Supposethat，seeingthisabuseofhisname，theseigniorisdesirousofwithdrawingtheadministrationofhisdomainsfromthesemercenaryhands。Inmostcasesheisunabletodoit:hetoodeeplyindebt，havingappropriatedtohiscreditorsacertainportionofhisland，acertainbranchofhisincome。Forcenturies，thenoblesareinvolvedthroughtheirluxury，theirprodigality，theircarelessness，andthroughthatfalsesenseofhonor，whichconsistsinlookinguponattentiontoaccountsastheoccupationofanaccountant。Theytakeprideintheirnegligence，regardingit，astheysay，livingnobly。[47]"Monsieurthearchbishop，"saidLouisXVI。toM。deDillon，。"theysaythatyouareindebt，andevenlargely。""Sire，"repliedtheprelate，withtheironyofagrandseignior，"IwillaskmyintendantandinformYourMajesty。"MarshaldeSoubisehasfivehundredthousandlivresincome，whichisnotsufficientforhim。WeknowthedebtsoftheCardinaldeRohanandoftheComteArtois；[48]
theirmillionsofincomewerevainlythrownintothisgulf。ThePrincedeGuémenéehappenstobecomebankruptonthirty—fivemillions。TheDukeofOrleans，therichestproprietorinthekingdom，owedathisdeathseventy—fourmillions。Whenbecamenecessarytopaythecreditorsoftheemigrantsoutoftheproceedsoftheirpossessions，itwasprovedthatmostofthelargefortuneswereeatenupwithmortgages。[49]Readersofthevariousmemoirsknowthat，fortwohundredyears，thedeficienciesbadtobesuppliedbymarriagesformoneyandbythefavorsoftheking。—Thisexplainswhy，followingtheking’sexample，thenoblesconvertedeverythingintomoney，andespeciallytheplacesattheirdisposition，and，inrelaxingauthorityforprofit，whytheyalienatedthelastfragmentofgovernmentremainingintheirhands。Everywheretheythuslaidasidetheveneratedcharacterofachieftoputontheodiouscharacterofatrafficker。"Notonly，"saysacontemporary，[50]"dotheygivenopaytotheirofficersofjustice，ortakethematadiscount，but，whatisworse，thegreaterportionofthemmakeasaleoftheseoffices。"Inspiteoftheedictof1693，thejudgesthusappointedtakenostepstobeadmittedintotheroyalcourtsandtheytakenooaths。"Whatistheresult？Justice，toooftenadministeredbyknaves，degeneratesintobrigandageorintoafrightfulimpunity。"—Ordinarilytheseigniorwhosellstheofficeonafinancialbasis，deducts，inaddition，thehundredth，thefiftieth，thetenthoftheprice，whenitpassesintootherhands；andatothertimeshedisposesofthesurvivorship。Hecreatestheseofficesandsurvivorshipspurposelytosellthem。"Alltheseigniorialcourts，saytheregisters，areinfestedwithacrowdofofficialsofeverydescription，seigniorialsergeants，mountedandunmountedofficers，keepersoftheprovostshipofthefunds，guardsoftheconstabulary。Itisbynomeansraretofindasmanyasteninanarrondissementwhichcouldhardlymaintaintwoiftheyconfinedthemselveswithinthelimitsoftheirduties。"Also"theyareatthesametimejudges，attorneys，fiscal—attorneys，registrars，notaries，"
eachinadifferentplace，eachpracticinginseveralseignioriesundervarioustitles，allperambulating，allinleaguelikethievesatafair，andassemblingtogetherinthetavernstoplan，prosecuteanddecide。Sometimestheseignior，toeconomize，confersthetitleononeofhisowndependents:"AtHautemont，inHainaut，thefiscal—attorneyisadomestic。"Morefrequentlyhenominatessomestarvelingadvocateofapettyvillageintheneighborhoodonwageswhichwouldnotsufficetokeephimaliveaweek。"Heindemnifieshimselfoutofthepeasants。Processesofchicanery，delaysandwillfulcomplicationsintheproceedings，sittingsatthreelivresthehourfortheadvocateandthreelivresthehourforthebailiff。Theblackbroodofjudicialleechessucksomuchthemoreeagerly，becausethemorenumerous，astillmorescrawnyprey，havingpaidfortheprivilegeofsuckingit。[51]Thearbitrariness，thecorruption，thelaxityofsucharégimecanbedivined。"Impunity，"saysRenauldon，"isnowheregreaterthanintheseigniorialtribunals……Thefoulestcrimesobtainnoconsiderationthere，"fortheseigniordreadssupplyingthemeansforacriminaltrial，whilehisjudgesorprosecutingattorneysfearthattheywillnotbepaidfortheirproceedings。Moreover，hisjailisoftenacellarunderthechateau；"thereisnotonetribunaloutofahundredinconformitywiththelawinrespectofprisons；"theirkeepersshuttheireyesorstretchouttheirhands。Henceitisthat"hisestatesbecometherefugeofallthescoundrelsinthecanton。"
Theeffectofhisindifferenceisterribleanditistoreactagainsthim:to—morrow，attheclub，theattorneyswhomhehasmultipliedwilldemandhishead，andthebanditswhomhehastoleratedwillplaceitontheendofapike。
One—pointremains，thechase，whereinthenoble’sjurisdictionisstillactiveandsevere，anditisjustthepointwhichisfoundthemostoffensive。Formerly，whenone—halfofthecantonconsistedofforest，orwasteland，whiletheotherhalfwasbeingravagedbywildbeasts，hewasjustifiedinreservingtherighttohuntthem；itenteredintohisfunctionaslocalcaptain。Hewasthehereditarygendarme，alwaysarmed，alwaysonhorseback，aswellagainstwildboarsandwolvesasagainstroversandbrigands。Nowthatnothingislefttohimofthegendarmebutthetitleandtheepauletteshemaintainshisprivilegethroughtradition，thusconvertingaserviceintoanannoyance。Hunthemust，andhealonemusthunt；itisaphysicalnecessityand，itthesametime，asignofhisblood。A
Rohan，aDillon，chasesthestagalthoughbelongingtothechurch，inspiteofedictsandinspiteofthecanons。"Youhunttoomuch，"saidLouisXV。[52]tothelatter；"Iknowsomethingaboutit。Howcanyouprohibityourcuratesfromhuntingifyoupassyourlifeinsettingthemsuchanexample？—Sire，formycuratesthechaseisafault，formyselfitisthefaultofmyancestors。"Whenthevanityandarroganceofcastethusmountsguardoverarightitiswithobstinatevigilance。Accordingly，theircaptainsofthechase，theirgame—
keepers，theirwood—rangers，theirforest—wardensprotectbrutesasiftheyweremen，andhuntmenasiftheywerebrutes。InthebailiwickofPont—l’Evèquein1789fourinstancesarecited"ofrecentassassinationscommittedbythegame—keepersofMme。d’A————，—Mme。N—
———，aprelateandamarshalofFrance，oncommonerscaughtbreakingthegamelawsorcarryingguns。Allfourpubliclyescapepunishment。"
InArtois，aparishmakesdeclarationthat"onthelandsoftheChattellanythegamedevoursalltheavêtis（pinesaplings）andthatthegrowersofthemwillbeobligedtoabandontheirbusiness。"Notfaroff；atRumancourt，atBellone，"thehares，rabbitsandpartridgesentirelydevourthem，Countd’Oisyneverhuntingnorhavinghunts。"IntwentyvillagesintheneighborhoodaroundOisywherehehuntsitisonhorsebackandacrossthecrops。"Hisgame—keepers，alwaysarmed，havekilledseveralpersonsunderthepretenseofwatchingovertheirmaster’srights……Thegame，whichgreatlyexceedsthatoftheroyalcaptaincies，consumesannuallyallprospectsofacrop，twentythousandrazièresofwheatandasmanyofothergrains。"InthebailiwickofEvreux"thegamehasjustdestroyedeverythinguptotheveryhouses……Onaccountofthegamethecitizenisnotfreetopulluptheweedsinsummerwhichclogthegrainandinjuretheseedsown……Howmanywomenaretherewithouthusbands，andchildrenwithoutfathers，onaccountofapoorhareorrabbit！"Thegame—
keepersoftheforestofGouffrayinNormandy"aresoterriblethattheymaltreat，insultandkillmen……Iknowoffarmerswho，havingpleadedagainsttheladytobeindemnifiedforthelossoftheirwheat，notonlylosttheirtimebuttheircropsandtheexpensesofthetrial……Stagsanddeerareseenrovingaroundourhousesinopendaylight。"InthebailiwickofDomfront，"theinhabitantsofmorethantenparishesareobligedtowatchallnightformorethansixmonthsoftheyeartosecuretheircrops。[53]—Thisistheeffectoftilerightofthechaseintheprovinces。Itis，however，intheIle—de—France，wherecaptainciesabound，andbecomemoreextensive，thatthespectacleismostlamentable。Aprocés—verba1showsthatinthesingleparishofVaux，nearMeulan，therabbitsofwarrensinthevicinityravageeighthundredcultivatedarpents（acres）ofgroundanddestroythecropsoftwothousandfourhundredsetiers（threeacreseach），thatistosay，theannualsuppliesofeighthundredpersons。
