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father； a free individual； from looking after 〃his own affairs〃
and buying according to trade principles； as cheap as he could？
If such are the profits on the sale of personal property； what must
they be on the sale of real estate？ … It is on this traffic that the
fortunes of the clever terrorists are founded。 It accounts for the
〃colossal wealth peaceably enjoyed；〃 after Thermidor； of the well…
known 〃thieves〃 who； before Thermidor； were so many 〃little
Robespierres；〃 each in his own canton； 〃the patriots 〃 who； around
Orleans； 〃built palaces；〃 who； 〃exclusives〃 at Valenciennes； 〃having
wasted both public and private funds； possess the houses and property
of emigrants； knocked down to them at a hundred times less than their
value。〃＇135＇ On this side； their outstretched fingers shamelessly
clutch all they can get hold of； for the obligation of each arrested
party to declare his name； quality and fortune； as it now is and was
before the Revolution； gives local cupidity a known； sure； direct and
palpable object。 … At Toulouse； says a prisoner；＇136＇ 〃the details
and value of an object were taken down as if for a succession；〃 while
the commissioners who drew up the statement； 〃our assassins；
proceeded； beforehand and almost under our eyes； to take their share；
disputing with each other on the choice and suitableness of each
object； comparing the cost of adjudication with the means of lessening
it； discussing the certain profits of selling again and of the
transfer； and consuming in advance the pickings arising from sales and
leases。〃 … In Provence； where things are more advanced and corruption
is greater than elsewhere； where the purport and aims of the
Revolution were comprehended at the start； it is still worse。 Nowhere
did Jacobin rulers display their real character more openly； and
nowhere； from 1789 to 1799； was this character so well maintained。 At
Toulon； the demagogues in the year V。； as in the year II。； are＇137＇
〃former workmen and clerks in the Arsenal who had become 'bosses' by
acting as informers and through terrorism； getting property for
nothing； or at an insignificant price； and plotting sales of national
possessions； petty traders from all quarters with stocks of goods
acquired in all sorts of ways； through robberies； through purchases of
stolen goods from servants and employees in the civil； war and navy
departments； and through abandoned or bought…up claims； in a word； men
who； having run away from other communes； pass their days in coffee…
houses and their nights in houses of ill…fame。〃 … At Draguignan；
Brignolles； Vidauban； Fréjus； at Marseilles； after Thermidor； the
intermittent returns to Terrorism always restore the same quarries of
the justiciary and the police to office。＇138＇ 〃Artisans； once useful；
but now tired of working； and whom the profession of paid clubbists；
idle guardians；〃 and paid laborers 〃has totally demoralized；〃
scoundrels in league with each other and making money out of whatever
they can lay their hands on； like thieves at a fair； habitually living
at the expense of the public； 〃bestowing the favors of the nation on
those who share their principles； harboring and aiding many who are
under the ban of the law and calling themselves model patriots；＇139＇
that is； in the pay of gambling hells and houses of prostitution。〃 …
In the rural districts； the old bands 〃consisting of hordes of
homeless brigands〃 who worked so well during the anarchy of the
Constituent and Legislative assemblies； form anew during the anarchy
of the Directory； they make their appearance in the vicinity of Apt
〃commencing with petty robberies and then； strong in the impunity and
title of sans…culottes； break into farm…houses； rob and massacre the
inmates； strip travelers； put to ransom all who happen to cross their
path； force open and pillage houses in the commune of Gorges； stop
women in the streets； tear off their rings and crosses；〃 and attack
the hospital； sacking it from top to bottom； while the town and
military officers； just like them； allow them to go on。＇140＇ … Judge
by this of their performances in the time of Robespierre； when the
vendors and administrators of the national possessions exercised
undisputed control。 Everywhere； at that time； in the departments of
Var； Bouches…du…Rh？ne； and Vaucluse； 〃a club of would…be patriots〃 had
long prepared the way for their exactions。 It had 〃paid appraisers
for depreciating whatever was put up for sale； and false names for
concealing real purchasers； 〃a person not of their clique； was
excluded from the auction…room； if he persisted in coming in they
would； at one time； put him under contribution for the privilege of
bidding；〃 and； at another time； make him promise not to bid above the
price fixed by the league； while； to acquire the domain； they paid him
a bonus。 Consequently； 〃national property〃 was given away 〃for almost
nothing；〃 the swindlers who acquired it never being without a
satisfactory warrant for this in their own eyes。 Into whose hands
could the property of anti…revolutionists better fall than into those
of patriots？ According to Marat； the martyr apostle and canonised
saint of the Revolution； what is the object of the Revolution but to
give to the lowly the fortunes of the great？＇141＇ In all national
sales everywhere； in guarding sequestrations； in all revolutionary
ransoms； taxes； loans and seizures； the same excellent argument
prevails； nowhere； in printed documents or in manuscripts； do I find
any revolutionary committee which is at once terrorist and honest。
Only； it is rare to find specific and individual details regarding all
the members of the same committee。 … Here； however； is one case；
where； owing to the lucky accident of an examination given in detail；
one can observe in one nest； every variety of the species and of its
appetites； the dozen or fifteen types of the Jacobin hornet； each
abstracting what suits him from whatever he lights on； each indulging
in his favorite sort of rapine。 … At Nantes； 〃Pinard； the great
purveyor of the Committee；＇142＇ orders everything that each member
needs for his daily use to be carried to his house。〃 … 〃Gallou takes
oil and brandy；〃 and especially 〃several barrels from citizen
Bissonneau's house。〃 … 〃Durassier makes domiciliary visits and exacts
contributions；〃 among others 〃he compels citizen Lemoine to pay
twenty…five hundred livres； to save him from imprisonment。〃 … 〃Naud
affixes and removes seals in the houses of the incarcerated； makes
nocturnal visits to the dwellings of the accused and takes what suits
him。〃 … 〃Grandmaison appropriates plate under sequestration； and
Bachelier plate given as a present。〃 … 〃Joly superintends executions
and takes all he can find； plate； jewelry； precious objects。〃 …
〃Bolognié forces the return of a bond of twenty thousand livres
already paid to him。〃 … Perrochaux demands of citoyenne Ollemard…Dudan
〃fifty thousand livres； to prevent her imprisonment；〃 and con