首页 >出版文学> The Purcell Papers>第14章
  Hisdictatorship,absoluteduringfivemonths,isastrikingexampleofthepowerofcertainleaders。Wecanunderstandthatatyrantbackedbyanarmycaneasilydestroywhomhepleases,butthatasinglemanshouldsucceedinsendingtodeathalargenumberofhisequalsisathingthatisnoteasilyexplained。
  ThepowerofRobespierrewassoabsolutethathewasabletosendtotheTribunal,andthereforetothescaffold,themosteminentdeputies:Desmoulins,Hebert,Danton,andmanyanother。ThebrilliantGirondistsmeltedawaybeforehim。HeattackedeventheterribleCommune,guillotineditsleaders,andreplaceditbyanewCommuneobedienttohisorders。
  InordertoridhimselfmorequicklyofthemenwhodispleasedhimheinducedtheConventiontoenactthelawofPrairial,whichpermittedtheexecutionofmeresuspects,andbymeansofwhichhehad1,373headscutoffinParisinforty—ninedays。Hiscolleagues,thevictimsofaninsaneterror,nolongersleptathome;scarcelyahundreddeputieswerepresentatsessions。
  Davidsaid:``IdonotbelievetwentyofusmembersoftheMountainwillbeleft。’’
  ItwashisveryexcessofconfidenceinhisownpowersandinthecowardiceoftheConventionthatlostRobespierrehislife。
  HavingattemptedtomakethemvoteameasurewhichwouldpermitdeputiestobesentbeforetheRevolutionaryTribunal,whichmeantthescaffold,withouttheauthorisationoftheAssembly,onanorderfromthegoverningCommittee,severalMontagnardsconspiredwithsomemembersofthePlaintooverthrowhim。
  Tallien,knowinghimselfmarkeddownforearlyexecution,andhavingthereforenothingtolose,accusedhimloudlyoftyranny。
  Robespierrewishedtodefendhimselfbyreadingaspeechwhichhehadlonghadinhand,buthelearnedtohiscostthatalthoughitispossibletodestroymeninthenameoflogicitisnotpossibletoleadanassemblybymeansoflogic。Theshoutsoftheconspiratorsdrownedhisvoice;thecry``Downwiththetyrant!’’quicklyrepeated,thankstomentalcontagion,bymanyofthememberspresent,wasenoughtocompletehisdownfall。
  WithoutlosingamomenttheAssemblydecreedhisaccusation。
  TheCommunehavingwishedtosavehim,theAssemblyoutlawedhim。
  Struckbythismagicformula,hewasdefinitelylost。
  ``Thiscryofoutlawry,’’writesWilliams,``atthisperiodproducedthesameeffectonaFrenchmanasthecryofpestilence;
  theoutlawbecamecivillyexcommunicated,anditwasasthoughmenbelievedthattheywouldbecontaminatedpassingthroughtheairwhichhehadbreathed。SuchwastheeffectitproduceduponthegunnerswhohadtrainedtheircannonagainsttheConvention。
  Withoutreceivingfurtherorders,merelyonhearingthattheCommunewas`outsidethelaw,’theyimmediatelyturnedtheirbatteriesabout。’’
  Robespierreandallhisband——Saint—Just,thepresidentoftheRevolutionaryTribunal,themayoroftheCommune,&c。,——wereguillotinedonthe10thofThermidortothenumberoftwenty—one。
  TheirexecutionwasfollowedonthemorrowbyafreshbatchofseventyJacobins,andonthenextdaybythirteen。TheTerror,whichhadlastedtenmonths,wasatanend。
  ThedownfalloftheJacobinedificeinThermidorisoneofthemostcuriouspsychologicaleventsoftherevolutionaryperiod。
  NoneoftheMontagnardswhohadworkedforthedownfallofRobespierrehadforamomentdreamedthatitwouldmarktheendoftheTerror。
  Tallien,Barras,Fouche,&c。,overthrewRobespierreashehadoverthrownHebert,Danton,theGirondists,andmanyothers。