Nearthatplace，atlaRochette，herdsofdeerandofstagsdevoureverythinginthefieldsduringtheday，and，atnight，theyeveninvadethesmallgardensoftheinhabitantstoconsumevegetablesandtobreakdownyoungtrees。Itisfoundimpossibleinaterritorysubjectedtoacaptaincytoretainvegetablessafeingardens，enclosedbyhighwalls。AtFarcy，offivehundredpeachtreesplantedinavineyardandbrowsedonbystags，onlytwentyremainattheendofthreeyears。OverthewholeterritoryofFontainebleau，thecommunities，tosavetheirvines，areobligedtomaintain，withtheassentalwaysofthecaptaincy，agangofwatchmenwho，withlicenseddogs，keepwatchandmakeahubbuballnightfromthefirstofMaytothemiddleofOctober。AtChartrettesthedeercrosstheSeine，approachthedoorsoftheComtessedeLarochefoucauldanddestroyentireplantationsofpoplars。AdomainrentedfortwothousandlivresbringsinonlyfourhundredaftertheestablishmentofthecaptaincyofVersailles。Inshort，elevenregimentsofanenemy’scavalry，quarteredontheelevencaptainciesnearthecapital，andstartingoutdailytoforage，couldnotdomoremischief。—Weneednotbesurprisedif，intheneighborhoodoftheselairs，thepeoplebecomewearyofcultivating。[54]NearFontainebleauandMelun，atBois—le—
Roi，three—quartersofthegroundremainswaste。AlmostallthehousesinBrolleareinruins，onlyhalf—crumblinggablesbeingvisible；atCoutillesandatChapelle—Rablay，fivefarmsareabandoned；atArbonne，numerousfieldsareneglected。AtVilliers，andatDame—
Marie，wheretherewerefourfarmingcompaniesandanumberofspecialcultures，eighthundredarpentsremainuntilled。—Strangetosay，asthecenturybecomesmoreeasygoingtheenforcementofthechasebecomesincreasinglyharsh。Theofficersofthecaptaincyarezealousbecausetheylaborundertheeyeandforthe"pleasures"oftheirmaster。In1789，eighthundredpreserveshadjustbeenplantedinonesinglecantonofthecaptaincyofFontainebleau，andinspiteoftheproprietorsofthesoil。Accordingtotheregulationsof1762everyprivateindividualdomiciledonthereservationofacaptaincyisforbiddenfromenclosinghishomesteadoranygroundwhateverwithhedgesorditches，orwallswithoutaspecialpermit。[55]Incaseofapermitbeinggivenhemustleaveawide，openandcontinuousspaceinordertoletthehuntsmeneasilypassthrough。Heisnotallowedtokeepanyferret，anyfire—arm，anyinstrumentadaptedtothechase，nortobefollowedbyanydogevenifnotadaptedtoit，exceptthedogbeheldbyaleashorclogfastenedarounditsneck。Andbetterstill。HeisforbiddentoreaphismeadoworhisLucernebeforeSt。
John’sday，toenterhisownfieldbetweenthefirstofMayandthetwenty—fourthofJune，tovisitanyislandintheSeine，tocutgrassonitorosiers，evenifthegrassandosiersbelongtohim。Thereasonis，thatnowthepartridgeishatchingandthelegislatorprotectsit；hewouldtakelesspainsforawomaninconfinement；theoldchroniclerswouldsayofhim，aswithWilliamRufus，thathisbowelsarepaternalonlyforanimals。Now，inFrance，fourhundredsquareleaguesofterritoryaresubjecttothecontrolofthecaptaincies，[56]and，overallFrance，game，largeorsmall，isthetyrantofthepeasant。Wemayconclude，orratherlistentothepeople’sconclusion。"Everytime，"saysM。Montlosier，in1789，[57]
"thatIchancedtoencounterherdsofdeerordoesonmyroadmyguidesimmediatelyshouted:’Makeroomforthegentry！’inthiswayalludingtotheravagescommittedbythemontheirland。"Accordingly，intheeyesoftheirsubjects，theyarewildanimals。—Thisshowstowhatprivilegescanleadwhendivorcedfromduties。Inthismanneranobligationtoprotectdegeneratesintoarightofdevastation。Thusdohumaneandrationalbeingsact，unconsciously，likeirrationalandinhumanbeings。Divorcedfromthepeopletheymisusethem；nominalchiefs，theyhaveunlearnedthefunctionofaneffectivechief；havinglostallpubliccharactertheyabatenothingoftheirprivateadvantages。Somuchtheworseforthecanton，andsomuchworseforthemselves。Thethirtyorfortypoacherswhomtheyprosecutetodayontheirestateswillmarchto—morrowtoattacktheirchateauxattheheadofaninsurrection。Theabsenceofthemasters，theapathyoftheprovinces，thebadstateofcultivation，theexactionsofagents，thecorruptionofthetribunals，thevexationsofthecaptaincies，indolence，theindebtednessandexigenciesoftheseignior，desertion，misery，thebrutalityandhostilityofvassals，allproceedsfromthesamecauseandterminatesinthesameeffect。
Whensovereigntybecomestransformedintoasinecureitbecomesburdensomewithoutbeinguseful，andonbecomingburdensomewithoutbeingusefulitisoverthrown。
Notes:
[1]。Beugnot，"Mémoires，"V。I。p。292。—DeTocqueville，"L’AncienRégimeetlaRévolution。"
[2]。ArthurYoung，"TravelsinFrance，"II。456。InFrance，hesays，itisfromtheeleventhtothethirty—second。"ButnothingisknownliketheenormitiescommittedinEnglandwherethetenthisreallytaken。"
[3]。Saint—Simon，"Mémoires，"ed。Chéruel，vol。I。—LucasdeMontigny，"MémoiresdeMirabeau，"I。53—182。—MarshalMarmont，"Mémoires，"I。9，11。—Chateaubriand，"Mémoires，"I。17。DeMontlosier，"Mémoires，"2vol。passim。—Mme。deLarochejacquelein，"Souvenirs，"passim。Manydetailsconcerningthetypesoftheoldnobilitywillbefoundinthesepassages。TheyaretrulyandforciblydepictedintwonovelsbyBalzacin"Beatrix，"（theBarondeGuénic）
andinthe"CabinetdesAntiques，"（theMarquisd’Esgrignon）。
[4]。AletterofthebailiffofMirabeau，1760，publishedbyM。deLoménieinthe"Correspondant，"V。49，p。132。
[5]。Mme。deLarochejacquelein，ibid。I。84。"AsM。deMarignyhadsomeknowledgeoftheveterinaryartthepeasantsofthecantoncameafterhimwhentheyhadsickanimals。"
[6]。MarquisdeMirabeau，"TraitédelaPopulation，"p。57。
[7]。DeTocqueville，ibid。p。180。Thisisprovedbytheregistersofthecapitation—taxwhichwaspaidattheactualdomicile。
[8]。Renauldon，ibid……，Prefacep。5。—AnnePlumptre，"AnarrativeofthreeyearsresidenceinFrancefrom1802to1805。"II。357。——
BaronessOberkirk，"Mémoires，"II。389。—"Del’étatreligieux，"bytheabbésBonnefoiandBernard，1784，p。295。—Mme。Vigée—Lébrun，"Souvenirs，"p。171。
[9]。Archivesnationales，D，XIX。portfolios14，15，25。Fivebundlesofpapersarefilledwiththesepetitions。
[10]。Ibid。D，XIX。portfolio11。AnadmirableletterbyJosephofSaintignon，abbéofDomiévre，generaloftheregularcanonsofSaint—
Sauveurandaresident。Hehas23，000livresincome，ofwhich6，066
livresisapensionfromthegovernment，inrecompenseforhisservices。Hispersonalexpenditurenotbeingover5，000livres"heisinasituationtodistributeamongthepoorandtheworkmen，inthespaceofelevenyears，morethan250，000livres。"
[11]。Ontheconductandsentimentsoflayandecclesiasticalseigniorscf。LéoncedeLavergne，"LesAssembléesprovinciales，"I
vol。Legrand，"L’intendanceduHainaut，"Ivol。Hippeau，"LeGouvernementdeNormandie，"9vols。
[12]。"Themostactivesympathyfilledtheirbreasts；thatwhichanopulentmanmostdreadedwastoberegardedasinsensible。"
（Lacretelle，vol。V。p。2。）
[13]。Floquet，"HistoireduParlementdeNormandie，"vol。VI。
p。696。In1772twenty—fivegentlemenandimprisonedorexiledforhavingsignedaprotestagainsttheordersofthecourt。
[14]。DeTocqueville，ibid。pp。39，56，75，119，184。Hehasdevelopedthispointwithadmirableforceandinsight。
[15]。DeTocqueville，ibid。p。376。ComplaintsoftheprovincialassemblyofHaute—Guyenne。"Peoplecomplaindailythatthereisnopoliceintheruraldistricts。Howcouldtherebeone？Thenoblestakesnointerestinanything，exceptingafewjustandbenevolentseigniorswhotakeadvantageoftheirinfluencewithvassalstopreventaffrays。"
[16]。RecordsoftheStates—Generalof1789。Manyoftheregistersofthenoblesseconsistoftherequestsbynobles，menandwomen，ofsomehonorarydistinctivemark，forinstanceacrossoraribbonwhichwillmakethemrecognizable。
