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patrie。〃 The opposition club； formed in December； 1790； bore the
title； according to some； of 〃Les Amis du Roi； de la paix et de la
religion；〃 according to others； 〃Les amis de la paix；〃 and finally；
according to another report； 〃Les Défenseurs de la religion； des
personnes et des proprietés。〃
＇47＇ A special series of religious services。 （TR）
＇48＇ 〃Archives Nationales；〃 F7； 3195。 Letters of the commissioners；
March 20； February 11； May 10； 1791。
CHAPTER II。 SOVEREIGNTY OF UNRESTRAINED PASSIONS。
Under these conditions when passions are freed； any determined and
competent man who can gather a couple of hundred men may form a band
and slip through the enlarged or weakened meshes of the net held by
the passive or ineffective government。 An experiment on a grand
scale is about to be made on human society； owing to the slackening
of the regular restraints which have maintained it； it is now
possible to measure the force of the permanent instincts which
attack it。 They are always there even in ordinary times； we do not
notice them because they are kept in check； but they are not the
less energetic and effective； and； moreover； indestructible。 The
moment their repression ceases； their power of mischief becomes
evident； just as that of the water which floats a ship； but which；
at the first leak enters into it and sinks it。
I。
Old Religious Grudges … Montauban and N？mes in 1790。
Religious passions； to begin with； are not to be kept down by
federations； embraces； and effusions of fraternity。 In the south；
where the Protestants have been persecuted for more than a century；
hatreds exist more than a century old。＇1＇ In vain have the odious
edicts which oppressed them fallen into desuetude for the past
twenty years； in vain have civil rights been restored to them since
1787： The past still lives in transmitted recollections； and two
groups are confronting each other； one Protestant and the other
Catholic； each defiant； hostile； ready to act on the defensive； and
interpreting the preparations of its adversary as a plan of attack。
Under such circumstances the guns go off of their own accord。 … On
a sudden alarm at Uzès＇2＇ the Catholics； two thousand in number；
take possession of the bishop's palace and the H？tel…de…Ville； while
the Protestants； numbering four hundred； assemble outside the walls
on the esplanade； and pass the night under arms； each troop
persuaded that the other is going to massacre it； one party
summoning the Catholics of Jalès to its aid； and the other the
Protestants of Gardonnenque。 … There is but one way of avoiding
civil war between parties in such an attitude； and that is the
ascendancy of an energetic third party； impartial and on the spot。
A plan to this effect； which promises well； is proposed by the
military commandant of Languedoc。＇3＇ According to him the two
firebrands are； on the one hand； the bishops of Lower Languedoc； and
on the other； MM。 Rabaut…Saint…Etienne； father and two sons； all
three being pastors。 Let them be responsible 〃with their heads〃 for
any mob； insurrection； or attempt to debauch the army； let a
tribunal of twelve judges be selected from the municipal bodies of
twelve towns； and all delinquents be brought before it； let this be
the court of final appeal； and its sentence immediately executed。
The system in vogue； however； is just the reverse。 Both parties
being organized into a body of militia； each takes care of itself；
and is sure to fire on the other； and the more readily； inasmuch as
the new ecclesiastical regulations； which are issued from month to
month； strike like so many hammers on Catholic sensibility； and
scatter showers of sparks on the primings of the already loaded
guns。
At Montauban； on the 10th of May； 1790； the day of the inventory and
expropriation of the religious communities；＇4＇ the commissioners are
not allowed to enter。 Women in a state of frenzy lie across the
thresholds of the doors； and it would be necessary to pass over
their bodies； a large mob gathers around the 〃Cordeliers；〃 and a
petition is signed to have the convents maintained。 … The
Protestants who witness this commotion become alarmed； and eighty of
their National Guards march to the H？tel…de…Ville； and take forcible
possession of the guard…house which protects it。 The municipal
authorities order them to withdraw； which they refuse to do。
Thereupon the Catholics assembled at the 〃Cordeliers〃 begin a riot；
throw stones； and drive in the doors with pieces of timber； while a
cry is heard that the Protestants； who have taken refuge in the
guard…house； are firing from the windows。 The enraged multitude
immediately invade the arsenal； seize all the guns they can lay
their hands on； and fire volleys on the guard…house； the effect of
which is to kill five of the Protestants and wound twenty…four
others。 The rest are saved by a municipal officer and the police；
but they are obliged to appear； two and two； before the cathedral in
their shirts； and do public penance； after which they are put in
prison。 During the tumult political shouts have been heard： 〃Hurrah
for the nobles！ Hurrah for the aristocracy！ Down with the nation！
Down with the tricolor flag！〃 Bordeaux； regarding Montauban as in
rebellion against France； dispatches fifteen hundred of its National
Guard to set the prisoners free。 Toulouse gives its aid to
Bordeaux。 The fermentation is frightful。 Four thousand of the
Protestants of Montauban take flight； armed cities are about to
contend with each other； as formerly in Italy。 It is necessary that
a commissioner of the National Assembly and of the King； Mathieu
Dumas； should be dispatched to harangue the people of Montauban；
obtain the release of the prisoners； and re…establish order。
One month after this a more bloody affray takes place at N？mes＇5＇
against the Catholics。 The Protestants； in fact； are but twelve
thousand out of fifty…four thousand inhabitants； but the principal
trade of the place is in their hands； they hold the manufactories
and support thirty thousand workmen； in the elections of 1789 they
furnished five out of the eight deputies。 The sympathies of that
time were in their favor； nobody then imagined that the dominant
Church was exposed to any risk。 It is to be attacked in its turn；
and the two parties are seen confronting each other。 … The
Catholics sign a petition；＇6＇ hunt up recruits among the market…
gardeners of the suburbs； retain the white cockade； and； when this
is prohibited； replace it with a red rosette； another sign of
recognition。 At their head is an energetic man named Froment； who
has vast projects in view； but as the soil on which he treads is
undermined； he cannot prevent the explosion。 It takes place
naturally； by chance； through the simple collision of two equally
distrustful bodies； and before the final day it has commenced and
recommenced twenty times； through mutua