  ButwhentheacclamationsofthecrowdtoldthemthatthedeathofRobespierrewasregardedashavingputanendtotheTerrortheyactedasthoughsuchhadbeentheirintention。TheywerethemoreobligedtodosointhatthePlain——thatis,thegreatmajorityoftheAssembly——whichhadalloweditselftobedecimatedbyRobespierre,nowrebelledfuriouslyagainstthesystemithadsolongacclaimedevenwhileitabhorredit。
  Nothingismoreterriblethanabodyofmenwhohavebeenafraidandareafraidnolonger。ThePlainrevengeditselfforbeingterrorisedbytheMountain,andterrorisedthatbodyinturn。
  TheservilityofthecolleaguesofRobespierreintheConventionwasbynomeansbaseduponanyfeelingofsympathyforhim。Thedictatorfilledthemwithanunspeakablealarm,butbeneaththemarksofadmirationandenthusiasmwhichtheylavishedonhimoutoffearwasconcealedanintensehatred。WecangatherasmuchbyreadingthereportsofvariousdeputiesinsertedintheMoniteurofAugust11,15,and29,1794,andnotablythaton``theconspiracyofthetriumvirs,Robespierre,Couthon,andSaint—Just。’’Neverdidslavesheapsuchinvectivesonafallenmaster。
  Welearnthat``thesemonstershadforsometimebeenrenewingthemosthorribleprescriptionsofMariusandSulla。’’
  Robespierreisrepresentedasamostfrightfulscoundrel;weareassuredthat``likeCaligula,hewouldsoonhaveaskedtheFrenchpeopletoworshiphishorse……Hesoughtsecurityintheexecutionofallwhoarousedhisslightestsuspicion。’’
  ThesereportsforgettoaddthatthepowerofRobespierreobtainednosupport,asdidthatoftheMariusandSullatowhomtheyallude,fromapowerfularmy,butmerelyfromtherepeatedadhesionofthemembersoftheConvention。Withouttheirextremetimiditythepowerofthedictatorcouldnothavelastedasingleday。
  Robespierrewasoneofthemostodioustyrantsofhistory,butheisdistinguishedfromallothersinthathemadehimselfatyrantwithoutsoldiers。
  Wemaysumuphisdoctrinesbysayingthathewasthemostperfectincarnation,saveperhapsSaint—Just,oftheJacobinfaith,inallitsnarrowlogic,itsintensemysticism,anditsinflexiblerigidity。Hehasadmirersevento—day。M。Hameldescribeshimas``themartyrofThermidor。’’Therehasbeensometalkoferectingamonumenttohim。Iwouldwillinglysubscribetosuchapurpose,feelingthatitisusefultopreserveproofsoftheblindnessofthecrowd,andoftheextraordinarydocilityofwhichanassemblyiscapablewhentheleaderknowshowtohandleit。HisstatuewouldrecallthepassionatecriesofadmirationandenthusiasmwithwhichtheConventionacclaimedthemostthreateningmeasuresofthedictator,ontheveryeveofthedaywhenitwasabouttocasthimdown。
  4。Fouquier—Tinville,Marat,Billaud—Varenne,&c。
  Ishalldevoteaparagraphtocertainrevolutionistswhowerefamousforthedevelopmentoftheirmostsanguinaryinstincts。
  Theirferocitywascomplicatedbyothersentiments,byfearandhatred,whichcouldbutfortifyit。
  Fouquier—Tinville,thepublicprosecutoroftheRevolutionaryTribunal,wasoneofthosewhohaveleftthemostsinistermemories。Thismagistrate,formerlyreputedforhiskindness,andwhobecamethebloodthirstycreaturewhosememoryevokessuchrepulsion,hasalreadyservedmeasanexampleinotherworks,whenIhavewishedtoshowthetransformationofcertainnaturesintimeofrevolution。
  Needyintheextremeatthemomentofthefallofthemonarchy,hehadeverythingtohopefromasocialupheavalandnothingtolose。Hewasoneofthosemenwhomaperiodofdisorderwillalwaysfindreadytosustainit。