[17]。DeBoullé，"Mémoires，"p。50。—DeToqueville，ibid……pp。118，119。—DeLoménie，"LesMirabeau，"p。132。AletterofthebailiffofMirabeau，1760。—DeChateaubriand，Mémoires，"I。14，15，29，76，80，125。—LucasdeMontigny，"MémoiresdeMirabeau，"I。160。—ReportsoftheSociétéduBerry。"Bourgesen1753et1754，"accordingtoadiary（inthenationalarchives），writtenbyoneoftheexiledparliamentarians，p。273。
[18]。"Laviedemonpère，"byRétifdelaBretonne，I。146。
[19]。Theruleisanalogouswiththeothercoutumes（common—lawrules），ofotherplacesandespeciallyinParis。（Renauldon，ibid……p。
134。）
[20]。Asortofdowerright。TR。
[21]。Mme。d’Oberkirk，"Mémoires，"I。395。
[22]。DeBouillé，"Mémoires，"p。50。Accordingtohim，"allthenobleoldfamilies，exceptingtwoorthreehundred，wereruined。A
largerportionofthegreattitledestateshadbecometheappanageoffinanciers，merchantsandtheirdescendants。Thefiefs，forthemostpart，wereinthehandsofthebourgeoisieofthetowns。"—LéoncedeLavergne，"EconomieruraleenFrance，"p。26。"Thegreatestnumbervegetatedinpovertyinsmallcountryfiefsoftennotworthmorethan2，000or3，000francsayear。"—Intheapportionmentoftheindemnityin1825，manyreceivedlessthan1，000francs。Thegreaternumberofindemnitiesdonotexceed50，000francs。—"Thethrone，"saysMirabeau，"issurroundedonlybyruinednobles。"
[23]。DeBouillé，"Memoires，"p。50。—Cherin，"Abrégé
chronologiquedesédits"（1788）。"Ofthisinnumerablemultitudecomposingtheprivilegedorderscarcelyatwentiethpartofitcanreallypretendtonobilityofanimmemorialandancientdate。"—4，070
financial，administrative，andjudicialofficesconferrednobility。—
Turgot，"CollectiondesEconomistes，"II。276。"Throughthefacilitiesforacquiringnobilitybymeansofmoneythereisnorichmanwhodoesnotatoncebecomenoble。"—D’Argenson，"Mémoires，"III。402。
[24]。Necker，"Del’AdministrationdesFinances，"II。271。Legrand，"L’IntendancedeHainaut，"pp。104，118，152，412。
[25]。Evenaftertheexchangeof1784，theprinceretainsforhimself"allpersonalimpositionsaswellassubventionsontheinhabitants，"exceptasumof6，000livresforroads。ArchivesNationales，G，192，amemorandumofApril14th，1781，onthestateofthingsintheClermontois。—ReportoftheprovincialassemblyoftheThreeBishoprics（1787），p。380。
[26]。ThetownofSt。Amand，alone，containstoday10，210
inhabitants。
[27]。Seenote3attheendofthevolume。
[28]。DeFerrières，"Mémoires，"II。57:"Allhad100，000some200，300，andeven800，000。"
[29]。DeTocqueville，ibid……book2，Chap。2。p。182。—LetterofthebailiffofMirabau，August23，1770。"Thisfeudalorderwasmerelyvigorous，eventhoughtheyhavepronounceditbarbarous，becauseFrance，whichoncehadthevicesofstrength，nowhasonlythoseoffeebleness，andbecausetheflockwhichwasformerlydevouredbywolvesisnoweatenupwithlice……Threeorfourkicksorblowswithastickwerenothalfsoinjurioustoapoorman’sfamily，nortohimself，asbeingdevouredbysixrollsofhandwriting。"—"Thenobility，"saysSt。Simon，inhisday，"hasbecomeanotherpeoplewithnochoiceleftitbuttocrouchdowninmortalandruinousindolence，whichrendersitaburdenandcontemptible，ortogoandbekilledinwarfare；subjecttotheinsultsofclerks，secretariesofthestateandthesecretariesofintendants。"Sucharethecomplaintsoffeudalspirits。—ThedetailswhichfollowareallderivedfromSaintSimon，Dangeau，deLuynes，d’Argensonandothercourthistorians。
[30]。WorksofLouisXIV。andhisownwords。—MmeVigée—Lebrun，"Souvenirs，"I。71:"Ihaveseenthequeen（MarieAntoinette），obligingMadametodine，thensixyearsofage，withalittlepeasantgirlwhomshewastakingcareof，andinsistingthatthislittleoneshouldheservedfirst，sayingtoherdaughter:’Youmustdothehonors。’"
（Madameisthetitlegiventotheking’soldestdaughter。SR。）
[31]。Molière，"Misanthrope。"Thisisthe"desert"inwhichCélimènerefusestoheburiedwithAlceste。Seealsoin"Tartuffe"thepicturewhichDorinedrawsofasmalltown。—ArthurYoung，"VoyagesenFrance，"I。78。
[32]。’TraitédelaPopulation，"p。108，（1756）。
[33]。Ihavethisfromoldpeoplewhowitnesseditbefore1789。
[34]。"Mémoires"deM。deMontlosier，"I。p。161，。
[35]。ReportsoftheSociétédeBerry，"Bourgesen1753et1754，"
p。273。
[36]。Ibid……p。271。Onedaythecardinal，showinghisguestsoverhispalacejustcompleted，ledthemtothebottomofacorridorwherehehadplacedwaterclosets，atthattimeanovelty。M。BoutindelaCoulommière，thesonofareceiver—generalofthefinances，madeanexclamationatthesightoftheingeniousmechanismwhichitpleasedhimtoseemoving，and，turningtowardstheabbédeCanillac，hesays:
"Thatisreallyadmirable，butwhatseemstomestillmoreadmirableisthatHisEminence，beingaboveallhumanweakness，shouldcondescendtomakeuseofit。"Thisanecdoteisvaluable，asitservestoillustratetherankandpositionofagrand—seigniorprelateintheprovinces。
[37]。ArthurYoung，V。II。P。230andthefollowingpages。
[38]。Abolitionofthetithe，thefeudalrights，thepermissiontokillthegame，etc。
[39]。DeLoménie，"LesMirabeau，"p。134。Aletterofthebailiff，September25，1760:"IamatHarcourt，whereIadmirethemaster’shonest，benevolentgreatness。Youcannotimaginemypleasureonfêtedaysatseeingthepeopleeverywherearoundthechateau，andthegoodlittlepeasantboysandgirlslookingrightinthefaceoftheirgoodlandlordandalmostpullinghiswatchofftoexaminethetrinketsonthechain，andallwithafraternalair；withoutfamiliarity。Thegooddukedoesnotmakehisvassalstogotocourt；helistenstothemanddecidesforthem，humoringthemwithadmirablepatience。"Lacretelle，"Dixansd’épreuve，"p。58。
[40]。"Del’étatreligieux，"bytheabbésdeBonnefoietBernard，1784，I。pp。287，291。
[41]。Seeonthissubject"LapartiedechassedeHenriIV"byCollé。Cf。Berquin，Florian，Marmontel，etc，andlikewisetheengravingsofthatday。
[42]。Boivin—Champeaux，"NoticehistoriquesuelaRévolutiondansledépartementdel’Eure，"p。63，61。
[43]。Archivesnationales，ReportsoftheStates—Generalof1789，T，XXXIX。，p。111。Letterofthe6thMarch，1789，fromthecurateofSt。PierredePonsigny，inBerry。D’Argenson，6thJuly，1756。"ThelatecardinaldeSoubisehadthreemillionsincashandhegavenothingtothepoor。"
[44]。DeTocqueville，ibid……405。—Renauldon，ibid……628。
[45]。Theexampleissetbythekingwhosellstothefarmer—
generals，foranannualsum，themanagementandproductoftheprincipalindirecttaxes。
[46]。Voltaire，"PolitiqueetLégislation，LavoixduCuré，"（inrelationtotheserfsofSt。Claude）。—AspeechoftheDuked’Aiguillon，August4th，1789，intheNationalAssembly:"Theproprietorsoffiefs，ofseigniorialestates，arerarelyguiltyoftheexcessesofwhichtheirvassalscomplain；buttheiragentsareoftenpitiless。"
[47]。Beugnot。"Mémoires，"V。I。p。136。—DucdeLévis，"Souvenirsetportraits，"p。156。—"Moniteur，"thesessionofNovember22，1872，M。Bochersays:"AccordingtothestatementdrawnupbyorderoftheConventiontheDukeofOrleans’sfortuneconsistedof74，000，000
ofindebtednessand140，000，000ofassets。"Onthe8thJanuary，1792，hehadassignedtohiscreditors38，000，000toobtainhisdischarge。
[48]。KingLouistheXVI’sbrother。（SR。）
[49]。In1785，theDukedeChoiseulInhistestamentestimatedhispropertyatfourteenmillionsandhisdebtsattenmillions。（ComtedeTilly，"Mémoires，"II。215。）
[50]。Renauldon，ibid……45，52，628。—Duvergier，"CollectiondesLois，"II。391；lawofAugust31；—October18，1792。—Statements（cahier）ofgrievancesofamagistrateoftheChateletonseigniorialcourts（1789），p。29。—Legrand，"l’IntendanceduHainaut，"p。119。
[51]。ArchivesNationales，H，654（"Mémoire"byRenédeHauteville，advocatetotheParliament，Saint—Brieuc，October5，1776。）InBrittanythenumberofseigniorialcourtsisimmense，thepleadersbeingobligedtopassthroughfourorfivejurisdictionsbeforereachingtheParliament。"Whereisjusticerendered？Inthecabaret，inthetavern，where，amidstdrunkardsandriff—raff，thejudgesellsjusticetowhoeverpaysthemostforit。"
