe to the imprudent who； never concerning themselves with public
affairs； and relying on their innocence； discard the offici