  TheConventionabandoneditspowerstohim。Hehadtopronounceuponthefateofnearlytwothousandaccused,amongwhomwereMarie—Antoinette,theGirondists,Danton,Hebert,&c。Hehadallthesuspectsbroughtbeforehimexecuted,anddidnotscrupletobetrayhisformerprotectors。Assoonasoneofthemfellintohispower——CamilleDesmoulins,Danton,oranother——hewouldpleadagainsthim。
  Fouquier—Tinvillehadaveryinferiormind,whichtheRevolutionbroughttothetop。Undernormalconditions,hedgedaboutbyprofessionalrules,hisdestinywouldhavebeenthatofapeaceableandobscuremagistrate。Thiswaspreciselythelotofhisdeputy,orsubstitute,attheTribunal,Gilbert—Liendon。
  ``Heshould,’’writesM。Durel,``haveinspiredthesamehorrorashiscolleague,yethecompletedhiscareerintheupperranksoftheImperialmagistracy。’’
  Oneofthegreatbenefitsofanorganisedsocietyisthatitdoesrestrainthesedangerouscharacters,whomnothingbutsocialrestraintscanhold。
  Fouquier—Tinvillediedwithoutunderstandingwhyhewascondemned,andfromtherevolutionarypointofviewhiscondemnationwasnotjustifiable。Hadhenotmerelyzealouslyexecutedtheordersofhissuperiors?Itisimpossibletoclasshimwiththerepresentativeswhoweresentintotheprovinces,whocouldnotbesupervised。ThedelegatesoftheConventionexaminedallhissentencesandapprovedofthemuptothelast。
  Ifhiscrueltyandhissummaryfashionoftryingtheprisonersbeforehimhadnotbeenencouragedbyhischiefs,hecouldnothaveremainedinpower。IncondemningFouquier—Tinville,theConventioncondemneditsownfrightfulsystemofgovernment。Itunderstoodthisfact,andsenttothescaffoldanumberofTerroristswhomFouquier—Tinvillehadmerelyservedasafaithfulagent。
  BesideFouquier—TinvillewemaysetDumas,whopresidedovertheRevolutionaryTribunal,andwhoalsodisplayedanexcessivecruelty,whichwaswhettedbyanintensefear。Heneverwentoutwithouttwoloadedpistols,barricadedhimselfinhishouse,andonlyspoketovisitorsthroughawicket。Hisdistrustofeverybody,includinghisownwife,wasabsolute。Heevenimprisonedthelatter,andwasabouttohaveherexecutedwhenThermidorarrived。
  AmongthemenwhomtheConventionbroughttolight,Billaud—
  Varennewasoneofthewildestand,mostbrutal。Hemayberegardedasaperfecttypeofbestialferocity。
  ``Inthesehoursoffruitfulangerandheroicanguishheremainedcalm,acquittinghimselfmethodicallyofhistask——anditwasafrightfultask:heappearedofficiallyatthemassacresoftheAbbaye,congratulatedtheassassins,andpromisedthemmoney;uponwhichhewenthomeasifhehadmerelybeentakingawalk。WeseehimaspresidentoftheJacobinClub,presidentoftheConvention,andmemberoftheCommitteeofPublicSafety;hedragstheGirondiststothescaffold:hedragsthequeenthither,andhisformerpatron,Danton,saidofhim,`Billaudhasadaggerunderhistongue。’HeapprovesofthecannonadesatLyons,thedrowningsatNantes,themassacresatArras;heorganisesthepitilesscommissionofOrange;heisconcernedinthelawsofPrairial;heeggsonFouquier—Tinville;onalldecreesofdeathishisname,oftenthefirst;hesignsbeforehiscolleagues;heiswithoutpity,withoutemotion,withoutenthusiasm;whenothersarefrightened,hesitate,anddrawback,hegoeshisway,speakinginturgidsentences,`shakinghislion’smane’——fortomakehiscoldandimpassivefacemoreinharmonywiththeexuberancethatsurroundshimhenowdeckshimselfinayellowwigwhichwouldmakeonelaughwereitonanybutthesinisterheadofBillaud—Varenne。WhenRobespierre,Saint—Just,andCouthonarethreatenedinturn,hedesertsthemandgoesovertotheenemy,andpushesthemundertheknife……Why?Whatishisaim?Nooneknows;heisnotinanywayambitious;hedesiresneitherpowernormoney。’’