[52]。Beugnot，"Mémoires，"vol。I。p。35。
[53]。Boivin—Champeaux，ibid……48。—Renauldon，26，416。—
ManuscriptreportsoftheStates—general（Archivesnationales），t。
CXXXII。pp。896and901。—Hippeau，"LeGouvernementdeNormandie，"
VII。61，74。—Paris，"LaJeunessedeRobespierre，"pp。314—324。—
"Essaisurlescapitaineriesroyalesetautres，"（1789）passim。—DeLoménie，"Beaumarchaisetsonemps，"I。125。Beaumarchaishavingpurchasedtheofficeoflieutenant—generalofthechaseinthebailiwicksoftheLouvrewarren（twelvetofifteenleaguesincircumference。approx。60km。SR。）triesdelinquentsunderthistitle。
July15th，1766，hesentencesRagondet，afarmertoafineofonehundredlivrestogetherwiththedemolitionofthewallsaroundanenclosure，alsoofhisshednewlybuiltwithoutlicense，astendingtorestrictthepleasuresoftheking。
[54]。MarquisD’Argenson，"Mémoires，"ed。Rathery，January27，1757。"ThesieurdeMontmorin，captainofthegame—preservesofFontainebleau，derivesfromhisofficeenormoussums，andbehaveshimselflikeabandit。Thepopulationofmorethanahundredvillagesaroundnolongersowtheirland，thefruitsandgrainbeingeatenbydeer；stagsandothergame。Theykeeponlyafewvines，whichtheypreservesixmonthsoftheyearbymountingguarddayandnightwithdrums，makingageneralturmoiltofrightenoffthedestructiveanimals。"January23，1753。—"M。lePrincedeContihasestablishedacaptainryofelevenleaguesaroundIle—Adamandwhereeverybodyisvexedatit。"September23，1753。—M。leDucd’OrléanscametoVillers—Cotterets，hehasrevivedthecaptainry；therearemorethansixtyplacesforsaleonaccountoftheseprincelyannoyances。
[55]。TheoldpeasantswithwhomIoncehavetalkedstillhadaclearmemoryoftheseannoyancesanddamages。—Theyrecountedhow，inthecountryaroundClermont，thegamekeepersofPrincedeCondéinthespringtimetooklittersofwolvesandraisedtheminthedrymoatsofthechateau。Theywerefreedinthebeginningofthewinter，andthewolfhuntingteamwouldthenhuntthemlater。Buttheyatethesheep，and，hereandthere，achild。
[56]。Theestatesofthekingencompassedinforestonemillionacres，notcountingforestsintheappanagessetasideforhiseldestsonorforfactoriesorsaltworks。
[57]。DeMontlosier，"Mémoires，"I。175。
CHAPTERIV。PUBLICSERVICESDUEBYTHEPRIVILEGEDCLASSES。
I。EnglandcomparedtoFrance。
AnEnglishexample。—ThePrivilegedclassrendersnoserviceinFrance。—Theinfluenceandrightswhichremaintothem。—Theyuseitonlyforthemselves。
USELESSinthecanton，theymighthavebeenusefulattheCenteroftheState，and，withouttakingpartinthelocalgovernment，theymighthaveservedinthegeneralgovernment。Thusdoesalord，abaronet，asquireactinEngland，evenwhennota"justice"ofhiscountyoracommittee—maninhisparish。ElectedamemberoftheLowerHouse，ahereditarymemberoftheupperhouse，heholdsthestringsofthepublicpurseandpreventsthesovereignfromspendingtoofreely。
Suchistherégimeincountrieswherethefeudalseigniors，insteadofallowingthesovereigntoallyhimselfwiththepeopleagainstthem，alliedthemselveswiththepeopleagainstthesovereign。Toprotecttheirowninterestsbettertheysecuredprotectionfortheinterestsofothers，and，afterhavingservedastherepresentativesoftheircompeerstheybecametherepresentativesofthenation。NothingofthiskindtakesplaceinFrance。TheStates—Generalarefallenintodesuetude，andthekingmaywithtruthdeclarehimselfthesolerepresentativeofthecountry。Liketreesrenderedlifelessundertheshadowofagiganticoak，otherpublicpowersperishthroughhisgrowth；whateverstillremainsoftheseencumberstheground，andformsaroundhimacircleofclamberingbriersorofdecayingtrunks。
Oneofthem，theParliament，anoffshootsimplyofthegreatoak，sometimesimagineditselfinpossessionofarootofitsown；butitssapwastooevidentlyderivativeforittostandbyitselfandprovidethepeoplewithanindependentshelter。Otherbodies，surviving，althoughstunted，theassemblyoftheclergyandtheprovincialassemblies，stillprotectanorder，andfourorfiveprovinces；butthisprotectionextendsonlytotheorderitselfortotheprovince，and，ifitprotectsaspecialinterestitiscommonlyattheexpenseofthegeneralinterest。
II。TheClergyAssembliesoftheclergy。—Theyserveonlyecclesiasticalinterests。—Theclergyexemptedfromtaxation。—Solicitationofitsagents。—ItszealagainsttheProtestants。
Letusobservethemostvigorousandthebest—rootedofthesebodies，theassemblyoftheclergy。Itmeetseveryfiveyears，and，duringtheinterval，twoagents，selectedbyit，watchovertheinterestsoftheorder。Convokedbythegovernment，subjecttoitsguidance，retainedordismissedwhennecessary，alwaysinitshands，usedbyitforpoliticalends，itneverthelesscontinuestobearefugefortheclergy，whichitrepresents。Butitisanasylumsolelyforthatbody，and，intheseriesoftransactionsbywhichitdefendsitselfagainstfiscaldemands，iteasesitsownshouldersoftheloadonlytomakeitheavierontheshouldersofothers。Wehaveseenhowitsdiplomacysavedclericalimmunities，howitboughtoffthebodyfromthepoll—taxandthevingtièmes，howitconverteditsportionoftaxationintoa"freegift，"howthisgiftisannuallyappliedtorefundingthecapitalwhichithasborrowedtoobtainthisexemption，bywhichdelicateartitsucceeds，notonlyinnotcontributingtothetreasury，butinwithdrawingfromiteveryyearabout1，500，000
livres，allofwhichissomuchthebetterforthechurchbutsomuchtheworseforthepeople。Nowrunthroughthefileoffoliosinwhichfromoneperiodoffiveyearstoanotherthereportsofitsagentsfolloweachother，—somanyclevermenthuspreparingthemselvesforthehighestpositionsinthechurch，theabbésdeBoisgelin，dePérigord，deBarral，deMontesquiou；ateachmoment，owingtotheirsolicitationswithjudgesandthecouncil，owingtotheauthoritywhichthediscontentofthepowerfulorderfelttobebehindthemgivestotheircomplaints，someecclesiasticmatterisdecidedinanecclesiasticalsense；sofeudalrightismaintainedinfavorofachapterorofabishop；somepublicdemandisthrownout。[1]In1781，notwithstandingdecisionoftheParliamentofRennes，thecanonsofSt。Maloaresustainedintheirmonopolyofthedistrictbakingoven。
Thisistothedetrimentofthebakerswhoprefertobakeattheirowndomicilesaswellasoftheinhabitantswhowouldhavetopaylessforbreadmadebythebakers。In1773，Guénin，aschoolmaster，dischargedbythebishopofLangres，andsupportedinvainbyinhabitants，iscompelledtohandhisplaceovertoasuccessorappointedbythebishop。In1770，Rastel，aProtestant，havingopenedapublicschoolatSaint—Affrique，isprosecutedatthedemandofthebishopandofclericalagents；hisschoolisclosedandheisimprisoned。Whenanorganizedbodykeepspursestringsinitsownhandsitsecuresmanyfavors；thesearetheequivalentforthemoneyitgrants。Thecommandingtoneofthekingandthesubmissiveairoftheclergyeffectnofunmentalchange；withbothofthemitisabargain，[2]
givingandtakingonbothsides，thisorthatlawagainsttheProtestantsgoingforoneortwomillionsaddedtothefreegift。InthiswaytherevocationoftheEdictofNantesisgraduallybroughtabout，articlebyarticle，oneturnoftherackafteranotherturn，eachfreshpersecutionpurchasedbyafreshlargess，theclergyhelpingtheStateonconditionthattheStatebecomesanexecutioner。
