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to the National Guards and municipalities in the vicinity； these are
〃almost immediately released； even with the wood which they have cut
down against the law。〃 iii There is no means of repressing 〃the
reiterated threats and insults of the low class of people。〃 A mob of
women； urged on by an old French guardsman； come and pillage under
the nose of the escort a load of faggots confiscated for the benefit
of a hospital； and in the forest itself； bands of marauders fire
upon the patrols。 … At Chantilly； three game…keepers are mortally
wounded；＇54＇ both parks are devastated for eighteen consecutive
days； the game is all killed； transported to Paris and sold。 … At
Chambord the lieutenant of the constabulary writes to announce his
powerlessness； the woods are ravaged and even burnt； the poachers
are now masters of the situation； breaches in the wall are made by
them； and the water from the pond is drawn off to enable them to
catch the fish。 … At Claix； in Dauphiny； an officer of the
jurisdiction of woods and forests； who has secured an injunction
against the inhabitants for cutting down trees on leased ground； is
seized； tortured during five hours； and then stoned to death。 … In
vain does the National Assembly issue three decrees and regulations；
placing the forests under the supervision and protection of
administrative bodies； … he latter are too much afraid of their
charge。 Between the central power； which is weak and remote； and
the people； present and strong； they always decide in favor of the
latter。 Not one of the five municipalities surrounding Chantilly is
disposed to assist in the execution of the laws； while the
directories of the district and department respectively； sanction
their inertia。 … Similarly； near Toulouse；＇55＇ where the
magnificent forest of Larramet is devastated in open day and by an
armed force； where the wanton destruction by the populace leaves
nothing of the underwood and shrubbery but 〃a few scattered trees
and the remains of trunks cut at different heights；〃 the
municipalities of Toulouse and of Tournefeuille refuse all aid。 And
worse still； in other provinces； as for instance in Alsace； 〃whole
municipalities； with their mayors at the head； cut down woods which
are confided to them； and carry them off。〃＇56＇ If some tribunal is
disposed to enforce the law； it is to no purpose； it takes the risk；
either of not being allowed to give judgment； or of being
constrained to reverse its decision。 At Paris the judgment prepared
against the incendiaries of the tax…offices could not be given。 At
Montargis； the sentence pronounced against the marauders who had
stolen cartloads of wood in the national forests had to be revised；
and by the judges themselves。 The moment the tribunal announced the
confiscation of the carts and horses which had been seized； there
arose a furious outcry against it； the court was insulted by those
present； the condemned parties openly declared that they would have
their carts and horses back by force。 Upon this 〃the judges
withdrew into the council…chamber； and when soon after they resumed
their seats； that part of their decision which related to the
confiscation was canceled。〃
And yet this administration of justice； ludicrous and flouted as it
may be； is still a sort of barrier。 When it falls； along with the
Government； everything is exposed to plunder； and there is no such
thing as public property。 … After August 10； 1792； each commune or
individual appropriates whatever comes in its way； either products
or the soil itself。 Some of the plunderers go so far as to say
that； since the Government no longer represses them； they act under
its authority。＇57＇ 〃They have destroyed even the recent plantation
of young trees。〃 〃One of the villages near Fontainebleau cleared off
and divided an entire grove。 At Rambouillet； from August 10th to
the end of October；〃 the loss is more than 100；000 crowns； the rural
agitators demand with threats the partition of the forest among the
inhabitants。 〃The destruction is enormous〃 everywhere； prolonged
for entire months； and of such a kind； says the minister； as to dry
up this source of public revenue for a long time to come。 …
Communal property is no more respected than national property。 In
each commune； these bold and needy folk； the rural populace； are
privileged to enjoy and make the most of it。 Not content with
enjoying it； they desire to acquire ownership of it； and； for days
after the King's fall； the Legislative Assembly； losing its footing
in the universal breaking up； empowers the indigent to put in force
the agrarian law。 Henceforth it suffices in any commune for one…
third of its inhabitants of both sexes； servants； common laborers；
shepherds； farm…hands or cowherds； and even paupers； to demand a
partition of the communal possessions。 All that the commune owns；
save public edifices and woods； is to be cut up into as many equal
lots as there are heads； the lots to be drawn for； and each
individual to take possession of his or her portion。＇58＇ The
Operation is carried out； for 〃those who are least well off are
infinitely flattered by it。〃 In the district of Arcis…sur…Aube；
there are not a dozen communes out of ninety in which more than two…
thirds of the voters had the good sense to pronounce against it。
》From this time forth the commune ceases to be an independent
proprietor； it has nothing to fall back upon。 In case of distress
it is obliged to lay on extra taxes and obtain； if it can； a few
additional sous。 Its future revenue is at present in the tightly
buttoned pockets of the new proprietors。 … The prevalence of
short…sighted views is once more due to the covetousness of
individuals。 Whether national or communal； it is always public
interest which succumbs； and it succumbs always under the
usurpations of indigent minorities； at one time through the
feebleness of public authority； which dares not oppose their
violence； and at another through the complicity of public authority；
which has conferred upon them the rights of the majority。
IV。
Cupidity of tenants。 … The third and fourth jacquerie。 …
Brittany and other provinces in 1790 and 1791。 … The burning of
chateaux。 … Title…deeds destroyed。 … Refusal of claims。 …
Destruction of reservoirs。 … Principal characteristics； prime
motive and ruling passion of the revolution
When there is a lack of public force for the protection of public
property； there is also a lack of it for the protection of private
property； for the same greed and the same needs attack both。 Let a
man owe anything either to the State or to an individual； and the
temptation not to pay is equally the same。 In both cases it
suffices to find a pretext for denying the debt； in finding this
pretext the cupidity of the tenant is as good as the selfishness of
the tax…payer。 Now that the feudal system is abolished let nothing
remain of it： let there be no m