parliament of Aix, a general amnesty is proclaimed; "no one is
excepted but a few of the leaders, to whom is allowed the liberty of
leaving the kingdom." The mildness of the King and of the military
authorities is admirable. It is admitted that the people are
children, that they err only through ignorance, that faith must be
had in their repentance, and, as soon as they return to order, they
must be received with paternal effusions. -- The truth is, that
the child is a blind Colossus, exasperated by sufferings. hence
whatever it takes hold of is shattered -- not only the local wheels
of the provinces, which, if temporarily deranged, may be repaired,
but even the incentive at the center which puts the rest in motion,
and the destruction of which will throw the whole machinery into
confusion.

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Notes:

[1] Marmontel, "Mémoires," II. 221. -- Albert Babeau, "Histoire
de la Révolution Française," I. 91, 187. (Letter by Huez Mayor of
Troyes, July 30, 1788.)- -- Archives Nationales, H. 1274. (Letter
by M. de Caraman, April 22, 1789.) H. 942 (Cahier des demandes des
Etats de Languedoc). - Buchez et Roux, "Histoire Parlementaire,"
I. 283.

[2] See " The Ancient Régime," p.34. Albert Babeau, I. 91. (The
Bishop of Troyes gives 12,000 francs, and the chapter 6,000, for the
relief workshops.)

[3] "The Ancient Regime," 350, 387.--Floquet, "Histoire du Parlement