  Idonotthinkitwouldbedifficulttoanswerwhy。Thethirstforblood,ofwhichwehavealreadyspoken,andwhichisverycommonamongcertaincriminals,perfectlyexplainstheconductofBillaud—Varennes。Banditsofthistypekillforthesakeofkilling,assportsmenshootgame——fortheverypleasureofexercisingtheirtastefordestruction。Inordinarytimesmenendowedwiththesehomicidaltendenciesrefrain,generallyfromfearofthepolicemanandthescaffold。Whentheyareabletogivethemfreeventnothingcanstopthem。SuchwasthecasewithBillaud—Varenneandmanyothers。
  ThepsychologyofMaratisrathermorecomplicated,notonlybecausehiscravingformurderwascombinedwithotherelements——
  woundedself—love,ambition,mysticbeliefs,&c。——butalsobecausewemustregardhimasasemi—lunatic,affectedbymegalomania,andhauntedbyfixedideas。
  BeforetheRevolutionhehadadvancedgreatscientificpretensions,butnooneattachedmuchimportancetohismaunderings。Dreamingofplaceandhonour,hehadonlyobtainedaverysubordinatesituationinthehouseholdofagreatnoble。
  TheRevolutionopenedupanunhoped—forfuture。Swollenwithhatredoftheoldsocialsystemwhichhadnotrecognisedhismerits,heputhimselfattheheadofthemostviolentsectionofthepeople。HavingpubliclyglorifiedthemassacresofSeptember,hefoundedajournalwhichdenouncedeverybodyandclamouredincessantlyforexecutions。
  Speakingcontinuallyoftheinterestsofthepeople,Maratbecametheiridol。Themajorityofhiscolleaguesheartilydespisedhim。HadheescapedtheknifeofCharlotteCorday,hecertainlywouldnothaveescapedthatoftheguillotine。
  5。TheDestinyofthoseMembersoftheConventionwhosurvivedtheRevolution。
  BesidethemembersoftheConventionwhosepsychologypresentsparticularcharacteristicstherewereothers——Barras,Fouche,Tallien,MerlindeThionville,&c。——completelydevoidofprinciplesorbelief,whoonlysoughttoenrichthemselves。
  Theysoughttobuildupenormousfortunesoutofthepublicmisery。Inordinarytimestheywouldhavebeenqualifiedassimplescoundrels,butinperiodsofrevolutionallstandardsofviceandvirtueseemtodisappear。
  AlthoughafewJacobinsremainedfanatics,themajorityrenouncedtheirconvictionsassoonastheyhadobtainedriches,andbecamethefaithfulcourtiersofNapoleon。Cambaceres,who,onaddressingLouisXVI。inprison,calledhimLouisCapet,undertheEmpirerequiredhisfriendstocallhim``Highness’’inpublicand``Monseigneur’’inprivate,thusdisplayingtheenviousfeelingwhichaccompaniedthecravingforequalityinmanyoftheJacobins。
  ``ThemajorityoftheJacobins,’’writesM。Madelin``weregreatlyenriched,andlikeChabot,Bazire,Merlin,Barras,Boursault,Tallien,Barrere,&c。,possessedchateauxandestates。Thosewhowerenotwealthyasyetweresoontobecomeso……IntheCommitteeoftheyearIII。alonethestaffoftheThermidorianpartycomprisedafutureprince,13futurecounts,5
