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Languedoc。 In Vivarais； and in the Cevennes； whole forests of
chestnuts had perished； along with all the grain and grass crops on
the uplands。 On the plain the Rhone remained in a state of overflow
for two months。 After the spring of 1789 the famine spread
everywhere； and it increased from month to month like a rising
flood。 In vain did the Government order the farmers； proprietors；
and corn…dealers to keep the markets supplied。 In vain did it
double the bounty on imports； resort to all sorts of expedients；
involve itself in debt； and expend over forty millions of francs to
furnish France with wheat。 In vain do individuals； princes；
noblemen； bishops； chapters； and communities multiply their
charities。 The Archbishop of Paris incurring a debt of 400；000
livres； one rich man distributing 40；000 francs the morning after
the hailstorm； and a convent of Bernardines feeding twelve hundred
poor persons for six weeks＇2＇。 But it had been too devastating。
Neither public measures nor private charity could meet the
overwhelming need。 In Normandy； where the last commercial treaty
had ruined the manufacture of linen and of lace trimmings； forty
thousand workmen were out of work。 In many parishes one…fourth of
the population＇3＇ are beggars。 Here； 〃nearly all the inhabitants；
not excepting the farmers and landowners； are eating barley bread
and drinking water；〃 there； 〃many poor creatures have to eat oat
bread； and others soaked bran； which has caused the death of several
children。〃 〃Above all；〃 writes the Rouen Parliament； 〃let help be
sent to a perishing people 。 。 。。 Sire； most of your subjects
are unable to pay the price of bread； and what bread is given to
those who do buy it 〃 Arthur Young；＇4＇ who was traveling through
France at this time； heard of nothing but the high cost of bread and
the distress of the people。 At Troyes bread costs four sous a pound
that is to say； eight sous of the present day； and unemployed
artisans flock to the relief works； where they can earn only twelve
sous a day。 In Lorraine； according to the testimony of all
observers； 〃the people are half dead with hunger。〃 In Paris the
number of paupers has been trebled； there are thirty thousand in the
Faubourg Saint…Antoine alone。 Around Paris there is a short supply
of grain； or it is spoilt＇5＇。 In the beginning of July； at
Montereau； the market is empty。 〃The bakers could not have baked〃
if the police officers had not increased the price of bread to five
sous per pound； the rye and barley which the intendant is able to
send 〃are of the worst possible quality； rotten and in a condition
to produce dangerous diseases。 Nevertheless； most of the small
consumers are reduced to the hard necessity of using this spoilt
grain。〃 At Villeneuve… le…Roi； writes the mayor； 〃the rye of the two
lots last sent is so black and poor that it cannot be retailed
without wheat。〃 At Sens the barley 〃tastes musty〃 to such an extent
that buyers of it throw the detestable bread； which it makes in the
face of the sub…delegate。 At Chevreuse the barley has sprouted and
smells bad； the 〃 poor wretches；〃 says an employee； 〃must be hard
pressed with hunger to put up with it。〃 At Fontainebleau 〃the
barley； half eaten away； produces more bran than flour； and to make
bread of it； one is obliged to work it over several times。〃 This
bread； such as it is； is an object of savage greed； 〃it has come to
this； that it is impossible to distribute it except through
wickets。〃 And those who thus obtain their ration； 〃are often
attacked on the road and robbed of it by the more vigorous of the
famished people。〃 At Nangis 〃the magistrates prohibit the same
person from buying more than two bushels in the same market。〃 In
short； provisions are so scarce that there is a difficulty in
feeding the soldiers； the minister dispatches two letters one after
another to order the cutting down of 250；000 bushels of rye before
the harvest＇6＇。 Paris thus； in a perfect state of tranquility；
appears like a famished city put on rations at the end of a long
siege； and the dearth will not be greater nor the food worse in
December 1870； than in July 1789。
〃The nearer the 14th of July approached；〃 says an eyewitness；＇7＇
〃the more did the dearth increase。〃 Every baker's shop was
surrounded by a crowd； to which bread was distributed with the most
grudging economy。 This bread was generally blackish； earthy； and
bitter； producing inflammation of the throat and pain in the bowels。
I have seen flour of detestable quality at the military school and
at other depots。 I have seen portions of it yellow in color； with
an offensive smell； some forming blocks so hard that they had to be
broken into fragments by repeated blows of a hatchet。 For my own
part； wearied with the difficulty of procuring this poor bread； and
disgusted with that offered to me at the tables d'h？te； I avoided
this kind of food altogether。 In the evening I went to the Café du
Caveau； where； fortunately； they were kind enough to reserve for me
two of those rolls which are called flutes； and this is the only
bread I have eaten for a week at a time。〃
But this resource is only for the rich。 As for the people； to get
bread fit for dogs； they must stand in a line for hours。 And here
they fight for it； 〃they snatch food from one another。〃 There is no
more work to be had； 〃the work…rooms are deserted；〃 often； after
waiting a whole day； the workman returns home empty…handed。 When he
does bring back a four…pound loaf it costs him 3 francs 12 sous；
that is； 12 sous for the bread； and 3 francs for the lost day。 In
this long line of unemployed； excited men； swaying to and fro before
the shop…door； dark thoughts are fermenting： 〃if the bakers find no
flour to…night to bake with； we shall have nothing to eat to…
morrow。〃 An appalling idea； in presence of which the whole power
of the Government is not too strong； for to keep order in the midst
of famine nothing avails but the sight of an armed force； palpable
and threatening。 Under Louis XIV and Louis XV there had been even
greater hunger and misery； but the outbreaks； which were roughly and
promptly put down； were only partial and passing disorders。 Some
rioters were at once hung； and others were sent to the galleys。 The
peasant or the workman； convinced of his impotence； at once returned
to his stall or his plow。 When a wall is too high one does not even
think of scaling it。 But now the wall is cracking all its
custodians； the clergy； the nobles； the Third…Estate； men of
letters； the politicians； and even the Government itself； making the
breach wider。 The wretched； for the first time； discover an issue：
they dash through it； at first in driblets； then in a mass； and
rebellion becomes as universal as resignation was in the past。
II。
Expectations the second cause。 … Separation and laxity of the
administrative forces。 … Investigations of local assemblies。 … The
peop