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plebeians。 They have found a quarry； and never was the removal of
property more complete。 They carefully carry off； says an official
statement； all that can be carried … furniture； curtains； mirrors；
clothes…presses； pictures； wines； provisions； even floors and wooden
panels； 〃down to the smallest fragments of iron and wood…work；〃
smashing the rest； so that nothing 〃remains of the house but its
four walls； the roof and the staircase。〃 In Lot； where for two years
the insurrection is permanent； the damage is much greater。 During
the night between the 30th and 31st of January； 〃all the best houses
in Souillac〃 are broken open； 〃sacked and pillaged from top to
bottom；〃＇70＇ their owners being obliged to fly； and so many
outbreaks occur in the department； that the directory has no time to
render an account of them to the minister。 Entire districts are in
revolt； as； 〃in each commune all the inhabitants are accomplices；
witnesses cannot be had to support a criminal prosecution； and crime
remains unpunished。〃 In the canton of Cabrerets； the restitution of
rents formerly collected is exacted； and the reimbursement of
charges paid during twenty years past。 The small town of Lauzerte
is invaded by surrounding bodies of militia； and its disarmed
inhabitants are at the mercy of the Jacobin suburbs。 For three
months； in the district of Figeac； 〃all the mansions of former
nobles are sacked and burnt；〃 next the pigeon…cots are attacked；
〃and all country…houses which have a good appearance。〃 Barefooted
gangs 〃enter the houses of well…to…do people； physicians； lawyers；
merchants； burst open the doors of cellars； drink the wine；〃 and
riot like drunken victors。 In several communes these expeditions
have become a custom； 〃a large number of individuals are found in
them who live on rapine alone；〃 and the club sets them the example。
For six months； in the principal town； a coterie of the National
Guard； called the Black Band； expel all persons who are displeasing
to them； 〃pillaging houses at will； beating to death； wounding or
mutilating by saber…strokes； all who have been proscribed in their
assemblies；〃 and no official or advocate dares lodge a complaint。
Brigandage； borrowing the mask of patriotism； and patriotism
borrowing the methods of brigandage； have combined against property
at the same time as against the ancient régime； and； to free
themselves from all that inspires them with fear； they seize all
which can provide them with booty。
And yet this is merely the outskirts of the storm； the center is
elsewhere； around N？mes； Avignon； Arles； and Marseilles； in a
country where； for a long time； the conflict between cities and the
conflict between religions have kindled and accumulated malignant
passions。＇71＇ Looking at the three departments of Gard； Bouches…de…
Rh？ne and Vaucluse； one would imagine one's self in the midst of a
war with savages。 In fact； it is a Jacobin and plebeian invasion；
and； consequently； conquest； dispossession； and extermination； …
in Gard； a swarm of National Guards copy the jacquerie： the dregs of
the Comtat come to the surface and cover Vaucluse with its scum； an
army of six thousand from Marseilles sweeps down on Arles。 … In
the districts of N？mes； Sommières； Uzès； Alais； Jalais； and Saint…
Hippolyte； title…deeds are burnt； proprietors put to ransom； and
municipal officers threatened with death if they try to interpose；
twenty chateaux and forty country…houses are sacked； burnt； and
demolished。 … The same month； Arles and Avignon；＇72＇ given up to
the bands of Marseilles and of the Comtat； see confiscation and
massacres approaching。 … Around the commandant； who has received
the order to evacuate Aries；＇73＇ 〃the inhabitants of all parties〃
gather as suppliants； 〃clasping his hands； entreating him with tears
in their eyes not to abandon them； women and children cling to his
boots；〃 so that he does not know how to free himself without hurting
them； on his departure twelve hundred families emigrate。 After the
entrance of the Marseilles band we see eighteen hundred electors
proscribed； their country…houses on the two banks of the Rhone
pillaged； 〃as in the times of Saracen pirates；〃 a tax of 1；400；000
livres levied on all people in good circumstances； absent or
present； women and girls promenaded about half…naked on donkeys and
publicly whipped。〃 〃A saber committee〃 disposes of lives； proscribes
and executes： it is the reign of sailors； porters； and the dregs of
the populace。 … At Avignon；＇74＇ it is that of simple brigands；
incendiaries and assassins； who； six months previously； converted
the Glacière＇75＇ into a charnel…house。 They return in triumph and
state that 〃this time the Glacière will be full。〃 Five hundred
families had already sought asylum in France before the first
massacre； now； the entire remainder of the honest bourgeoisie；
twelve hundred persons； take to flight； and the terror is so great
that the small neighboring towns dare not receive emigrants。 In
fact； from this time forth； both departments throughout Vaucluse and
Bouches…de…Rh？ne are a prey： Bands of two thousand armed men； with
women； children； and other volunteer followers； travel from commune
to commune to live as they please at the expense of 〃fanatics。〃 The
well…bred people are not the only ones they despoil。 Plain
cultivators； taxed at 10；000 livres； have sixty men billeted on
them； their cattle are slain and eaten before their eyes； and
everything in their houses is broken up； they are driven out of
their lodgings and wander as fugitives in the reed…swamps of the
Rhone； awaiting a moment of respite to cross the river and take
refuge in the neighboring department。＇76＇ Thus； from the spring of
1792； if any citizen is suspected of unfriendliness or even of
indifference towards the ruling faction； if； through but one opinion
conscientiously held； he risks the vague possibility of mistrust or
of suspicion； he undergoes popular hostility； pillage； exile； and
worse besides； no matter how loyal his conduct may be； nor how loyal
he may be at heart； no matter that he is disarmed and inoffensive；
it is all the same whether it be a noble； bourgeois； peasant； aged
priest； or woman； and this while public peril is yet neither great；
present； nor visible； since France is at peace with Europe； and the
government still subsists in its entirety。
IX。
General state of opinion。 … The three convoys of non…juring
priests on the Seine。 … Psychological aspects of the Revolution。
What will it be； then； now when the peril； already become palpable
and serious； is daily increasing； now when war has begun； when
Lafayette's army is falling back in confusion； when the Assembly
declares the country in danger； when the King is overthrown； when
Lafayette defects and goes abroad； when the soil of France is
invaded； when the frontier fortresses surrender without resistance；
when the Prussians are entering Champagne； when