  futurebarons,7futuresenatorsoftheEmpire,and6futureCouncillorsofState,andbesidethemintheConventiontherewere,betweenthefutureDukeofOtrantotothefutureCountRegnault,nolessthan50democratswhofifteenyearslaterpossessedtitles,coatsofarms,plumes,carriages,endowments,entailedestates,hotels,andchateaux。
  FouchediedworthL600,000。’’
  Theprivilegesoftheancienregimewhichhadbeensobitterlydecriedwerethusverysoonre—establishedforthebenefitofthebourgeoisie。ToarriveatthisresultitwasnecessarytoruinFrance,toburnentireprovinces,tomultiplysuffering,toplungeinnumerablefamiliesintodespair,tooverturnEurope,andtodestroymenbythehundredthousandonthefieldofbattle。
  Inclosingthischapterwewillrecallwhatwehavealreadysaidconcerningthepossibilityofjudgingthemenofthisperiod。
  Althoughthemoralistisforcedtodealseverelywithcertainindividuals,becausehejudgesthembythetypeswhichsocietymustrespectifitistosucceedinmaintainingitself,thepsychologistisnotinthesamecase。Hisaimistounderstand,andcriticismvanishesbeforeacompletecomprehension。
  Thehumanmindisaveryfragilemechanism,andthemarionetteswhichdanceuponthestageofhistoryarerarelyabletoresisttheimperiousforceswhichimpelthem。Heredity,environment,andcircumstancesareimperiousmasters。Noonecansaywithcertaintywhatwouldhavebeenhisconductintheplaceofthemenwhoseactionsheendeavourstointerpret。
  BOOKIII
  THECONFLICTBETWEENANCESTRALINFLUENCESANDREVOLUTIONARY
  PRINCIPLES
  CHAPTERI
  THELASTCONVULSIONSOFANARCHY——THEDIRECTORY
  1。ThePsychologyoftheDirectory。
  Asthevariousrevolutionaryassemblieswerecomposedinpartofthesamemen,onemightsupposethattheirpsychologywouldbeverysimilar。
  Atordinaryperiodsthiswouldhavebeenso,foraconstantenvironmentmeansconstancyofcharacter。ButwhencircumstanceschangeasrapidlyastheydidundertheRevolution,charactermustperforcetransformitselftoadaptitselfthereto。SuchwasthecasewiththeDirectory。
  TheDirectorycomprisedseveraldistinctassemblies:twolargechambers,consistingofdifferentcategoriesofdeputies,andoneverysmallchamber,whichconsistedofthefiveDirectors。
  ThetwolargerAssembliesremindonestronglyoftheConventionbytheirweakness。Theywerenolongerforcedtoobeypopularriots,asthesewereenergeticallypreventedbytheDirectors,buttheyyieldedwithoutdiscussiontothedictatorialinjunctionsofthelatter。
  Thefirstdeputiestobeelectedweremostlymoderates。EveryonewaswearyoftheJacobintyranny。ThenewAssemblydreamedofrebuildingtheruinswithwhichFrancewascovered,andestablishingaliberalgovernmentwithoutviolence。
  ButbyoneofthosefatalitieswhichwerealawoftheRevolution,andwhichprovethatthecourseofeventsisoftensuperiortomen’swills,thesedeputies,liketheirpredecessors,maybesaidalwaystohavedonethecontraryofwhattheywishedtodo。Theyhopedtobemoderate,andtheywereviolent;theywantedtoeliminatetheinfluenceoftheJacobins,andtheyallowedthemselvestobeledbythem;theythoughttorepairtheruinsofthecountryandtheysucceededonlyinaddingotherstothem;theyaspiredtoreligiouspeace,andtheyfinallypersecutedandmassacredthepriestswithgreaterrigourthanduringtheTerror。
  ThepsychologyofthelittleassemblyformedbythefiveDirectorswasverydifferentfromthatoftheChamberofDeputies。Encounteringfreshdifficultiesdaily,thedirectorswereforcedtoresolvethem,whilethelargeAssemblies,withoutcontactwithrealities,hadonlytheiraspirations。
