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Finances that 〃there was nothing in common〃 between the two groups of
outlaws； that the fermiers were holders of leases on probable profits
while the receveurs were paid functionaries at a fixed salary； and the
crimes of the former； proved or not proved； were not imputable to the
latter。 Great astonishment on the part of these improvised
financiers！ 〃They make an outcry；〃 says Gaudin； 〃and assert that I am
mistaken。 I insist； and repeat what I have told the President；
Cambon； I affirm on says to one of the members； 'Since that is so； go
to the bureau of procès…verbaux and scratch out the term receveurs…
généraux from the decree passed this morning。' my honor and offer to
furnish them the proof of it； finally； they are satisfied and the
President 〃 … Such are the gross blunders committed by interlopers；
and even carried out； when not warned and restrained by veterans in
the service。 Cambon； accordingly； in spite of the Jacobins； retains
in his bureaux all whom he can among veteran officials。 If Carnot
manages the war well； it is owing to his being himself an educated
officer and to maintaining in their positions d'Arcon； d'Obenheim； de
Grimoard； de Montalembert and Marescot； all eminent men bequeathed to
him by the ancient régime。＇60｝ Reduced； before the 9th of Thermidor；
to perfect nullity； the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not again to
become useful and active until the professional diplomats； Miot；
Colchen； Otto and Reinhart；＇61＇ resume their ascendancy and influence。
It is a professional diplomat； Barthélemy； who； after the 9th of
Thermidor； really directs the foreign policy of the Convention； and
brings about the peace of Basle。
III。 The three classes of Notables。
The Nobility。 … Its physical and moral preparation through feats of
arms。 … The military spirit。 … High character。 … Conduct of
officers in 1789…1792。 … Service for which these nobles were adapted。
Three classes； the nobles； the clergy and the bourgeoisie； provided
this superior élite； and； compared with the rest of the nation； they
themselves formed an élite。 … Thirty thousand gentlemen； scattered
through the provinces； had been brought up from infancy to the
profession of arms； generally poor； they lived on their rural estates
without luxuries； comforts or curiosity； in the society of wood…
rangers and game…keepers； frugally and with rustic habits； in the open
air； in such a way as to ensure robust constitutions。 A child； at six
years of age； mounted a horse； he followed the hounds； and hardened
himself against inclemencies；＇62＇ afterwards； in the academies； he
rendered his limbs supple by exercise and obtained that rugged health
which is necessary for living under a tent and following a campaign。
From early childhood； he was imbued with a military spirit； his father
and uncles at table talked of nothing but their perils in war and
feats of arms； his imagination took fire； he got accustomed to looking
upon their pursuits as the only ones worthy of a man of rank and
feeling； and he plunged ahead with a precocity which we no longer
comprehend。 I have read many records of the service of gentlemen who
were assassinated； guillotined or emigrés； they nearly always began
their careers before the age of sixteen； often at fourteen； thirteen
and eleven。＇63＇ M。 des Echerolles；＇64＇ captain in the Poitou
regiment； had brought along with him into the army his only son； aged
nine； and a dozen little cousins of the same age。 Those children
fought like old soldiers； one of them had his leg fractured by a ball；
young des Echerolles received a saber stroke which cut away his cheek
from the ear to the upper lip； and he was wounded seven times； still
young； he received the cross of St。 Louis。 To serve the State； seek
conflict and expose one's life； seemed an obligation of their rank； a
hereditary debt； out of nine or ten thousand officers who discharged
this debt most of them cared only for this and looked for nothing
beyond。 Without fortune and without influence； they had renounced
promotion； fully aware that the higher ranks were reserved for the
heirs of great families and the courtiers at Versailles。 After
serving fifteen or twenty years； they returned home with a captain's
commission and the cross of St。 Louis； sometimes with a small
pension； contented with having done their duty and conscious of their
own honor。 On the approach of the Revolution； this old spirit；
illumined by the new ideas； became an almost civic virtue：＇65＇ we have
seen how they behaved between 1789 and 1792； their moderation； their
forbearance； their sacrifice of self…love； their abnegation and their
stoical impassability； their dislike to strike； the coolness with
which they persisted in receiving without returning blows； and in
maintaining； if not public order； at least the last semblance of it。
Patriots as much as soldiers； through birth； education and conviction；
they formed a natural； special nursery； eminently worthy of
preserving； inasmuch as it furnished society with ready…made
instruments for defense； internally against rascals and brutes； and
externally against the enemy。 Less calm in disposition and more given
to pleasure than the rural nobles of Prussia； under slacker discipline
and in the midst of greater worldliness； but more genial； more
courteous and more liberal…minded； the twenty…six thousand noble
families of France upheld in their sons the traditions and prejudices；
the habits and aptitudes； those energies of body； heart and mind＇66＇
through which the Prussian 〃junkers〃 were able to constitute the
Prussian army； organize the German army and make Germany the first
power of Europe。
IV。 The Clergy。
Where recruited。 … Professional inducements。 … Independence of
ecclesiastics。 … Their substantial merits。 … Their theoretical and
practical information。 … Their distribution over the territory。 …
Utility of their office。 … Their conduct in 1790…1800。 … Their
courage； their capacity for self…sacrifice。
Likewise in the Church where nearly all its staff； the whole of the
lower and middle…class clergy； curés； vicars； canons and collegiate
chaplains； teachers or directors of schools； colleges and seminaries；
more than sixty…five thousand ecclesiastics； formed a healthy； well
organized body； worthily fulfilling its duties。
〃I do not know；〃 says de Tocqueville；＇67＇ 〃all in all； and
notwithstanding the vices of some of its members； if there ever was in
the world a more remarkable clergy than the Catholic clergy of France
when the Revolution took them by surprise； more enlightened； more
national； less entrenched behind their private virtues； better endowed
with public virtues； and； at the same time； more strong in the faith。
。 。 。 I began the study of the old social system full of prejudices
against them； I finish it full of respect for them。〃
And first； which is a great point； most of the incumbents in the town
parishes；