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mirrors are broken； the pictures are torn up； and the doors are
broken down。〃 The master of the house； 〃M。 de Comeau…Créncé； Knight
of St。 Louis； horribly maltreated； is dragged to the foot of the
stairs； where he lies as if dead：〃 previous to this； 〃he was forced
to give a considerable contribution； and to refund all penalties
collected by him before the Revolution as the local lord of the
manor。 〃 … Two other proprietors in the neighborhood； both
Knights of St。 Louis； are treated in the same way。 〃That is the
way in which three old and brave soldiers are rewarded for their
services！〃 A fourth； a peaceable man； escapes beforehand； leaving
his keys in the locks and his gardener in the house。
Notwithstanding this； the doors and the clothes…presses were broken
open； the pillaging lasting five hours and a half； with threats of
setting the house on fire if the seigneur did not make his
appearance。 Questions were asked 〃as to whether he attended the
mass of the new curé whether he had formerly exacted fines； and
finally； whether any of the inhabitants had any complaint to make
against him。〃 No complaint is made； on the contrary； he is rather
beloved。 … But； in tumults of this sort； a hundred madmen and
fifty rogues prescribe the law to the timid and the indifferent。
These outlaws declared that 〃they were acting under orders； they
compelled the mayor and prosecuting attorney to take part in their
robberies； they likewise took the precaution to force a few honest
citizens； by using the severest threats； to march along with them。〃
These people come the next day to apologize to the pillaged
proprietor； while the municipal officers draw up a statement of the
violence practiced against them。 The violence nevertheless； is
accomplished； and； as it will go unpunished； it is soon to be
repeated。
A beginning and an end are already made in the two neighboring
departments。 There； especially in the south； nothing is more
instructive than to see how an outbreak stimulated by enthusiasm for
the public good immediately degenerates under the impulse of private
interest； and ends in crime。 … Around Lyons；＇14＇ under the same
pretext and at the same date； similar mobs perform similar
visitations； and； on all these occasions； 〃the rent…rolls are burnt；
and houses are pillaged and set on fire。 Municipal authority；
organized for the security of property； is in many hands but one
facility more for its violation。 The National Guard seems to be
armed merely for the protection of robbery and disorder。〃 … For
more than thirty years； M。 de Chaponay； the father of six children
of whom three are in the service； expended his vast income on his
estate of Beaulieu； giving occupation to a number of persons； men；
women； and children。 After the hailstorm of 1761； which nearly
destroyed the village of Moranée； he rebuilt thirty…three houses；
furnished others with timber for the framework； supplied the
commune with wheat； and； for several years； obtained for the
inhabitants a diminution of their taxation。 In 1790； he celebrated
the Federation Festival on a magnificent scale； giving two banquets；
one of a hundred and thirty seats； for the municipal bodies and
officers of the National Guards in the vicinity； and the other of a
thousand seats for the privates。 If any of the gentry had reason to
believe himself popular and safe it was certainly this man。 … On
the 24th of June； 1791； the municipal authorities of Moranée；
Lucenay； and Chazelai； with their mayors and National Guards； in all
nearly two thousand men； arrive at the chateau with drums beating
and flags flying。 M。 de Chaponay goes out to meet them； and begs to
know to what he owes 〃the pleasure〃 of their visit。 They reply that
they do not come to offend him； but to carry out the orders of the
district； which oblige them to take possession of the chateau and to
place in it a guard of sixty men： on the following day the
〃district〃 and the National Guard of Villefranche are to come and
inspect it。 … Be it noted that these orders are imaginary； for M。
de Chaponay asks in vain to see them； they cannot be produced。 The
cause of their setting out； probably； is the false rumor that the
National Guard of Villefranche is coming to deprive them of a booty
on which they had calculated。 … Nevertheless M。 de Chaponay
submits； he merely requests the municipal officers to make the
search themselves and in an orderly manner。 Upon this the
commandant of the National Guard of Lucenay exclaims； with some
irritation； that 〃all are equal and all must go in；〃 and at the same
moment all rush forward。 〃M。 de Chaponay orders the apartments to
be opened； they immediately shut them up； purposely to let the
sappers break through the doors with their axes。〃 … Everything is
pillaged； 〃plate； assignats； stocks of linen； laces and other
articles； the trees of the avenues are hacked and mutilated； the
cellars are emptied； the casks are rolled out on the terrace； the
wine is suffered to run out； and the chateau keep is demolished。 。
。 。 The officers urge on those that are laggard。〃 Towards nine
o'clock in the evening M。 de Chaponay is informed by his servants
that the municipal authorities have determined upon forcing him to
sign an abandonment of his feudal dues and afterwards beheading him。
He escapes with his wife through the only door which is left
unguarded； wanders about all night； exposed to the gun…shots of the
squads which are on his track； and reaches Lyons only on the
following day。 … ？Meanwhile the pillagers send him notice that if
he does not abandon his rentals； they will cut down his forests and
burn up everything on his estate。 The chateau； indeed； is fired
three distinct times； while； in the interval； the band sack another
chateau at Bayère； and； on again passing by that of M。 de Chaponay；
demolish a dam which had cost 10；000 livres。 … The public
prosecutor； for his part； remains quiet； notwithstanding the appeals
to him： he doubtless says to himself that a gentleman whose house
has been searched is lucky to have saved his life； and that others；
like M。 Guillin…Dumoutet； for example； have not been as fortunate。
The latter gentleman； formerly captain of a vessel belonging to the
India Company； afterwards Commandant at Senegal； now retired from
active life； occupied his chateau of Poleymieux with his young wife
and two infant children； his sisters； nieces； and sister…in…law …
in all； ten women belonging to his family and domestic service …
one Negro servant and himself； an old man of sixty years of age；
here is a haunt of militant conspirators which must be disarmed as
soon as possible。＇15＇ Unfortunately； a brother of M。 Guillin；
accused of treason to the nation； had been arrested ten months
previously； which was quite sufficient for the clubs in the
neighborhood。 In the month of December； 1790； the chateau had
already been ransacked by the people of the parishes in t