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instance；＇44＇ the Revolutionary Committee of Bayonne seizes a lot of
〃cotton cloth and muslin；〃 under the pretext of making 〃breeches for
the country's defenders。〃 On useful objects being taken it is not
always certain that they will be utilized； between their seizure and
putting them to service； robbery and waste intervene。 At
Strasbourg；＇45＇ on a requisition being threatened by the
representatives； the inhabitants strip themselves and； in a few days；
bring to the municipality 〃6；879 coats； breeches and vests； 4；767
pairs of stockings； 16；921 pairs of shoes； 863 pairs of boots； 1351
cloaks； 20；518 shirts； 4；524 hats； 523 pairs of gaiters； 143 skin
vests； 2；673； 900 blankets； besides 29 quintals of lint； 21 quintals
of old linen； and a large number of other articles。〃
But 〃most of these articles remain piled up in the storehouses； part
of them rotten； or eaten by rats； the rest being abandoned to the
first…comer。 。 。 。 The end of spoliation was attained。〃 … Utter
loss to individuals and no gain； or the minimum of a gain； to the
State。 Such is the net result of the revolutionary government。 After
having laid its hand on three…fifths of the landed property of France；
after having wrested from communities and individuals from ten to
twelve billions of real and personal estate； after having increased；
through assignats and territorial warrants； the public debt； which was
not five billions in 1789； to more than fifty billions；＇46＇ no longer
able to pay its employees； reduced to supporting its armies as well as
itself by forced contributions on conquered territories； it ends in
bankruptcy； it repudiates two…thirds of its debt； and its credit is so
low that the remaining third which it has consolidated and guaranteed
afresh； loses eighty…three per cent。 the very next day。 In its
hands； the State has itself suffered as much as the private
individuals。 … Of the latter； more than 1 200 000 have suffered
physically： several millions； all who owned anything； great or small；
have suffered through their property。＇47＇ But； in this multitude of
the oppressed； it is the notables who are chiefly aimed at and who； in
their possessions as well as in their persons； have suffered the most。
II。 The Value of Notables in Society。
Various kinds and degrees of Notables in 1789。 … The great social
staff。 … Men of the world。 … Their breeding。 … Their intellectual
culture。 … Their humanity and philanthropy。 … Their moral temper。 …
Practical men。 … Where recruited； … Their qualifications。 … Their
active benevolence。 … Scarcity of them and their worth to a
community。
On estimating the value of a forest you begin by dividing its
vegetation into two classes； on the one hand the full…grown trees； the
large or medium…sized oaks； beeches and aspens； and； on the other； the
saplings and the undergrowth。 In like manner； in estimating society；
you divide the individuals composing it into two groups； one
consisting of its notables of every kind and degree； and the other； of
the common run of men。 If the forest is an old one and has not been
too badly managed； nearly the whole of its secular growth is found in
its clusters of full…grown trees。 Nearly all the useful wood is to be
found in the mature forest。 A few thousand large handsome trees and
the three or four hundred thousand saplings； young and old； of the
reserve； contain more useful and valuable wood than the twenty or
thirty millions shrubs； bushes and heathers put together。 It is the
same in a community which has existed for a long time under a
tolerably strict system of justice and police； almost the entire gain
of a secular civilization is found concentrated in its notables；
which； taking it all in all； was the state of French society in
1789。＇48＇
Let us first consider the most prominent personages。 … It is
certain； that； among the aristocracy； the wealthiest and most
conspicuous families had ceased to render services proportionate to
the cost of their maintenance。 Most of the seigniors and ladies of
the Court； the worldly bishops； abbés； and parliamentarians of the
drawing…room； knew but little more than how to solicit with address；
make a graceful parade of themselves and spend lavishly。 An ill…
understood system of culture had diverted them from their natural
avocations； and converted them into showy and agreeable specimens of
vegetation； often hollow； blighted； sapless and over…pruned； besides
being very costly； over…manured and too freely watered； and the
skillful gardening which shaped； grouped and arranged them in
artificial forms and bouquets； rendered their fruit abortive that
flowers might be multiplied。 … But the flowers were exquisite； and
even in a moralist's eyes； such flowering counts for something。 On
the side of civility； good…breeding and deportment； the manners and
customs of high life had reached a degree of perfection； which never；
in France or elsewhere； had been attained before； and which has never
since been revived；＇49＇ and of all the arts through which men have
emancipated themselves from primitive coarseness； that which teaches
them mutual consideration is； perhaps； the most precious。 The
observance of this； not alone in the drawing…room； but in the family；
in business； in the street； with regard to relatives； inferiors；
servants and strangers； gives dignity； as well as a charm； to human
intercourse。 Delicate regard for what is proper becomes a habit； an
instinct； a second nature； which nature； superimposed on the original
nature； is the best； inasmuch as the internal code which governs each
detail of action and speech； prescribes the standard of behavior and
respect for oneself； as well as respect and refined behavior towards
others。 … To this merit； add mental culture。 Never was there an
aristocracy so interested in general ideas and refinement of
expression； it was even too much so； literary and philosophical
preoccupation excluded all others of the positive and practical order；
they talked； instead of acting。 But； in this limited circle of
speculative reason and of pure literary forms； it excelled； writings
and how to write furnished the ordinary entertainment of polite
society； every idea uttered by a thinker caused excitement in the
drawing…room： the talent and style of authors were shaped by its
taste；＇50＇ it was in the drawing…rooms that Montesquieu； Voltaire；
Rousseau； d'Alembert； the Encyclopedists； great and little；
Beaumarchais； Bernardin de Saint…Pierre； Champfort； and Rivarol；
involuntarily sought listeners and found them； not merely admirers and
entertainers； but friends； protectors； patrons； benefactors and
followers。 … Under the instruction of the masters； the disciples had
become philanthropists； moreover； the amenities of manners developed
in all souls compassion and benevolence： 〃Nothing was more dreaded by
opulent men than to be regarded as insensitive。〃＇51＇ They concerned
themselves