Throughouttheeighteenthcenturythechurchseesthatthisoperationcontinues。[3]In1717，anassemblageofseventy—fourpersonshavingbeensurprisedatAndurethemenaresenttothegalleysandthewomenareimprisoned。In1724，anedictdeclaresthatallwhoarepresentatanymeeting，orwhoshallhaveanyintercourse，directorindirect，withpreachers，shallbecondemnedtotheconfiscationoftheirproperty，thewomentohavetheirheadsshavedandbeshutupforlife，andthementosenttothegalleysforlife。In1745and1746，inDauphiny，277Protestantsarecondemnedtothegalleys，andnumbersofwomenarewhipped。Between1744and1752，intheeastandinthesouth，sixhundredProtestantsareimprisonedandeighthundredcondemnedtovariouspenalties。In1774，thetwochildrenofRoux，aCalvinistofNimes，arecarriedoff。UptonearlythebeginningoftheRevolution，inLanguedoc，ministersarehung，whiledragoonsaredispatchedagainstcongregationsassembledtoworshipGodindesertedplaces。ThemotherofM。Guizotherereceivedshotsintheskirtsofherdress。Thisisowingtothefactthat，inLanguedoc，throughtheprovincialStates—Assembly"thebishopscontroltemporalaffairsmorethanelsewhere，theirdispositionbeingalwaystodragoonandmakeconvertsatthepointofthebayonet。"In1775，atthecoronationoftheking，archbishopLoménieofBrienne，awell—knownunbeliever，addressestheyoungking:"Youwilldisapproveoftheculpablesystemsoftoleration……CompletetheworkundertakenbyLouistheGreat。ToyouisreservedtheprivilegeofgivingthefinalblowtoCalvinisminyourkingdom。"In1780，theassemblyoftheclergydeclares"thatthealtarandthethronewouldequallybeindangerifheresywereallowedtothrowoffitsshackles。"Evenin1789，theclergyinitsregisters，whileconsentingtothetolerationofnon—Catholics，findstheedictof1788tooliberal。Theydesirethatnon—Catholicsshouldbeexcludedfromjudicialoffices，thattheyshouldneverbeallowedtoworshipinpublic，andthatmixedmarriagesshouldbeforbidden。Andmuchmorethanthis；theydemandpreliminarycensureofallworkssoldbythebookshops，anecclesiasticalcommitteetoactasinformers，andignominiouspunishmenttobeawardedtotheauthorsofirreligiousbooks。Lastlytheyclaimfortheirbodythedirectionofpublicschoolsandtheoversightofprivateschools。—Thereisnothingstrangeinthisintoleranceandselfishness。Acollectivebody，aswithanindividual，thinksofitselffirstofallandaboveall。If，nowandthen，itsacrificessomeoneofitsprivilegesitisforthepurposeofsecuringtheallianceofsomeotherbody。Inthatcase，whichisthatofEngland，alltheseprivileges，whichcompoundwitheachotherandaffordeachothermutualsupport，form，throughtheircombination，thepublicliberties。—Inthiscase，onlyonebodybeingrepresented，itsdeputiesareneitherdirectednortemptedtomakeconcessiontoothers；theinterestofthebodyistheirsoleguide；theysubordinatethecommoninteresttoitandserveitatanycost，eventocriminalattacksonthepublicwelfare。
III。InfluenceoftheNobles……
Regulationsintheirfavor。—PrefermentobtainedbythemintheChurch。—Distributionofbishopricsandabbeys。—PrefermentobtainedfromthemfromtheState。—Governments，offices，sinecures，pensions，gratuities。—Insteadofbeingusefultheyareanexpense。
Thusdopublicbodiesworkwhen，insteadofbeingassociatedtogether，theyareseparate。Thesamespectacleisapparentoncontemplatingcastesandassociations；theirisolationisthecauseoftheiregoism。Fromthetoptothebottomofthescalethelegalandmoralpowerswhichshouldrepresentthenationrepresentthemselvesonly，whileeachoneisbusyinitsownbehalfattheexpenseofthenation。Thenobility，indefaultoftherighttomeettogetherandtovote，exercisesitsinfluence，and，toknowhowitusesthis，itissufficienttoreadovertheedictsandtheAlmanac。AregulationimposedonMarshaldeSégur[4]hasjustrestoredtheoldbarrier，whichexcludedcommonersfrommilitaryrank，andthenceforward，tobeacaptain，itisnecessarytoprovefourdegreesofnobility。Inlikemanner，inlatedays，onemustbeanobletobeamasterofrequests，anditissecretlydeterminedthatinfuture"allecclesiasticalproperty，fromthehumblestpriorytotherichestabbeys，shallbereservedtothenobility。"Infact，allthehighplaces，ecclesiasticorlaic，aretheirs；allthesinecures，ecclesiasticorlaic，aretheirs，orfortheirrelations，adherents，protégés，andservitors。
France[5]islikeavaststableinwhichtheblood—horsesobtaindoubleandtriplerationsfordoingnothing，orforonlyhalf—work，whilstthedraft—horsesperformfullserviceonhalfaration，andthatoftennotsupplied。Again，itmustbenoted，thatamongtheseblood—horsesisaprivilegedcirclewhich，bornnearthemanger，keepsitsfellowsawayandfeedsbountifully，fat，shining，withtheirskinspolished，anduptotheirbelliesinlitter，andwithnootheroccupationthanthatofappropriatingeverythingtothemselves。Thesearethecourtnobles，wholivewithinreachoffavors，broughtupfrominfancytoaskforthem，toobtainandtoaskagain，solelyattentivetoroyalcondescensionandfrowns，forwhomtheOEildeboeuf[6]
formstheuniverse。Theyareas"indifferenttotheaffairsoftheStateastotheirownaffairs，allowingonetobegovernedbyprovincialintendantsastheyallowedheothertobegovernedbytheirownintendants。"
Letuscontemplatethematworkonthebudget。Weknowhowlargethatofthechurchis；Iestimatethattheyabsorbateastone—halfofit。Nineteenchaptersofmalenobles，twenty—fivechaptersoffemalenobles，twohundredandsixtycommanderiesofMaltabelongtothembyinstitution。Theyoccupy，byfavor，allthearchbishoprics，and，exceptfive，allthebishoprics。[7]Theyfurnishthreeoutoffourabbés—commendatoryandvicars—general。If，amongtheabbeysoffemalesroyallynominated，wesetapartthosebringingintwentythousandlivresandmore，wefindthattheyallhaveladiesofrankforabbesses。Onefactaloneshowstheextentofthesefavors:Ihavecountedeighty—threeabbeysofmenpossessedbythealmoners，chaplains，preceptorsorreaderstotheking，queen，princes，andprincesses；oneofthem，theabbédeVermont，has80，000livresincomeinbenefices。Inshort，thefifteenhundredecclesiasticalsinecuresunderroyalappointment，largeorsmall，constituteaflowofmoneyfortheserviceofthegreat，whethertheypouritoutingoldenraintorecompensetheassiduityoftheirintimatesandfollowers，orkeepitinlargereservoirstomaintainthedignityoftheirrank。Besides，accordingtothefashionofgivingmoretothosewhohavealreadyenough，therichestprelatespossess，abovetheirepiscopalrevenues，thewealthiestabbeys。AccordingtotheAlmanac，M。d’Argentré，bishopofSéez，[8]thusenjoysanextraincomeof34，000livres；M。deSuffren，bishopofSisteron，36，000；M。deGirac，bishopofRennes，40，000；M。deBourdeille，bishopofSoissons，42，000；M。d’AgoutdeBonneval，bishopofPamiers，45，000；M。deMarboeufbishopofAutun，50，000；M。deRohan，bishopofStrasbourg，60，000；M。deCicé，archbishopofBordeaux，63，000；M。deLuynes，archbishopofSens，82，000；M。deBernis，archbishopofAlby，100，000；M。deBrienne，archbishopofToulouse，l06，000；M。deDillon，archbishopofNarbonne，120，000；M。deLarochefoucauld，archbishopofRouen，130，000；thatistosay，doubleandsometimestriplethesumsstated，andquadruple，andoftensixtimesasmuch，accordingtothepresentstandard。M。deRohanderivedfromhisabbeys，not60，000livresbut400，000，andM。
deBrienne，themostopulentofall，nexttoM。deRohan，the24thofAugust，1788，atthetimeofleavingtheministry，[9]senttowithdrawfromthetreasury"the20，000livresofhismonth’ssalarywhichhadnotyetfallendue，apunctualitythemoreremarkablethat，withouttakingintoaccountthesalaryofhisplace，withthe6，000
livrespensionattachedtohisblueribbon，hepossessed，inbenefices，678，000livresincome，andthat，stillquiterecently，acuttingofwoodononeofhisabbeydomainsyieldedhimamillion。"
Letuspassontothelaybudget；herealsoareprolificsinecures，andalmostallbelongtothenobles。Ofthisclassthereareintheprovincesthethirty—sevengreatgovernments—general，thesevensmallgovernments—general，thesixty—sixlieutenancies—general，thefourhundredandsevenspecialgovernments，thethirteengovernorshipsofroyalpalaces，andanumberofothers，allofthemforostentationandemptyhonors。Theyareallinthehandsofthenobles，alllucrative，notonlythroughsalariespaidbythetreasury，butalsothroughlocalprofits。Here，again，thenobilityalloweditselftoevadetheauthority，theactivityandtheusefulnessofitschargeontheconditionofretainingitstitle，pompandmoney。[10]Theintendantisreallythegovernor；"thetitulargovernor，exercisingafunctionwithspeciallettersofcommand，"isonlytheretogivedinners；andagainhemusthavepermissiontodothat，"thepermissiontogoandresideathisplaceofgovernment。"Theplace，however，yieldsfruit。Thegovernment—generalofBerryisworth35，000livresincome，thatofGuyenne120，000，thatofLanguedoc160，000；asmallspecialgovernment，likethatofHavre，bringsin35，000livres，besidestheaccessories；amediumlieutenancy—general，likethatofRoussillon，13，000to14，000livres；onespecialgovernmentfrom12，000to18，000