  TheprevailingthoughtoftheDirectorswasverysimple。Highlyindifferenttoprinciples,theywishedabovealltoremainthemastersofFrance。Toattainthatresulttheydidnotshrinkfromresortingtothemostillegitimatemeasures,evenannullingtheelectionsofagreatnumberofthedepartmentswhentheseembarrassedthem。
  FeelingthemselvesincapableofreorganisingFrance,theylefthertoherself。Bytheirdespotismtheycontrivedtodominateher,buttheynevergovernedher。Now,whatFranceneededmorethananythingatthisjuncturewastobegoverned。
  TheconventionhasleftbehinditthereputationofastrongGovernment,andtheDirectorythatofaweakGovernment。Thecontraryistrue:itwastheDirectorythatwasthestrongGovernment。
  PsychologicallywemayreadilyexplainthedifferencebetweentheGovernmentoftheDirectoryandthatoftheprecedingAssembliesbyrecallingthefactthatagatheringofsixhundredtosevenhundredpersonsmaywellsufferfromwavesofcontagiousenthusiasm,asonthenightofthe4thofAugust,orevenimpulsesofenergeticwill—power,suchasthatwhichlauncheddefianceagainstthekingsofEurope。Butsuchimpulsesaretooephemeraltopossessanygreatforce。Acommitteeoffivemembers,easilydominatedbythewillofone,isfarmoresusceptibleofcontinuousresolution——thatis,ofperseveranceinasettledlineofconduct。
  TheGovernmentoftheDirectoryprovedtobealwaysincapableofgoverning,butitneverlackedastrongwill。Nothingrestrainingit,neitherrespectforlawnorconsiderationforthecitizens,norloveofthepublicwelfare,itwasabletoimposeuponFranceadespotismmorecrushingthanthatofanyGovernmentsincethebeginningoftheRevolution,notexceptingtheTerror。
  AlthoughitutilisedmethodsanalogoustothoseoftheConvention,andruledFranceinthemosttyrannicalmanner,theDirectory,nomorethantheConvention,wasneverthemasterofFrance。
  Thisfact,whichIhavealreadynoted,provesoncemoretheimpotenceofmaterialconstrainttodominatemoralforces。Itcannotbetoooftenrepeatedthatthetrueguideofmankindisthemoralscaffoldingerectedbyhisancestors。
  Accustomedtoliveinanorganisedsociety,supportedbycodesandrespectedtraditions,wecanwithdifficultyrepresenttoourselvestheconditionofanationdeprivedofsuchabasis。Asageneralthingweonlyseetheirksomesideofourenvironment,tooreadilyforgettingthatsocietycanexistonlyonconditionofimposingcertainrestraints,andthatlaws,manners,andcustomconstituteacheckuponthenaturalinstinctsofbarbarismwhichneverentirelyperishes。
  ThehistoryoftheConventionandtheDirectorywhichfolloweditshowsplainlytowhatdegreedisordermayovercomeanationdeprivedofitsancientstructure,andhavingforguideonlytheartificialcombinationsofaninsufficientreason。
  2。DespoticGovernmentoftheDirectory。RecrudescenceoftheTerror。
  Withtheobjectofdivertingattention,occupyingthearmy,andobtainingresourcesbythepillageofneighbouringcountries,theDirectorsdecidedtoresumethewarsofconquestwhichhadsucceededundertheConvention。
  ThesecontinuedduringthelifetimeoftheDirectory。Thearmieswonarichbooty,especiallyinItaly。
  Someoftheinvadedpopulationsweresosimpleastosupposethattheseinvasionswereundertakenintheirinterest。Theywerenotlongindiscoveringthatallmilitaryoperationswereaccompaniedbycrushingtaxesandthepillageofchurches,publictreasuries,&c。
