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conduct。 … The mildness and good intentions of the government。 …
Its blindness and optimism。
An aristocracy imbued with humanitarian and radical maxims；
courtiers hostile to the court； privileged persons aiding in
undermining privileges； presents to us a strange spectacle in the
testimony of the time。 A contemporary states that it is an accepted
principle 〃to change and upset everything。〃＇46＇ High and low； in
assemblages； in public places； only reformers and opposing parties are
encountered among the privileged classes。
〃In 1787； almost every prominent man of the peerage in the
Parliament declared himself in favor of resistance。 。 。 。 I
have seen at the dinners we then attended almost every idea put
forward； which； soon afterwards； produced such startling effects。〃＇47＇
Already in 1774； M。 de Vaublanc； on his way to Metz； finds a diligence
containing an ecclesiastic and a count； a colonel in the hussars；
talking political economy constantly＇48＇。 〃It was the fashion of the
day。 Everybody was an economist。 People conversed together only
about philosophy； political economy and especially humanity； and the
means for relieving the people； （le bon peuple）； which two words were
in everybody's mouth。〃 To this must be added equality； Thomas； in a
eulogy of Marshal Saxe says； 〃I cannot conceal it； he was of royal
blood；〃 and this phrase was admired。 A few of the heads of old
parliamentary or seigniorial families maintain the old patrician and
monarchical standard； the new generation succumbing to novelty。 〃For
ourselves；〃 says one of them belonging to the youthful class of the
nobility；＇49＇ 〃with no regret for the past or anxiety for the future；
we marched gaily along over a carpet of flowers concealing an abyss。
Mocking censors of antiquated ways； of the feudal pride of our fathers
and of their sober etiquette； everything antique seemed to us annoying
and ridiculous。 The gravity of old doctrines oppressed us。 The
cheerful philosophy of Voltaire amused and took possession of us。
Without fathoming that of graver writers we admired it for its stamp
of fearlessness and resistance to arbitrary power。 。 。 。
Liberty； what…ever its language； delighted us with its spirit； and
equality on account of its convenience。 It is a pleasant thing to
descend so long as one thinks one can ascend when one pleases； we were
at once enjoying； without forethought； the advantages of the
patriciate and the sweets of a commoner philosophy。 Thus； although
our privileges were at stake； and the remnants of our former supremacy
were undermined under our feet； this little warfare gratified us。
Inexperienced in the attack； we simply admired the spectacle。
Combats with the pen and with words did not appear to us capable of
damaging our existing superiority； which several centuries of
possession had made us regard as impregnable。 The forms of the
edifice remaining intact； we could not see how it could be mined from
within。 We laughed at the serious alarm of the old court and of the
clergy which thundered against the spirit of innovation。 We
applauded republican scenes in the theater；＇50＇ philosophic discourses
in our Academies； the bold publications of the literary class。〃… If
inequality still subsists in the distribution of offices and of
places； 〃equality begins to reign in society。 On many occasions
literary titles obtain precedence over titles of nobility。 Courtiers
and servants of the passing fashion； paid their court to Marmontel；
d'Alembert and Raynal。 We frequently saw in company literary men of
the second and third rank greeted and receiving attentions not
extended to the nobles of the provinces。 。 。 。 Institutions
remained monarchical； but manners and customs became republican。 A
word of praise from d'Alembert or Diderot was more esteemed than the
most marked favor from a prince。 。 。 It was impossible to pass
an evening with d'Alembert； or at the H？tel de Larochefoucauld among
the friends of Turgot； to attend a breakfast at the Abbé Raynal's； to
be admitted into the society and family of M。 de Malesherbes； and
lastly； to approach a most amiable queen and a most upright king；
without believing ourselves about to enter upon a kind of golden era
of which preceding centuries afforded no idea。 。 。 。 We were
bewildered by the prismatic hues of fresh ideas and doctrines； radiant
with hopes； ardently aglow for every sort of reputation； enthusiastic
for all talents and beguiled by every seductive dream of a philosophy
that was about to secure the happiness of the human species。 Far
from foreseeing misfortune； excess； crime； the overthrow of thrones
and of principles； the future disclosed to us only the benefits which
humanity was to derive from the sovereignty of Reason。 Freedom of
the press and circulation was given to every reformative writing； to
every project of innovation； to the most liberal ideas and to the
boldest of systems。 Everybody thought himself on the road to
perfection without being under any embarrassment or fearing any kind
of obstacle。 We were proud of being Frenchmen and； yet again；
Frenchmen of the eighteenth century。 。 。 。 Never was a more
terrible awakening preceded by a sweeter slumber or by more seductive
dreams。〃
They do not content themselves with dreams； with pure desires； with
passive aspirations。 They are active； and truly generous； a worthy
cause suffices to secure their devotion。 On the news of the American
rebellion； the Marquis de Lafayette； leaving his young wife pregnant；
escapes； braves the orders of the court； purchases a frigate； crosses
the ocean and fights by the side of Washington。 〃The moment the
quarrel was made known to me；〃 he says； 〃my heart was enlisted in it；
and my only thought was to rejoin my regiment。〃 Numbers of gentlemen
follow in his footsteps。 They undoubtedly love danger； 〃the chance
of being shot is too precious to be neglected。〃＇51＇ But the main
thing is to emancipate the oppressed； 〃we showed ourselves
philosophers by becoming paladins；〃＇52＇ the chivalric sentiment
enlisting in the service of liberty。 Other services besides these；
more sedentary and less brilliant； find no fewer zealots。 The chief
personages of the provinces in the provincial assemblies；＇53＇ the
bishops； archbishops； abbés； dukes； counts； and marquises； with the
wealthiest and best informed of the notables in the Third…Estate； in
all about a thousand persons； in short the social elect； the entire
upper class convoked by the king； organize the budget； defend the tax…
payer against the fiscal authorities； arrange the land…registry；
equalize the taille； provide a substitute for the corvée； provide
public roads； multiply charitable asylums； educate agriculturists；
proposing； encouraging and directing every species of reformatory
movement。 I have read through the twenty volumes of their procès…
verbaux： no better citizens；