livres；andobservethat，intheIsleofFrancealone，therearethirty—four，atVervins，Senlis，Melun，Fontainebleau，Dourdan，Sens，Limours，Etampes，Dreux，Houdanandothertownsasinsignificantastheyarepacific；itisthestaffoftheValoisdynastywhich，sincethetimeofRichelieu，hasceasedtoperformanyservice，butwhichthetreasurycontinuestopay。—Considerthesesinecuresinoneprovincealone，inLanguedoc，acountrywithitsownprovincialassembly，whichoughttoprovidesomeprotectionthetaxpayer’spurse。
Therearethreesub—commandantsatTournon，Alais，andMontpelier，"eachonepaid16，000livres，althoughwithoutanyfunctionssincetheirplaceswereestablishedatthetimeofthereligiouswarsandtroubles，tokeepdowntheProtestants。"Twelveroyallieutenantsareequallyuseless，andonlyforparade。Thesamewiththreelieutenants—
general，eachone"receivinginhisturn，everythreeyears，agratuityof30，000livres，forservicesrenderedinthesaidprovince。
Thesearevainandchimerical，theyarenotspecified"becausenoneofthemresidethere，and，iftheyarepaid，itistosecuretheirsupportatthecourt。"ThustheComtedeCaraman，whohasmorethan600，000livresincomeasproprietoroftheLanguedoccanal，receives30，000livreseverythreeyears，withoutlegitimatecause，andindependentlyoffrequentandamplegiftswhichtheprovinceawardstohimforrepairsonhiscanal。"—Theprovincelikewisegivestothecommandant，ComtedePérigord，agratuityof12，000livresinadditiontohissalary，andtohiswifeanothergratuityof12，000livresonherhonoringthestatesforthefirsttimewithherpresence。Itagainpays，forthesamecommandant，fortyguards，"ofwhichtwenty—
fouronlyserveduringhisshortappearanceattheAssembly，"andwho，withtheircaptain，annuallycost15，000livres。ItpayslikewisefortheGovernorfromeightytoonehundredguards，"whoeachreceive300
or400livres，besidesmanyexemptions，andwhoareneveronservice，sincetheGovernorisanon—resident。"Theexpenseoftheselazysubalternsisabout24，000livres，besides5，000to6，000fortheircaptain，towhichmustbeadded7，500forgubernatorialsecretaries，besides60，000livressalaries，anduntoldprofitsfortheGovernorhimself。Ifindeverywheresecondaryidlersswarmingintheshadowofidlersinchief，[11]andderivingtheirvigorfromthepublicpursewhichisthecommonnurse。Allthesepeopleparadeanddrinkandeatcopiously，ingrandstyle；itistheirprincipalservice，andtheyattendtoitconscientiously。ThesessionsoftheAssemblyarejunketingsofsixweeks’duration，inwhichtheintendantexpends25，000livresindinnersandreceptions。[12]
Equallylucrativeanduselessarethecourtoffices[13]，somanydomesticsinecures，theprofitsandaccessoriesofwhichlargelyexceedtheemoluments。Ifindintheprintedregister295cooks，withoutcountingthetable—waitersofthekingandhispeople，while"theheadbutlerobtains84，000livresayearinbilletsandsupplies，"withoutcountinghissalaryandthe"grandliveries"whichhereceivesinmoney。Theheadchambermaidstothequeen，inscribedintheAlmanacfor150livresandpaid12，000francs，makeinreality50，000francsbythesaleofthecandleslightedduringtheday。
Augeard，privatesecretary，andwhoseplaceissetdownat900livresayear，confessesthatitisworthtohim200，000。TheheadhuntsmanatFontainebleausellsforhisownbenefiteachyear20，000francsworthofrabbits。"Oneachjourneytotheking’scountryresidencestheladiesofthebedchambergaineightypercentontheexpensesofmoving；itissaidthatthecoffeeandbreadforeachoftheseladiescosts2，000francsayear，andsoonwithotherthings。""Mme。deTallardmade115，000livresincomeoutofherplaceofgovernesstothechildrenofFrance，becausehersalarywasincreased35，000livresforeachchild。"TheDucdePenthièvre，asgrandadmiral，receivedananchoragedueonallvessels"enteringtheportsandriversofFrance，"whichproducedannually91，484francs。Mme。deLamballe，superintendentofthequeen’shousehold，inscribedfor6，000francs，gets50，000。[14]TheDucdeGèvresgets50，000crowns[15]byoneshowoffireworksoutofthefragmentsandscaffoldingwhichbelongtohimbyvirtueofhisoffice。[16]—Grandofficersofthepalace，governorsofroyalestablishments，captainsofcaptaincies，chamberlains，equerries，gentlemeninwaiting，gentlemeninordinary，pages，governors，almoners，chaplains，ladiesofhonor，ladiesofthebedchamber，ladiesinwaitingontheKing，theQueen，onMonsieur，onMadame，ontheComteD’Artois，ontheComtesseD’Artois，onMesdames，onMadameRoyale，onMadameElisabeth，ineachprincelyestablishmentandelsewhere，hundredsofplacesprovidedwithsalariesandaccessoriesarewithoutanyservicetoperform，orsimplyansweradecorativepurpose。"Mme。deLabordehasjustbeenappointedkeeperofthequeen’sbed，with12，000francspensionoutoftheking’sprivypurse；nothingisknownofthedutiesofthisposition，astherehasbeennoplaceofthiskindsinceAnneofAustria。"TheeldestsonofM。deMachaultisappointedintendantoftheclasses。"Thisisoneoftheemploymentscalledcomplimentary:itisworth18，000livresincometosignone’snametwiceayear。"Andlikewisewiththepostofsecretary—generaloftheSwissguards，worth30，000livresayearandassignedtotheAbbéBarthélemy；andthesamewiththepostofsecretary—generalofthedragoons，worth20，000livresayear，heldinturnbyGentilBernardandbyLaujon，twosmallpocketpoets。？—Itwouldbesimplertogivethemoneywithouttheplace。Thereis，indeed，noendtothem。Onreadingvariousmemoirsdayafterdayitseemsasifthetreasurywasopentoplunder。Thecourtiers，unremittingintheirattentionstotheking，forcehimtosympathizewiththeirtroubles。Theyarehisintimates，theguestsofhisdrawing—room；menofthesamestampashimself，hisnaturalclients，theonlyoneswithwhomhecanconverse，andwhomitisnecessarytomakecontented；hecannotavoidhelpingthem。Hemustnecessarilycontributetothedowriesoftheirchildrensincehehassignedtheirmarriagecontracts；hemustnecessarilyenrichthemsincetheirprofusionservesfortheembellishmentofhiscourt。Nobilitybeingoneofthegloriesofthethrone，theoccupantofthethroneisobligedtoregilditasoftenasisnecessary。[17]Inthisconnectionafewfiguresandanecdotesamongathousandspeakmosteloquently。[18]—"ThePrincedePonshadapensionof25，000livres，outoftheking’sbounty，onwhichhisMajestywaspleasedtogive6，000toMme。deMarsan，hisdaughter，CanonessofRemiremont。ThefamilyrepresentedtothekingthebadstateofthePrincedePons’saffairs，andhisMajestywaspleasedtogranttohissonPrinceCamille，15，000livresofthepensionvacatedbythedeathofhisfather，and5，000livresincreasetoMme。deMarsan。"—M。deConflansespousesMlle。Portail。"Inhonorofthismarriagethekingwaspleasedtoorderthatoutofthepensionof10，000livresgrantedtoMme。laPresidentePortail，6，000ofitshouldpasstoM。deConflansafterthedeathofMme。Portail。"—M。deSéchelles，aretiringminister，"had12，000livresonanoldpensionwhichthekingcontinued；hehas，besidesthis，20，000livrespensionasminister；
andthekinggiveshiminadditiontoallthisapensionof40，000
livres。"Themotives，whichpromptthesefavors，areoftenremarkable。
M。deRouilléhastobeconsoledfornothavingparticipatedinthetreatyofVienna；thisexplainswhy"apensionof6，000livresisgiventohisniece，Mme。deCastellane，andanotherof10，000tohisdaughter，Mme。deBeuvron，whoisveryrich。"—"M。dePuisieuxenjoysabout76，000or77，000livresincomefromthebountyoftheking；itistruethathehasconsiderableproperty，buttherevenueofthispropertyisuncertain，beingforthemostpartinvines。"—"A
