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first Consul points to an infinite perspective on the horizon。＇26＇
According to an expression attributed to him； henceforth；
〃the field is open to all talents；〃
and hence all talents； gathered into the central current and
precipitated headlong through competition； swell with their inflow the
immensity of the public power。
This done； the principal features of modern France are traced； a tool
of a new and strange type arises； defines itself； and issues forth；
its structure determining its destiny。 It consists of a social body
organized by a despot and for a despot； calculated for the use of one
man； excellent for action under the impulsion of a unique will； with a
superior intelligence； admirable so long as this intelligence remains
lucid and this will remains healthy。 It is adapted to a military life
and not to civil life； and therefore badly balanced； hampered （géné）
in its development； exposed to periodical crises； condemned to
precocious debility； but viable for a long time； and； for the present
robust； alone able to bear the weight of the new reign and to furnish
for fifteen successive years the crushing labor； the conquering
obedience； the superhuman； murderous； insensate effort which its
master exacts。
IV。 Napoleon's barracks。
General aspect and characteristics of the new State。 … Contrast
between its structure and that of other contemporary or pre…existing
States。 … The plurality； complexity； and irregularity of ancient
France。 … The unity； simplicity； and regularity of modern France。 … To
what class of works it belongs。 … It is the modern masterpiece of the
classic spirit in the political and social order of things。
Let us take a nearer view of the master's idea and of the way in
which； at this moment； he figures to himself the society which is
assuming new shape in his hands。 All the leading features of the plan
are fixed beforehand in his mind： they are already deeply graven on it
through his education and through his instinct。 By virtue of this
instinct； which is despotic； by virtue of this education； which is
classic and Latin； he conceives human associations not in the modern
fashion； Germanic and Christian； as a concert of initiations starting
from below； but in the antique fashion； pagan and Roman； as a
hierarchy of authorities imposed from above。 He puts his own spirit
into his civil institutions； the military spirit； consequently； he
constructs a huge barracks wherein； to begin with； he lodges thirty
million； men； women； and children； and； later on； forty…two million；
all the way from Hamburg to Rome。
The edifice is； of course； superb and of a new style。 On comparing it
with other societies in surrounding Europe； and particularly France as
she was previous to 1789； the contrast is striking。 … Everywhere else
the social edifice is a composition of many distinct structures …
provinces； cities； seignories； churches； universities； and
corporations。 Each has begun by being a more or less isolated block of
buildings where； on an enclosed area； a population has lived apart。
Little by little the barriers have given way； either they have been
broken in or have tumbled down of their own accord； passages have been
made between one and the other and new additions have been put up； at
last； these scattered buildings have all become connected and soldered
on as annexes to the central pile。 But they combine with it only
through a visible and clumsy juxtaposition； through incomplete and
bizarre communications： the vestiges of their former independence are
still apparent athwart their actual dependence。 Each still rests on
its own primitive and appropriate foundations； its grand lines
subsist； its main work is often almost intact。 In France； on the eve
of 1789； it is easily recognized what she formerly was； for example；
it is clear that Languedoc and Brittany were once sovereign States；
Strasbourg a sovereign town； the Bishop of Mende and the Abbess of
Remiremont； sovereign princes；＇27＇ every seignior； laic； or
ecclesiastic； was so in his own domain； and he still possessed some
remnants of public power。 In brief； we see thousands of states within
the State； absorbed； but not assimilated； each with its own statutes；
its own legal customs； its own civil law； its own weights and
measures； several with special privileges and immunities； some with
their own jurisdiction and their own peculiar administration； with
their own imposts and tariffs like so many more or less dismantled
fortresses； but whose old feudal； municipal； or provincial walls still
rose lofty and thick on the soil comprehended within the national
enclosure。
Nothing could be more irregular than this total aggregate thus formed；
it is not really an entire whole； but an agglomeration。 No plan； good
or bad； has been followed out ； the architecture is of ten different
styles and of ten different epochs。 That of the dioceses is Roman and
of the fourth century； that of the seignories is Gothic and of the
ninth century； one structure dates from the Capetians； another from
the Valois； and each bears the character of its date。 Because each has
been built for itself and with no regard to the others； adapted to an
urgent service according to the exigencies or requirements of time；
place； and circumstance ； afterward； when circumstances changed； it
had to adapt itself to other services； and this constantly from
century to century； under Philippe le Bel； under Louis XI。； under
Francis I。； under Richelieu； under Louis XIV。； through constant
revision which never consists of entire destruction； through a series
of partial demolitions and of partial reconstructions； in such a way
as to maintain itself； during the transformation； in conciliating；
well or ill； new demands and rooted habits； in reconciling the work of
the passing generation with the works of generations gone before。 …
The central seignory itself is merely a donjon of the tenth century； a
military tower of which the enclosure has extended so as to embrace
the entire territory； and of which the other buildings； more or less
incorporated with it； have become prolongations。 … A similar medley of
constructions … disfigured by such mutilations； adjuncts； and patches；
a pell…mell so complicated with such incongruous bits and fragments …
can be comprehended only by antiquaries and historians； ordinary
spectators… … the public … pronounce it absurd； it finds no favor with
that class of reasoners who； in social architecture as in physical
architecture； repudiate disorder； posit theories； deduce consequences；
and require that every work shall proceed from the application of a
simple idea。
And worse still； not only is good taste offended but； again； good
sense often murmurs。 Practically； the edifice fails in its object；
for； erected for men to dwell in； it is in many places scarcely
habitable。 Because it endures it is found superannuated； ill…adapted
to prevailing customs ； it