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stated furthermore that many kept themselves in the background。 〃My
father and myself；〃 afterwards writes the advocate Barbier； 〃took no
part in the uproars； among those caustic and turbulent spirits。〃 and
he adds this significant article of faith： 〃I believe that one has to
fulfill his duties honorably； without concerning oneself with state
affairs； in which one has no mission and exercises no power。〃 During
the first half of the eighteenth century I am able to discover but one
center of opposition in the Third…Estate ； the Parliament； and around
it； feeding the flame； the ancient Gallican or Jansenist spirit。 〃The
good city of Paris；〃 writes Barbier in 1733； 〃is Jansenist from top to
bottom；〃 and not alone the magistrates； the lawyers； the professors；
the best among the bourgeoisie； 〃but again the mass of the Parisians；
men； women and children； all upholding that doctrine； without
comprehending it； or understanding any of its distinctions and
interpretations； out of hatred to Rome and the Jesuits。 Women； the
silliest； and even chambermaids； would be hacked to pieces for it。 。
。 〃 This party is increased by the honest folks of the kingdom who
detest persecutions and injustice。 Accordingly； when the various
chambers of magistrates； in conjunction with the lawyers； tender their
resignations and file out of the palace 〃amidst a countless multitude；
the crowd exclaims： Behold the true Romans； the fathers of the
country！ and as the two counselors Pucelle and Menguy pass along they
fling them crowns。〃 The quarrel between the Parliament and the Court；
constantly revived； is one of the sparks which provokes the grand
final explosion； while the Jansenist embers； smoldering in the ashes；
are to be of use in 1791 when the ecclesiastical edifice comes to be
attacked。 But； within this old chimney…corner only warm embers are
now found； firebrands covered up； sometimes scattering sparks and
flames； but in themselves and by themselves； not incendiary； the flame
is kept within bounds by its nature； and its supplies limit its heat。
The Jansenist is too good a Christian not to respect powers
inaugurated from above。 The parliamentarian； conservative through his
profession； would be horrified at overthrowing the established order
of things。 Both combat for tradition and against innovation； hence；
after having defended the past against arbitrary power they are to
defend it against revolutionary violence； and to fall； the one into
impotency and the other into oblivion。
II。 CHANGE IN THE CONDITION OF THE BOURGEOIS。
Change in the condition of the bourgeois。 … He becomes wealthy。
… He makes loans to the State。 … The danger of his creditorship。 …
He interests himself in public matters。
The uprising is； however； late to catch on among the middle
class； and； before it can take hold； the resistant material must
gradually be made inflammable。 In the eighteenth century a
great change takes place in the condition of the Third…Estate 。 The
bourgeois has worked； manufactured； traded； earned and saved money；
and has daily become richer and richer。＇3＇ This great expansion of
enterprises； of trade； of speculation and of fortunes dates from
Law；＇4＇ arrested by war it reappears with more vigor and more
animation at each interval of peace after the treaty of Aix…la…
Chapelle in 1748； and that of Paris in 1763； and especially after the
beginning of the reign of Louis XVI。 The exports of France which
amounted to
106 millions in 1720
124 millions in 1735
192 millions in 1748
257 millions in 1755
309 millions in 1776
354 millions in 1788。
In 1786 Saint Domingo alone ships back to France for 131
millions of its products； and in return receives 44 millions in
merchandise。 As a result of these exchanges we see； at Nantes； and at
Bordeaux； the creation of colossal commercial houses。 〃I consider
Bordeaux； says Arthur Young； as richer and doing more business than
any city in England except London； 。 。 。 of late years the progress
of maritime commerce has been more rapid in France than even in
England。〃＇5＇ According to an administrator of the day； if the taxes on
the consumption of products daily increase the revenue； this is
because the industry since 1774 has developed a number of new
products＇6＇。 And this progress is regular and constant。 〃We may
calculate；〃 says Necker in 1781； 〃on an increase of two millions a
year on all the duties on consumption。〃 In this great exertion
of innovation； labor and engineering； Paris； constantly growing； is
the central workshop。 It enjoys； to a much greater extent than today；
the monopoly of all works of intelligence and taste； books； pictures；
engravings； statues； jewelry； toilet details； carriages； furniture；
articles of fashion and rarity； whatever affords pleasure and
ornamentation for an elegant worldly society； all Europe is supplied
by it。 In 1774 its trade in books is estimated at 45 millions； and
that of London at only one…quarter of that sum＇7＇。 Upon the profits
many immense and even more numerous moderate fortunes were built up；
and these now became available for investment。 In fact； we see
the noblest hands stretching out to receive them； princes of the
blood； provincial assemblies； assemblies of the clergy； and； at the
head of all； the king； who； the most needy； borrows at ten percent and
is always in search of additional lenders。 Already under Fleury； the
debt has augmented to 18 millions in interests； and during the Seven
years' War； to 34 millions。 Under Louis XVI。； M。 Necker borrows a
capital of 530 millions； M。 Joly de Fleury； 300 millions； M。 de
Calonne； 800 millions； in all 1630 millions over a period of ten
years。 The interest of the public debt； only 45 millions in 1755；
reaches 106 millions in 1776 and amounts to 206 millions in 1789＇8＇。
What creditors which these few figures tell us about ！ As the Third…
Estate ； it must be noted； is the sole class making and saving money；
nearly all these creditors belong it。 Thousands of others must be
added to these。 In the first place； the financiers who make advances
to the government； advances that are indispensable； because； from time
immemorial； it has eaten its corn on the blade； so the present year is
always gnawing into the product of coming years； there are 80 millions
of advances in 1759； and 170 millions in 1783。 In the second place
there are so many suppliers； large and small； who； on all parts of the
territory； keep accounts with the government for their supplies and
for public works； a veritable army and increasing daily； since the
government； impelled by centralization； takes sole responsibility for
all ventures； and； requested by public opinion； it increases the
number of undertakings useful to the public。 Under Louis XV。 the
State builds six thousand leagues of roads； and under Louis XVI。 in
1788； to guard against famine； it