pensionof10，000livreshasjustbeenawardedtotheMarquisedeLèdebecausesheisdisagreeabletoMme。Infante，andtosecureherresignation。"—Themostopulentstretchouttheirhandsandtakeaccordingly。"Itisestimatedthatlastweek128，000livresinpensionswerebestowedonladiesofthecourt，whileforthepasttwoyearstheofficershavenotreceivedtheslightestpension:8，000
livrestotheDuchessedeChevreuse，whosehusbandhasanincomeof500，000livres；12，000livrestoMme。deLuynes，thatshemaynotbejealous；10，000totheDuchessedeBrancas；10，000tothedowagerDuchessedeBrancas，motherofthepreceding，"etc。Attheheadoftheseleechescometheprincesoftheblood。"Thekinghasjustgiven1，500，000livrestoM。lePrincedeContitopayhisdebts，1，000，000
ofwhichisunderthepretextofindemnifyinghimfortheinjurydonehimbythesaleofOrange，and500，000livresasagratuity。""TheDucd’Orléansformerlyhad50，000crownspension，asapoorman，andawaitinghisfather’sinheritance。Thiseventmakinghimrich，withanincomeofmorethan3，000，000livres，hegaveuphispension。Buthavingsincerepresentedtothekingthathisexpenditureexceededhisincome，thekinggavehimbackhis50，000crowns。"—Twentyyearslater，in1780，whenLouisXVI。，desirousofrelievingthetreasury，signs"thegreatreformationofthetable，600，000livresaregiventoMesdamesfortheirtables。"Thisiswhatthedinners，cutdown，ofthreeoldladies，costthepublic！Fortheking’stwobrothers，8，300，000livres，besides2，000，000incomeinappanages；fortheDauphin，MadameRoyale，MadameElisabeth，andMesdames3，500，000
livres；forthequeen，4，000，000:suchisthestatementofNeckerin1784。Addtothisthecasualdonations，admittedorconcealed；200，000
francstoM。deSartines，toaidhiminpayinghisdebts；200，000toM。Lamoignon，keeperoftheseals；100，000toM。deMiromesnilforexpensesinestablishinghimself；166，000tothewidowofM。deMaurepas；400，000tothePrincedeSalm；1，200，000totheDucdePolignacforthepledgeofthecountyFenestranges；754，337toMesdamestopayforBellevue。[19]M。deCalonne，"saysAugeard，areliablewitness，[20]"scarcelyenteredonhisduties，raisedaloanof100，000，000livres，one—quartersofwhichdidnotfinditswayintotheroyaltreasury；therestwaseatenupbypeopleatthecourt；hisdonationstotheComteArtoisareestimatedat56，000，000；theportionofMonsieuris5，000，000；hegavetothePrincedeCondé，inexchangefor300，000livresincome，12，000，000paiddownand600，000livresannuity，andhecausesthemostburdensomeacquisitiontobemadefortheState，inexchangesofwhichthedamageismorethanfivetoone。"
Wemustnotforgetthatinactualratesallthesedonations，pensions，andsalariesareworthdoubletheamount。—Suchistheuseofthegreatinrelationtothecentralpower；insteadofconstitutingthemselvesrepresentativesofthepeople，theyaimedtobethefavoritesoftheSovereign，andtheysheartheflockwhichtheyoughttopreserve。
IV。
IsolationoftheChiefs—Sentimentsofsubordinates—Provincialnobility—TheCurates。
Thefleecedflockistodiscoverfinallywhatisdonewithitswool。"Soonerorlater，"saysaparliamentof1764，[21]"thepeoplewilllearnthattheremnantsofourfinancescontinuebewastedindonationswhicharefrequentlyundeserved；inexcessiveandmultipliedpensionsforthesamepersons；indowriesandpromisesofdowry，andinuselessofficesandsalaries。"Soonerorlatertheywillthrustback"thesegreedyhandswhicharealwaysopenandneverfull；thatinsatiablecrowdwhichseemstobebornonlytoseizeallandpossessnothing，andpitilessasitisshameless。"—Andwhenthisdayarrivestheextortionerswillfindthattheystandalone。Forthecharacteristicofanaristocracywhichcaresonlyforitselfistolivealoofinaclosedcircle。Havingforgottenthepublic，italsoneglectsitssubordinates；afterbeingseparatedfromthenationitseparatesitselffromitsownadherents。Likeagroupofstaff—
officersonfurlough，itindulgesinSportswithoutgivingitselffurtherconcernaboutinferiorofficers；whenthehourofbattlecomesnobodywillmarchunderitsorders，andchieftainsaresoughtelsewhere。Suchistheisolationoftheseigniorsofthecourtandoftheprelatesamongthelowergradesofthenobilityandtheclergy；
theyappropriatetothemselvestoolargeashare，andgivenothing，oralmostnothing，tothepeoplewhoarenotoftheirsociety。Foracenturyasteadymurmuragainstthemrising，andgoesonexpandinguntilitbecomesanuproar，whichtheoldandthenewspirit，feudalideasandphilosophicideas，threateninunison。"Isee，"saidthebailiffofMirabeau，[22]"thatthenobilityisdemeaningitselfandbecomingawreck。Itisextendedtoallthosechildrenofbloodsuckers，thevagabondsoffinance，introducedbyLaPompadour，herselfthespringofthisfoulness。Oneportionofitdemeansitselfinitsservilitytothecourt；theotherportionisamalgamatedwiththatquill—drivingrabblewhoareconvertingthebloodoftheking’ssubjectsintoink；anotherperishesstifledbeneathvilerobes，theignobleatomsofcabinet—dustwhichanofficedragsupoutofthemire；"andall，parvenusoftheoldorofthenewstock，formabandcalledthecourt，’Thecourt！"exclaimsD’Argenson。"Theentireevilisfoundinthisword，Thecourthasbecomethesenateofthenation；
theleastofthevaletsatVersaillesisasenator；chambermaidstakepartinthegovernment，ifnottolegislate，atleasttoimpedelawsandregulations；andbydintofhindrancetherearenolongereitherlaws，orrules，orlaw—makers……UnderHenryIVcourtiersremainedeachoneathome；theyhadnotenteredintoruinousexpendituretobelongtothecourt；favorswerenotthusduetothemasatthepresentday……Thecourtisthesepulcherofthenation。"Manynobleofficers，findingthathighgradesareonlyforcourtiers，abandontheservice，andbetakethemselveswiththeirdiscontenttotheirestates。
Others，whohavenotlefttheirdomains，broodthereindiscomfort，idleness，andennui，theirambitionembitteredbytheirpowerlessness。
In1789，saystheMarquisdeFerrières，mostofthem"aresowearyofthecourtandoftheministers，theyarealmostdemocrats。"Atleast，"theywanttowithdrawthegovernmentfromtheministerialoligarchyinwhosehandsitisconcentrated；"therearenograndseigniorsfordeputies；theysetthemasideand"absolutelyrejectthem，sayingthattheywouldtrafficwiththeinterestsofthenobles；"theythemselves，intheirregisters，insistthattherebenomorecourtnobility。
Thesamesentimentsprevailamongthelowerclergy，andstillmoreactively；fortheyareexcludedfromthehighoffices，notonlyasinferiors，butalsoascommoner。[23]Already，in1766，theMarquisdeMirabeauwrites:"Itwouldbeaninsulttomostofourpretentiousecclesiasticstoofferthemacuracy。Revenuesandhonorsarefortheabbés—commendatory，fortonsuredbeneficiariesnotinorders，forthenumerouschapters（ofnobility）。"Onthecontrary，"thetruepastorsofsouls，thecollaboratorsintheholyministry，scarcelyobtainasubsistence。"Thefirstclass"drawnfromthenobilityandfromthebestofthebourgeoisiehavepretensionsonly，withoutbeingofthetrueministry。Theother，onlyhavingdutiestofulfillwithoutexpectationsandalmostwithoutincome……canberecruitedonlyfromthelowestranksofcivilsociety，"whiletheparasiteswhodespoilthelaborers"affecttosubjugatethemandtodegradethemmoreandmore。""Ipity，"saidVoltaire，"thelotofacountrycurate，obligedtocontendforasheafofwheatwithhisunfortunateparishioner，topleadagainsthim，toexactthetitheofpeasandlentils，towastehismiserableexistenceinconstantstrife……I
pitystillmorethecuratewithafixedallowancetowhommonks，calledgrosdecimateurs[24]dareofferasalaryoffortyducats，togoaboutduringtheyear，twoorthreemilesfromhishome，dayandnight，insunshineandinrain，inthesnowandintheice，exercisingthemosttryingandmostdisagreeablefunctions。"Attemptsaremadeforthirtyyearstosecuretheirsalariesandraisethemalittle；incaseoftheirinadequacythebeneficiary，collatorortithe—owneroftheparishisrequiredtoaddtothemuntilthecurêobtains500
