all minds. . . . . The principles impressed on the people are
that the King desires equality. No more bishops or lords, no more
distinctions of rank, no tithes, and no seignorial privileges.
Thus, these misguided people fancy that they are exercising their
rights, and obeying the will of the King." -- The effect of
sonorous phrases is apparent. The people have been told that the
States-General were to bring about the "regeneration of the kingdom"
The inference is "that the date of their assembly was to be one of
an entire and absolute change of conditions and fortunes." Hence,
"the insurrection against the nobles and the clergy is as active as
it is widespread." "In many places it was distinctly announced that
there was a sort of war declared against landowners and property,"
and "in the towns as well as in the rural districts the people
persist in declaring that they will pay nothing, neither taxes,
duties, nor debts." -- Naturally, the first assault is against the
piquèt, or flour-tax. At Aix, Marseilles, Toulon, and in more than
forty towns and market-villages, this is summarily abolished; at
Aupt and at Luc nothing remains of the weighing-house but the four
walls. At Marseilles the home of the slaughter-house contractor and
at Brignolles that of the director of the leather excise, are
sacked. The determination is "to purge the land of excise-men. " -
- This is only a beginning; bread and other provisions must become
cheap, and that without delay. At Arles, the Corporation of
sailors, presided over by M. de Barras, consul, had just elected its
representatives. By way of conclusion to the meeting, they pass a
resolution insisting that M. de Barras should reduce the price of
all comestibles. On his refusal, they "open the window, exclaiming,
'We hold him, and we have only to throw him into the street for the
rest to pick him up.'" Compliance is inevitable. The resolution is
proclaimed by the town-criers, and at each article which is reduced