  ThefinalconsequenceofthispolicyofconquestwastheformationofanewcoalitionagainstFrance,whichlasteduntil1801。
  Indifferenttothestateofthecountryandincapableofreorganisingit,theDirectorswereprincipallyconcernedinstrugglingagainstanincessantseriesofconspiraciesinordertokeepinpower。
  Thistaskwasenoughtooccupytheirleisure,forthepoliticalpartieshadnotdisarmed。Anarchyhadreachedsuchapointthatallwerecallingforahandpowerfulenoughtorestoreorder。
  Everyonefelt,theDirectorsincluded,thattherepublicansystemcouldnotlastmuchlonger。
  Somedreamedofre—establishingroyalty,otherstheTerroristsystem,whileotherswaitedforageneral。OnlythepurchasersofthenationalpropertyfearedachangeofGovernment。
  TheunpopularityoftheDirectoryincreaseddaily,andwheninMay,1797,thethirdpartoftheAssemblyhadtoberenewed,themajorityofthoseelectedwerehostiletothesystem。
  TheDirectorswerenotembarrassedbyalittlethinglikethat。
  Theyannulledtheelectionsin49departments;154ofthenewdeputieswereinvalidatedandexpelled,53condemnedtodeportation。AmongtheselatterfiguredthemostillustriousnamesoftheRevolution:Portalis,Carnot,TronsonduCoudray,&c。
  Tointimidatetheelectors,militarycommissionscondemnedtodeath,ratheratrandom,160persons,andsenttoGuiana330,ofwhomhalfspeedilydied。TheemigresandpriestswhohadreturnedtoFrancewereviolentlyexpelled。Thiswasknownasthecoupd’etatofFructidor。
  Thiscoup,whichstruckmoreespeciallyatthemoderates,wasnottheonlyoneofitskind;anotherquicklyfollowed。TheDirectors,findingtheJacobindeputiestoonumerous,annulledtheelectionsofsixtyofthem。
  TheprecedingfactsdisplayedthetyrannicaltemperoftheDirectors,butthisappearedevenmoreplainlyinthedetailsoftheirmeasures。ThenewmastersofFrancealsoprovedtobeasbloodthirstyasthemostferociousdeputiesoftheTerror。
  Theguillotinewasnotre—establishedasapermanency,butreplacedbydeportationunderconditionswhichleftthevictimslittlechanceofsurvival。SenttoRochefortincagesofironbars,exposedtoalltheseveritiesoftheweather,theywerethenpackedintoboats。
  ``BetweenthedecksoftheDecadeandtheBayonnaise,’’
  saysTaine,``themiserableprisoners,suffocatedbythelackofairandthetorridheat,bulliedandfleeced,diedofhungerorasphyxia,andGuianacompletedtheworkofthevoyage:of193
  takenthitherbytheDecade39wereleftaliveattheendoftwenty—twomonths;of120takenbytheBayonnaise1remained。
  ObservingeverywhereaCatholicrenascence,andimaginingthattheclergywereconspiringagainstthem,theDirectorsdeportedorsenttothegalleysinoneyear1,448priests,tosaynothingofalargenumberwhoweresummarilyexecuted。TheTerrorwasinrealitycompletelyre—established。
  TheautocraticdespotismoftheDirectorywasexercisedinallthebranchesoftheadministration,notablythefinances。Thus,havingneedofsixhundredmillionfrancs,itforcedthedeputies,alwaysdocile,tovoteaprogressiveimpost,whichyielded,however,onlytwelvemillions。Beingpresentlyinthesamecondition,itdecreedaforcedloanofahundredmillions,whichresultedintheclosingofworkshops,thestoppageofbusiness,andthedismissalofdomestics。Itwasonlyatthepriceofabsoluteruinthatfortymillionscouldbeobtained。