livres（1768），then700livres（1785），thevicar200livres（1768），then250（1778），andfinally350（1785）。Strictly，atthepricesatwhichthingsare，amanmaysupporthimselfonthat。[25]Buthemustliveamongthedestitutetowhomheowesalms，andhecherishesatthebottomofhisheartasecretbitternesstowardstheindolentDiveswho，withfullpockets，dispatcheshim，withemptypockets，onamissionofcharity。AtSaint—PierredeBarjouville，intheToulousain，thearchbishopofToulouseappropriatestohimselfone—halfofthetithesandgivesawayeightlivresayearinalms。AtBretx，thechapterofIsleJourdain，whichretainsone—halfofcertaintithesandthree—quartersofothers，givestenlivres；atCroixFalgarde，theBenedictines，towhomahalfofthetithesbelong，givetenlivresperannum。[26]AtSainte—CroixdeBernayinNormandy，[27]thenon—
residentabbé，whoreceives57，000livresgives1，050livrestothecuratewithoutaparsonage，whoseparishcontains4，000communicants。
AtSaint—Aubin—sur—Gaillon，theabbé，agrosdécimateur，gives350
livrestothevicar，whoisobligedtogointothevillageandobtaincontributionsofflour，breadandapples。AtPlessisHébert，"thesubstitutedeportuaire，[28]nothavingenoughtoliveonisobligedtogethismealsinthehousesofneighboringcurates。"InArtois，wherethetithesareoftensevenandahalfandeightpercent。onheproductofthesoil，anumberofcurateshaveafixedrateandnoparsonage；theirchurchgoestoruinandthebeneficiarygivesnothingtothepoor。"AtSaint—Laurent，inNormandy，thecuracyisworthnotmorethan400livres，whichthecurateshareswithanobitier，[29]
andthereare500inhabitants，threequartersofwhomreceivealms。"
Astherepairsonaparsonageoronachurchareusuallyattheexpenseofaseigniororofabeneficiaryoftenfaroff，andindebtorindifferent，itsometimeshappensthatthepriestdoesnotknowwheretolodge，ortosaymass。"Iarrived，"saysacurateoftheTouraine，"inthemonthofJune，1788……Theparsonagewouldresembleahideouscavewereitnotopentoallthewindsandthefrosts。Belowtherearetworoomswithstonefloors，withoutdoorsorwindows，andfivefeethigh；athirdroomsixfeethigh，pavedwithstone，servesasparlor，hall，kitchen，wash—house，bakery，andsinkforthewaterofthecourtandgarden。Abovearethreesimilarrooms，thewholecrackingandtumblinginruins，absolutelythreateningtofail，withouteitherdoorsandwindowsthathold。"And，in1790，therepairsarenotyetmade。See，bywayofcontrast，theluxuryoftheprelatespossessinghalfamillionincome，thepompoftheirpalaces，thehuntingequipmentofM。deDillon，bishopofEvreux，theconfessionalslinedwithsatinofM。deBarral，bishopofTroyes，andtheinnumerableculinaryutensilsinmassivesilverofM。deRohan，bishopofStrasbourg。—Suchisthelotofcuratesattheestablishedrates，andthereare"agreatmany"whodonotgettheestablishedrates，withheldfromthemthroughtheill—willofthehigherclergy；who，withtheirperquisites，getonlyfrom400to500
livres，andwhovainlyaskforthemeagerpittancetowhichtheyareentitledbythelateedict。"Shouldnotsucharequest，"saysacurate，"bewillinglygrantedbyMessieursoftheupperclergywhosuffermonkstoenjoyfrom5to6，000livresincomeeachperson，whilsttheyseecurates，whoareatleastasnecessary，reducedtothelighterportion，aslittleforthemselvesasfortheirparish？"—
Andtheyyetgnawonthisslightpittancetopaythefreegift。Inthis，asintherest，thepoorarechargedtodischargetherich。InthedioceseofClermont，"thecurates，evenwiththesimplefixedrates，aresubjecttoataxof60，80，100，120livresandevenmore；
thevicars，wholiveonlybythesweatoftheirbrows，aretaxed22
livres。"Theprelates，onthecontrary，paybutlittle，and"itisstillacustomtopresentbishopsonNew—Year’sdaywithareceiptfortheirtaxes。"[30]—Thereisnoescapeforthecurates。Savetwoorthreesmallbishopricsof"lackeys，"allthedignitiesofthechurcharereservedtothenobles；"tobeabishopnowadays，"saysoneofthem，"amanmustbeagentleman。"Iregardthemassergeantswho，liketheirfellowsinthearmy，havelostallhopeofbecomingofficers。—Hencetherearesomewhoseangerburstsitsbounds:"We，unfortunatecuratesatfixedrates；we，commonlyassignedtothelargestparishes，likemyownwhich，fortwoleaguesinthewoods，includeshamletsthatwouldformanother；we，whoselotmakeseventhestonesandbeamsofourmiserabledwellingscryaloud，"wehavetoendureprelates"whowouldstill，throughtheirforest—keepers，prosecuteapoorcurateforcuttingastickintheirforests，hissolesupportonhislongjourneysovertheroad。"Ontheirpassing，thepoorman"isobligedtojumpcloseagainstaslopetoprotecthimselffromthefeetandthespatteringofthehorses，aslikewisefromthewheelsand，perhaps，thewhipofaninsolentcoachman，"andthen，"begrimedwithdirt，withhisstickinonehandandhishat，suchasitis，intheother，hemustsalute，humblyandquickly，throughthedooroftheclose，gildedcarriage，thecounterfeithierophantwhoissnoringonthewooloftheflockthepoorcurateisfeeding，andofwhichhemerelyleaveshimthedungandthegrease。"Thewholeletterisonelongcryofrage；itisrancorofthisstampwhichistofashionJosephLebonsandFouchés。—Inthissituationandwiththesesentimentsitisevidentthatthelowerclergywilltreatitschiefsastheprovincialnobilitytreatedtheirs。[31]Theywillnotselect"forrepresentativesthosewhoswiminopulenceandwhohavealwaysregardedtheirsufferingswithtranquility。"Thecurates，onallsides"willconfederatetogether"tosendonlycuratestotheStates—General，andtoexclude"notonlycanons，abbés，priorsandotherbeneficiaries，butagaintheprincipalsuperiors，theheadsofthehierarchy，"thatistosay，thebishops。Infact，intheStates—
General，outofthreehundredclericaldeputieswecounttwohundredandeightcurates，and，liketheprovincialnobles，thesebringalongwiththemthedistrustandtheill—willwhichtheyhavesolongentertainedagainsttheirchiefs。Eventsaresoontoprovethis。Ifthefirsttwoordersareconstrainedtocombineagainstthecommunesitisatthecriticalmomentwhenthecurateswithdraw。Iftheinstitutionofanupperchamberisrejecteditisowingtothecommonaltyofthegentry（laplèbedesgentilshommes）beingunwillingtoallowthegreatfamiliesaprerogativewhichtheyhaveabused。
V。TheKing’sIncompetenceandGenerosity。
Themostprivilegedofall—Havingmonopolizedallpowers，hetakesuponhimselftheirfunctionalactivity—Theburdenofthistask—Heevadesitorisincompetent—Hisconscienceatease—Franceishisproperty—Howheabusesit—Royaltythecenterofabuses。
Oneprivilegeremainsthemostconsiderableofall，thatoftheking；for，inhisstaffofhereditarynoblesheisthehereditarygeneral。Hisoffice，indeed，isnotasinecure，liketheirrank；butitinvolvesquiteasgravedisadvantagesandworsetemptations。TwothingsarepernicioustoMan，thelackofoccupationandthelackofrestraint；neitherinactivitynoromnipotenceareinharmonywithhisnature。Theabsoluteprincewhoisall—powerful，likethelistlessaristocracywithnothingtodo，intheendbecomeuselessandmischievous。—Ingraspingallpowersthekinginsensiblytookuponhimselfallfunctions；animmenseundertakingandonesurpassinghumanstrength。ForitistheMonarchy，andnottheRevolution，whichendowedFrancewithadministrativecentralization[32]。Threefunctionaries，oneabovetheother，manageallpublicbusinessunderthedirectionoftheking’scouncil；thecomptroller—generalatthecenter，theintendantineachgeneralship，[33]thesub—delegateineachelection，fixing，apportioningandlevyingtaxesandthemilitia，layingoutandbuildinghighways，employingthenationalpoliceforce，distributingsuccor，regulatingcultivation，imposingtheirtutelageontheparishes，andtreatingmunicipalmagistratesasvalets。"A
village，"saysTurgot，[34]"issimplyanassemblageofhousesandhuts，andofinhabitantsequallypassive……YourMajestyisobligedtodecidewhollybyyourselforthroughyourmandataries