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have the right of making gifts or bequests before a notary； of
establishing foundations in favor of seminaries and churches ； the
foundation； after verification and approval by the Council of State；
becomes operative； only；＇113＇ it must consist of state securities；
because； in this shape； it helps maintain their value and the credit
of the government； in no case must it be composed of real estate；＇114＇
should the clergy become land…owners it would enjoy too much local
influence。 No bishop； no curé must feel himself independent； he must
be and always remain a mere functionary； a hired workman for whom the
State provides work in a shop with a roof overhead； a suitable and
indispensable atelier； in other words； the house of prayer well known
in each parish as 〃one of the edifices formerly assigned to worship。〃
This edifice is not restored to the Christian community； nor to its
representatives； it is simply 〃placed at the disposition of the
bishop。〃＇115＇ The State retains the ownership of it； or transfers
this to the communes； it concedes to the clergy merely the right of
using it； and； in that； loses but little。 Parish and cathedral
churches in its hands are； for the most part； dead capital； nearly
useless and almost valueless； through their structure； they are not
fitted for civil offices； it does not know what to do with them except
to make barns of them； if it sells them it is to demolishers for their
value as building material； and then at great scandal。 Among the
parsonages and gardens that have been surrendered； several have become
communal property；＇116＇ and； in this case； it is not the State which
loses its title but the commune which is deprived of its investment。
In short； in the matter of available real estate； land or buildings；
from which the State might derive a rent； that which it sets off from
its domain and hands over to the clergy is of very little account。 As
to military service； it makes no greater concessions。 Neither the
Concordat nor the organic articles stipulate any exemption for the
clergy； the dispensation granted is simply a favor； this is
provisional for the seminarians and only becomes permanent under
ordination； now； the government fixes the number of the ordained； and
it keeps this down as much as possible；＇117＇ for the diocese of
Grenoble； it allows only eight in seven years。＇118＇ In this way； it
not only saves conscripts； but again； for lack of young priests； it
forces the bishops to appoint old priests； even constitutionalists；
nearly all pensioners on the treasury； and which either relieves the
treasury of a pension or the commune of a subsidy。＇119＇ … Thus； in
the reconstruction of the ecclesiastical fortune the State spares
itself and the portion it contributes remains very small： it furnishes
scarcely more than the plan； a few corner and foundation stones and
the permission or injunction to build； the rest concerns the communes
and private individuals。 They must exert themselves； continue and
complete it； by order or spontaneously and under its permanent
direction。
VIII。 Public Education。
State appropriations very small。 … Toleration of educational
institutions。 … The interest of the public in them invited。 … The
University。 … Its monopoly。 … Practically； his restrictions and
conditions are effective。 … Satisfaction given to the first group of
requirements。
Invariably the government proceeds in the same manner with the
reorganization of the other two collective fortunes。… As regards the
charitable institutions； under the Directory； the asylums and
hospitals had their unsold property restored to them； and in the place
of what had been sold they were promised national property of equal
value。＇120＇ But this was a complicated operation； things had dragged
along in the universal disorder and； to carry it out； the First Consul
reduced and simplified it。 He at once sets aside a portion of the
national domain； several distinct morsels in each district or
department； amounting in all to four millions of annual income derived
from productive real…estate；＇121＇ which he distributes among the
asylums； pro rata； according to their losses。 He assigns to them；
moreover； all the rents； in money or in kind； due for foundations to
parishes； curés； fabriques and corporations； finally； 〃he applies to
their wants〃 various outstanding claims； all national domains which
have been usurped by individuals or communes and which may be
subsequently recovered； 〃all rentals be…longing to the Republic； the
recognition and payment of which have been interrupted。〃＇122＇ In
short； he rummages every corner and picks out the scraps which may
help them along； then； resuming and extending another undertaking of
the Directory； he assigns to them； not merely in Paris； but in many
other towns； a portion of the product derived from theatres and
octrois。＇123＇ … Having thus increased their income； he applies himself
to diminishing their expenses。 On the one hand； he gives them back
their special servants； those who cost the least and work the best； I
mean the Sisters of Charity。 On the other hand； he binds them down
rigidly to exact accounts； he subjects them to strict supervision； he
selects for them competent and suitable administrators； he stops； here
as everywhere else； waste and peculation。 Henceforth； the public
reservoir to which the poor come to quench their thirst is repaired
and cleaned； the water remains pure and no longer oozes out； private
charity may therefore pour into it its fresh streams with full
security； on this side； they flow in naturally； and； at this moment；
with more force than usual； for； in the reservoir； half…emptied by
revolutionary confiscations； the level is always low。
There remain the institutions for instruction。 With respect to these；
the restoration seems more difficult； for their ancient endowment is
almost entirely wasted； the government has nothing to give back but
dilapidated buildings； a few scattered investments formerly intended
for the maintenance of a college scholarship；＇124＇ or for a village
schoolhouse。 And to whom should these be returned since the college
and the schoolhouse no longer exist？ … Fortunately； instruction is an
article of such necessity that a father almost always tries to procure
it for his children； even if poor； he is willing to pay for it； if not
too dear； only； he wants that which pleases him in kind and in quality
and； therefore； from a particular source； bearing this or that factory
stamp or label。 If you want him to buy it do not drive the purveyors
of it from the market who enjoy his confidence and who sell it
cheaply； on the contrary； welcome them and allow them to display their
wares。 This is the first step； an act of toleration； the conseils…
généraux demand it and the government yields。＇125＇ It permits the
return of the Ignorantin brethren； allows them to teach and authorizes
the towns to employ them； later on； it graduates them at it