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CHAPTER IV。 The Departments。
I。
Provence in 1792。 Early supremacy of the Jacobins in Marseilles。
Composition of the party。 The club and the municipality。
Expulsion of the 〃Earnest〃 regiment。
Should you like to see the revolutionary tree when； for the first
time； it came fully into leaf； it is in the department of the Bouches…
du…Rh？ne you have to look。 Nowhere else had it been so precocious；
nowhere were local circumstances and native temperament so well
adapted to enhance its growth。 〃 A blistering sky； an excessive
climate； an arid soil； rocks； 。 。 。 savage rivers； torrential or dry
or overburdened；〃 blinding dust； nerves upset by steady northern
blasts or by the intermittent gusts of the sirocco。 A sensual race
choleric and impetuous； with no intellectual or moral ballast； in
which the mixture of Celt and Latin has destroyed the humane suavity
of the Celt and the serious earnestness of the Roman； 〃complete；
tough； powerful； and restless men；〃＇1＇ and yet gay； spontaneous；
eloquent； dupes of their own bombast； suddenly carried away by a flow
of words and superficial enthusiasm。 Their principal city numbering
120；000 souls； in which commercial and maritime risks foster
innovating and adventurous spirits； in which the sight of suddenly…
acquired fortunes expended on sensual enjoyments constantly undermines
all stability of Character； in which politics； like speculation； is a
lottery offering its prizes to audacity； besides all this； a free port
and a rendezvous for lawless nomads； disreputable people； without
steady trade；＇2＇ scoundrels； and blackguards； who； like uprooted；
decaying seaweed； drift from coast to coast around the entire circle
of the Mediterranean sea； a veritable sink filled with the dregs of
twenty corrupt and semi…barbarous civilizations； where the scum of
crime cast forth from the prisons of Genoa； Piedmont； Sicily； indeed；
of all Italy； of Spain； of the Archipelago； and of Barbary；3
accumulates and ferments。2 No wonder that； in such a time the reign of
the mob should be established there sooner than elsewhere。＇3＇ After
many an explosion； this reign is inaugurated August 17； 1790； by the
removal of M。 Lieutaud； a sort of bourgeois； moderate Lafayette； who
commands the National Guard。 Around him rally a majority of the
population； all men 〃honest or not； who have anything to lose。〃＇4＇
After he is driven out； then proscribed； then imprisoned； they resign
themselves； and Marseilles belongs to the low class； to 40；000
destitute and rogues led by the club。
The better to ensure their empire； the municipality； one month after
the expulsion of M。 Lieutaud； declared every citizen 〃active〃 who had
any trade or profession＇5＇； the consequence is that vagabonds attend
the meetings of the sections in contempt of constitutional law。 The
consequence； was that property…owners and commercial men withdrew；
which was wise on their part； for the usual demagogic machinery is set
in motion without delay。 〃Each section…assembly is composed of a
dozen factious spirits； members of the club； who drive out honest
people by displaying cudgels and bayonets。 The deliberations are
prepared beforehand at the club； in concert with the municipality； and
woe to him who refuses to adopt them at the meeting！ They go so far as
to threaten citizens who wish to make any remarks with instant burial
in the cellars under the churches。〃＇6＇ The argument proved
irresistible： 〃the majority of honest people are so frightened and so
timid〃 that not one of them dare attend these meetings； unless
protected by public force。 〃More than 80；000 inhabitants do not sleep
peacefully；〃 while all the political rights are vested in 〃five or six
hundred individuals；〃 legally disqualified。 Behind them marches the
armed rabble； 〃the horde of brigands without a country；〃＇7＇ always
ready for plundering； murder； and hanging。 In front of them march the
local authorities； who； elected through their influence； carry on the
administration under their guidance。 Patrons and clients； members of
the club and its satellites； they form a league which plays the part
of a sovereign State； scarcely recognizing； even in words； the
authority of the central government。＇8＇ The decree by which the
National Assembly gives full power to the Commissioners to re…
establish order is denounced as plébécide； these conscientious and
cautious moderators are qualified as 〃dictators〃； they are denounced
in circular letters to all the municipalities of the department； and
to all Jacobin clubs throughout the kingdom；＇9＇ the club is somewhat
disposed to go to Aix to cut off their heads and send them in a trunk
to the president of the National Assembly； with a threat that the same
penalty awaits himself and all the deputies if they do not revoke
their recent decrees。 A few days after this； four sections draw up an
act before a notary； stating the measures they had taken towards
sending an army of 6；000 men from Marseilles to Aix； to get rid of the
three intruders。 The commissioners dare not enter Marseilles； where
〃gibbets are ready for them； and a price set on their heads。〃 It is as
much as they can do to rescue from the faction M。 Lieutaud and his
friends； who； accused of lése…nation； confined without a shadow of
proof； treated like mad dogs； put in chains；＇10＇ shut up in privies
and holes； and obliged to drink their own urine for lack of water；
impelled by despair to the brink of suicide； barely escape murder a
dozen times in the courtroom and in prison。＇11＇ Against the decree of
the National Assembly ordering their release； the municipality makes
reclamations； contrives delays； resists； and finally stirs up its
usual instruments。 Just as the prisoners are about to be released a
crowd of 〃armed persons without uniform or officer；〃 constantly
increased 〃by vagabonds and foreigners；〃 gathers on the heights
overlooking the Palais de Justice； and makes ready to fire on M。
Lieutaud。 Summoned to proclaim martial law； the municipality refuses；
declaring that 〃the general detestation of the accused is too
manifest〃； it demands the return of the Swiss regiment to its
barracks； and that the prisoners remain where they are； the only thing
which it grants them is a secret permission to escape； as if they were
guilty； they； accordingly； steal away clandestinely and in
disguise。＇12＇ The Swiss regiment； however； which prevents the
magistrates from violating the law； must pay for its insolence； and；
as it is incorruptible； they decide to drive it out of the town。 For
four months the municipality multiplies against it every kind of
annoyance；＇13＇ and； on the 16th of October； 1791； the Jacobins provoke
a row in the theater against its officers。 The same night； outside
the theater； four of these are attacked by armed bands； the post to
which they retreat is nearly taken by assault； they are led to a
prison for safety； and there they still remain five days