友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the origins of contemporary france-1-第117章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




movement。   I have read through the twenty volumes of their procès…

verbaux: no better citizens; no more conscientious men; no more

devoted administrators can be found; none gratuitously taking so much

trouble on themselves with no object but the public welfare。   Never

was an aristocracy so deserving of power at the moment of losing it;

the privileged class; aroused from their indolence; were again

becoming public men; and; restored to their functions; were returning

to their duties。   In 1778; in the first assembly of Berry; the Abbé

de Seguiran; the reporter; has the courage to state that 〃the

distribution of the taxes should be a fraternal partition of public

obligations。〃'54'  In 1780 the abbés; priors and chapters of the same

province contribute 60;000 livres of their funds; and a few gentlemen;

in less than twenty…four hours; contribute 17;000 livres。   In 1787;

in the assembly of Alen?on the nobility and the clergy tax themselves

30;000 livres to relieve the indigent in each parish subject to

taxation'55'。   in the month of April; 1787; the king; in an assembly

of the notables; speaks of 〃the eagerness with which archbishops and

bishops come forward claiming no exemption in their contributions to

the public revenue。〃 In the month of March; 1789; on the opening of

the bailiwick assemblies; the entire clergy; nearly all the nobility;

in short; the whole body of the privileged class voluntarily renounce

their privileges in relation to taxation。   The sacrifice is voted

unanimously; they themselves offer it to the Third…Estate; and it is

worth while to see their generous and sympathetic tone in the

manuscript procès…verbaux。



 〃The nobility of the bailiwick of Tours;〃 says the Marquis de

Lusignan;'56' 〃considering that they are men and citizens before being

nobles; can make amends in no way more in conformity with the spirit

of justice and patriotism that animates the body; for the long silence

to which it has been condemned by the abuse of ministerial power; than

in declaring to their fellow…citizens that; in future; they will claim

none of the pecuniary advantages secured to them by custom; and that

they unanimously and solemnly bind themselves to bear equally; each in

proportion to his fortune; all taxes and general contributions which

the nation shall prescribe。〃



 〃I repeat;〃 says the Comte de Buzan?ois at the meeting of the

Third…Estate of Berry; 〃that we are all brothers; and that we are

anxious to share your burdens。   。   。   。   We desire to have but one

single voice go up to the assembly and thus manifest the union and

harmony which should prevail there。   I am directed to make the

proposal to you to unite with you in one memorandum。   〃



 〃These qualities are essential in a deputy;〃 says the Marquis de

Barbancon speaking for the nobles of Chateauroux; 〃integrity; firmness

and knowledge; the first two are equally found among the deputies of

the three orders; but knowledge will be more generally found in the

Third…Estate; which is more accustomed to public affairs。〃



 〃A new order of things is unfolding before us;〃 says the Abbé

Legrand in the name of the clergy of Chateauroux; 〃the veil of

prejudice is being torn away and giving place to Reason。   She is

possessing herself of all French hearts; attacking at the root

whatever is based on former opinion and deriving her power only from

herself。〃



 Not only do the privileged classes make advances but it is no

effort to them; they use the same language as the people of the Third…

Estate; they are disciples of the same philosophers and seem to start

from the same principles。   The nobility of Clermont in Beauvoisis'57'

orders its deputies 〃to demand; first of all; an explicit declaration

of the rights belonging to all men。〃 The nobles of Mantes and Meulan

affirm 〃that political principles are as absolute as moral principles;

since both have reason for a common basis。〃 The nobles of Rheims

demand 〃that the king be entreated to order the demolition of the

Bastille。〃 Frequently; after such expressions and with such a yielding

disposition; the delegates of the nobles and clergy are greeted in the

assemblies of the 'Third…Estate with the clapping of hands; 〃tears〃

and enthusiasm。   On witnessing such effusions how can one avoid

believing in concord? And how can one foresee strife at the first turn

of the road on which they have just fraternally entered hand in hand?



Wisdom of this melancholy stamp is not theirs。   They set out with

the principle that man; and especially the man of the people; is good;

why conjecture that he may desire evil for those who wish him well?

They are conscientious in their benevolence and sympathy for him。

Not only do they utter these sentiments but they give them proof。

〃At this moment;〃 says a contemporary;'58' 〃the most active pity

animates all breasts; the great dread of the opulent is to appear

insensible。〃 The archbishop of Paris; subsequently followed and

stoned; is the donator of 100;000 crowns to the hospital of the H?tel…

Dieu。   The intendant Berthier; who is to be massacred; draws up the

new assessment…roll of the Ile…de…France; equalizing the taille; which

act allows him to abate the rate; at first; an eighth; and next; a

quarter'59'。   The financier Beaujon constructs a hospital。   Necker

refuses the salary of his place and lends the treasury two millions to

re…establish public credit。   The Duc de Charost; from 1770'60' down;

abolishes seigniorial corvées on his domain and founds a hospital in

his seigniory of Meillant。   The Prince de Beaufremont; the presidents

de Vezet; de Chamolles; de Chaillot; with many seigniors beside in

Franche…Comté; follow the example of the king in emancipating their

serfs'61'。   The bishop of Saint…Claude demands; in spite of his

chapter; the enfranchisement of his mainmorts。   The Marquis de

Mirabeau establishes on his domain in Limousin a gratuitous bureau for

the settlement of lawsuits; while daily; at Fleury; he causes nine

hundred pounds of cheap bread to be made for the use of 〃the poor

people; who fight to see who shall have it。〃'62' M。 de Barral; bishop

of Castres; directs his curates to preach and to diffuse the

cultivation of potatoes。   The Marquis de Guerchy himself mounts on

the top of a pile of hay with Arthur Young to learn how to construct a

hay…stack。   The Marquis de Lasteyrie imports lithography into France。

A number of grand seigniors and prelates figure in the agricultural

societies; compose or translate useful books; familiarize themselves

with the applications of science; study political economy; inform

themselves about industries; and interest themselves; either as

amateurs or promoters; in every public amelioration。   〃 Never;〃 says

Lacretelle again; 〃were the French so combined together to combat the

evils to which nature makes us pay tribute; and those which in a

thousand ways creep into all social institutions。〃 Can it be admitted

that so many 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!