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grant or refuse civic cards； and draw up reports on the opinions and
pursuits of prisoners。 〃His opinions appear insipid （Ces opignons
paroisse insipide）＇93＇ 。 。 。 。 He is married with no children。〃
（Il est marie cent （sans） enfants）。。 。 。 Her profession is wife of
Paillot…Montabert； she is living on her income； his relations are with
a woman we pay no attention to； we presume her opinions are like her
husband's。〃＇94＇ The handwriting； unfortunately； cannot be represented
here； being that of a child five years old。＇95＇
〃As stupid as they are immoral；〃＇96＇ says Representative Albert； of
the Jacobins he finds in office at Troyes。 Low； indeed； as their
condition may be； their feeling and intelligence are yet lower
because； in their professions or occupations； they are the refuse
instead of the élite； and； especially on this account； they are turned
out after Thermidor； some； it is true； as Terrorists； but the larger
number as either dolts； scandalous or crazy； simply intruders； or mere
valets。 … At Rheims； the president of the district is＇97＇ 〃a former
bailiff； on familiar terms with the spies of the Robespierre régime；
acting in concert with them； but without being their accomplice；
possessing none of the requisite qualities for administration。〃
Another administrator is likewise 〃a former bailiff； without means；
negligent in the highest degree and a confirmed drunkard。〃 Alongside
of these sit 〃a horse…dealer； without any means； more fit for shady
dealings than governing； moreover a drunkard； a dyer； lacking
judgment； open to all sorts of influences； pushed ahead by the Jacobin
faction； and having used power in the most arbitrary manner； rather；
perhaps； through ignorance than through cruelty； a shoemaker； entirely
uninstructed； knowing only how to sign his name；〃 and others of the
same character。 In the Tribunal； a judge is noted as
〃true in principle； but whom poverty and want of resources have driven
to every excess； a turncoat according to circumstances in order to get
a place； associated with the leaders in order to keep the place； and
yet not without sensibility； having； perhaps； acted criminally merely
to keep himself and his family alive。〃
In the municipal body； the majority is composed of an incompetent lot；
some of them being journeymen…spinners or thread twisters； and others
second…hand dealers or shopkeepers； 〃incapable；〃 〃without means；〃 with
a few crack…brains among them： one； 〃his brain being crazed；
absolutely of no account； anarchist and Jacobin；〃 another； 〃very
dangerous through lack of judgment； a Jacobin； over…excited； 〃 a
third； 〃an instrument of tyranny； a man of blood capable of every
vice； having assumed the name of Mutius Sc？vola； of recognized
depravity and unable to write。〃 … Similarly； in the Aube districts； we
find some of the heads feverish with the prevailing epidemic； for
instance； at Nogent； the national agent； Delaporte； 〃who has the words
'guillotine' and 'revolutionary tribunal' always on his lips； and who
declares that if he were the government he would imprison doctor；
surgeon and lawyer； who delights in finding people guilty and says
that he is never content except when he gets three pounds' weight of
denunciations a day。〃 But； apart from these madcaps； most of the
administrators or judges are either people wholly unworthy of their
offices； because they are 〃inept；〃 〃too uneducated；〃 〃good for
nothing；〃 〃too little familiar with administrative forms；〃 〃too little
accustomed to judicial action；〃 〃 without information；〃 〃too busy with
their own affairs；〃 〃unable to read or write；〃 or； because 〃they have
no delicacy；〃 are 〃violent；〃 〃agitators；〃 〃knaves；〃 〃without public
esteem；〃 and more or less dishonest and despised。＇98＇ … As an example
a fellow from Paris； who was at first at Troyes； a baker's
apprentice；＇99＇ and afterwards a dancing…master； then he appeared at
the Club； making headway； doubtless； through his Parisian chatter；
until he stood first and soon became a member of the district。
Appointed an officer in the sixth battalion of Aube； he behaved in
such a manner in Vendée that； on his return； 〃 his brethren in arms〃
broke up the banner presented to him； 〃declaring him unworthy of such
an honor； because he cowardly fled before the enemy。〃 Nevertheless；
after a short plunge； he came back to the surface and； thanks to his
civil compeers； was reinstated in his administrative functions； during
the Terror； he was intimate with all the Terrorists； being one of the
important men of Troyes。 … The mayor of the town； Gachez； an old
soldier and ex…schoolmaster； is of the same stuff as this baker's
apprentice。 He； likewise； was a Vendéan hero； only； he was unable to
distinguish himself as much as he liked； for； after enlisting； he
failed to march； having pocketed the bounty of three hundred livres；
he discovered that he had infirmities and； getting himself
invalidated； he served the nation in a civil capacity。 〃His own
partisans admit that he is a drunkard and that he has committed
forgery。〃 Some months after Thermidor he is sentenced to eight years
imprisonment and put in the pillory for this crime。 Hence； 〃almost
the entire commune is against him； the women in the streets jeer him；
and the eight sections meet together to request his withdrawal。〃 But
Representative B？ reports that he is every way entitled to remain；
being a true Jacobin； an admirable terrorist and 〃the only sans…
culotte mayor which the commune of Troyes has to be proud of。〃＇100＇
It would be awarding too much honor to men of this stamp； to suppose
that they had convictions or principles； they were governed by
animosities and especially by their appetites；＇101＇ to satiate which
they＇102＇ made the most of their offices。 … At Troyes； 〃all
provisions and foodstuffs are drawn upon to supply the table of the
twenty…four〃 sans…culottes＇103＇ to whom B？ entrusted the duty of
weeding…out the popular club； before the organization of 〃this
regenerating nucleus〃 the revolutionary committee； presided over by
Rousselin； the civil commissioner； carried on its 〃gluttony〃 in the
Petit…Louvre tavern； 〃passing nights bozing〃 and in the preparation of
lists of suspects。＇104＇ In the neighboring provinces of Dijon； Beaune；
Semur and Aignayle…Duc； the heads of the municipality and of the club
always meet in taverns and bars。 At Dijon； we see 〃the ten or twelve
Hercules of patriotism traversing the town； each with a chalice under
his arm：〃＇105＇ this is their drinking…cup； each has to bring his own
to the Montagnard inn； there； they imbibe copiously； frequently； and
between two glasses of wine 〃declare who are outlaws。〃 At Aignay…le…
Duc； a small town with only half a dozen patriots 〃the majority of
whom can scarcely write； most of them poor； burdened with families；
and living without doing anything； never quit the bars； where； night
and day； they revel；〃 their chief； a financial ex…procureur； now
〃concierge； archivist；