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confiscated； sold and destroyed； and the remainder in the hands of the
State is not restored and again applied to its former service。 Public
education； worse treated than public charity； does not recover a shred
of its former endowment。 Consequently； in the last years of the
Directory； and even early in the Consulate；＇63＇ there is scarcely any
instruction given in France； in fact； for the past eight or nine years
it has ceased；＇64＇ or become private and clandestine。 Here and there；
a few returned priests； in spite of the intolerant law and with the
connivance of the local authorities； also a few scattered nuns； teach
in a contraband fashion a few small groups of Catholic children ； five
or six little girls around a disguised Ursuline nun spell out the
alphabet in a back room；＇65＇ a priest without tonsure or cassock
secretly receives in the evening two or three youths whom he makes
translate the De Viris。 … During the intervals； indeed； of the Reign
of Terror； before the 13th of Vendémiaire and the 18th of Fructidor；
sundry schools spring up again like tufts of grass in a mowed pasture…
ground； but only in certain spots and meagerly； moreover； as soon as
the Jacobin returns to power he stubbornly stamps them out；＇66＇ he
wants to have teaching all to himself。 … Now the institution by which
the State pretends to replace the old and free establishments makes a
figure only on paper。 One école centrale in each department is
installed or decreed； making eighty eight on the territory of ancient
France； this hardly supplies the place of the eight or nine hundred
high…schools （collèges）； especially as these new schools are hardly
viable； being in ruin at the very start；＇67＇ poorly maintained； badly
furnished； with no preparatory schools nor adjacent boarding…
houses；＇68＇ the programme of studies being badly arranged and parents
suspicious of the spirit of the studies。＇69＇ Thus； there is little or
no attendance at most of the courses of lectures； only those on
mathematics are followed； particularly on drawing； and especially
mechanical and geometrical drawing； probably by the future surveyors
and engineers of roads and bridges； by building contractors and a few
aspirants to the école Polytechnique。 As to the other courses； on
literature； history； and the moral sciences； as comprehended by the
Republic and imposed by it； these obtain not over a thousand auditors
in all France； instead of 72；000 pupils； only 7000 or 8000 seek
superior education； while six out of seven； instead of seeking self…
culture； simply prepare themselves for some practical pursuit。＇70＇
It is much worse with primary instruction。 This task is given to the
local authorities。 But； as they have no money； they generally shirk
this duty； and； if they do set up a school； are unable to maintain
it。＇71＇ On the other hand； as instruction must be laic and Jacobin；
〃almost everywhere；〃＇72＇ the teacher is an outcast layman； a fallen
Jacobin； some old； starving party member； unemployed； foul…mouthed and
of ill…repute。 Families； naturally； refuse to trust their children
with him； even when honorable； they avoid him； and the reason is that；
in 1800； Jacobin and scoundrel have become synonymous terms。
Henceforth； parents desire that their children should learn to read in
the catechism and not in the declaration of rights：＇73＇ as they view
it； the old manual formed polite and civilized youths and respectful
sons； the new one forms only insolent rascals and precocious； slovenly
blackguards。＇74＇ Consequently； the few primary schools in which the
Republic has placed its people and imposed its educational system
remain three…quarters empty； in vain does she close the doors of those
in which other masters teach with other books； fathers persist in
their repugnance and distaste； they prefer for their sons utter
ignorance to unsound instruction。＇75＇ … A secular establishment； created
and provided for by twenty generations of benefactors； gave gratis； or
at a much lower rate； the first crumbs of intellectual food to more
than 1；200；000 children。＇76＇ It was demolished； in its place； a few
improvised and wretched barracks distributed here and there a small
ration of moldy and indigestible bread。 Thereupon； one long； low
murmur； a long time suppressed； breaks out and keeps on increasing；
that of parents whose children are condemned to go hungry； in any
event； they demand that their sons and daughters be no longer forced；
under penalty of fasting； to consume the patent flour of the State；
that is to say a nauseous； unsatisfactory； badly…kneaded； badly…baked
paste which； on trial； proves offensive to the palate and ruinous to
the stomach。
VI。 Religion
The Spirit and Ministrations of Catholicism。 … How the Revolution
develops a sense of this。
Another plaint is heard； deeper and more universal； that of all souls
in which regret for their established church and forms of worship
still subsists or is revived。
In every religious system discipline and rites depend upon faith； for
it is faith alone which suggests or prescribes these； they are the
outcome and expansion of this； it attains its ends through these； and
manifests itself by them； they are the exterior of which it is the
interior； thus； let these be attacked and it is in distress； the
living； palpitating flesh suffers through the sensitive skin。 … In
Catholicism； this skin is more sensitive than elsewhere； for it clings
to the flesh； not alone through ordinary adhesiveness； the effect of
adaptation and custom； but again through a special organic attachment；
consisting of dogmatic doctrine； theology； in its articles of belief；
has here set up the absolute necessity of the sacraments and of the
priesthood； consequently； between the superficial and central
divisions of religion the union is complete。 The Catholic sacraments；
therefore； are not merely symbols； they possess in themselves 〃an
efficacious power； a sanctifying virtue。〃 〃That which they represent；
they really work out。〃＇77＇ If I am denied access to them； I am cut
off from the fountains to which my soul resorts to drink in grace；
pardon； purity； health and salvation。 If my children cannot be
regularly baptized； they are not Christians； if extreme unction cannot
be administered to my dying mother； she sets out on the long journey
without the viaticum； if I am married by the mayor only； my wife and I
live in concubinage； if I cannot confess my sins； I am not absolved
from them； and my burdened conscience seeks in vain for the helping
hand which will ease the too heavy load； if I cannot perform my Easter
duties； my spiritual life is a failure； the supreme and sublime act by
which it perfects itself through the mystic union of my body and soul
with the body； soul； and divinity of Jesus Christ； is wanting。 … Now；
none of these sacraments are valid if they have not been conferred by
a priest； one who bears the stamp of a superior； unique； ineffaceable
charact