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with those among the Clergy and the Nobility disposed to join them；
their assistance in providing for the necessities of the State； and
the taxes thus assented to shall be apportioned among all the subjects
of the king without distinction。〃＇48＇ Do not object that a
people thus mutilated becomes a mere crowd； that leaders cannot be
improvised； that it is difficult to dispense with natural guides；
that； considering all things； this Clergy and this Nobility still form
a select group； that two…fifths of the soil is in their hands； that
one…half of the intelligent and cultivated class of men are in their
ranks； that they are exceedingly well…disposed and that old historic
bodies have always afforded to liberal constitutions their best
supports。 According to the principle enunciated by Rousseau we are
not to value men but to count them。 In politics numbers only are
respectable； neither birth； nor property； nor function； nor capacity；
is a title to be considered； high or low； ignorant or learned； a
general； a soldier； or a hod…carrier； each individual of the social
army is a unit provided with a vote； wherever a majority is found
there is the right。 Hence； the Third…Estate puts forth its right as
incontestable； and； in its turn； it proclaims with Louis XIV； 〃I am
the State。〃
This principle once admitted or enforced； they thought； all will
go well。
〃It seemed；〃 says an eye…witness；＇49＇ 〃as if we were about to
be governed by men of the golden age。 This free； just and wise
people； always in harmony with itself； always clear…sighted in
choosing its ministers； moderate in the use of its strength and power；
never could be led away； never deceived； never under the dominion of；
or enslaved by； the authority which it confided。 Its will would
fashion the laws and the law would constitute its happiness。〃
The nation is to be regenerated； a phrase found in all writings
and in every mouth。 At Nangis； Arthur Young finds this the sub…stance
of political conversation＇50＇。 The chaplain of a regiment； a curate
in the vicinity； keeps fast hold of it； as to knowing what it means
that is another matter。 It is impossible to find anything out through
explanations of it otherwise than 〃a theoretic perfection of
government； questionable in its origin； hazardous in its progress； and
visionary in its end。〃 On the Englishman proposing to them the British
constitution as a model they 〃hold it cheap in respect of liberty〃 and
greet it with a smile； it is； especially； not in conformity with 〃the
principles。〃 And observe that we are at the residence of a grand
seignior； in a circle of enlightened men。 At Riom； at the election
assemblies；＇51＇ Malouet finds 〃persons of an ordinary stamp；
practitioners； petty lawyers； with no experience of public business；
quoting the 'Contrat Social；' vehemently declaiming against tyranny；
and each proposing his own constitution。〃 Most of them are without any
knowledge whatever； mere traffickers in chicane； the best instructed
entertain mere schoolboy ideas of politics。 In the colleges of the
University no history is taught＇52＇。 〃The name of Henry IV。； says
Lavalette； was not once uttered during my eight years of study； and；
at seventeen years of age； I was still ignorant of the epoch and the
mode of the establishment of the Bourbons on the throne。〃 The stock
they carry away with them consists wholly； as with Camille Desmoulins；
of scraps of Latin； entering the world with brains stuffed with
〃republican maxims；〃 excited by souvenirs of Rome and Sparta； and
〃penetrated with profound contempt for monarchical governments。〃
Subsequently； at the law school； they learn something about legal
abstractions； or else learn nothing。 In the lecture…courses at Paris
there are no students； the professor delivers his lecture to copyists
who sell their copy…books。 If a pupil should attend himself and take
notes he would be regarded with suspicion； he would be charged with
trying to deprive the copyists of the means of earning their living。
A diploma； consequently； is worthless。 At Bourges one is obtainable
in six months； if the young man succeeds in comprehending the law it
is through later practice and familiarity with it。 Of foreign
laws and institutions there is not the least knowledge； scarcely even
a vague or false notion of them。 Malouet himself entertains a meager
idea of the English Parliament； while many； with respect to
ceremonial； imagine it a copy of the Parliament of France。 The
mechanism of free constitutions； or the conditions of effective
liberty； that is too complicated a question。 Montesquieu； save in the
great magisterial families； is antiquated for twenty years past。 Of
what avail are studies of ancient France？ 〃What is the result of so
much and such profound research？ Laborious conjecture and reasons for
doubting。〃＇53＇ It is much more convenient to start with the rights of
man and to deduce the consequences。 Schoolboy logic suffices for that
to which collegiate rhetoric supplies the tirades。 In this great
void of enlightenment the vague terms of liberty； equality and the
sovereignty of the people； the glowing expressions of Rousseau and his
successors； all these new axioms； blaze up like burning coals；
discharging clouds of smoke and intoxicating vapor。 High…sounding and
vague language is interposed between the mind and objects around it；
all outlines are confused and the vertigo begins。 Never to the same
extent have men lost the purport of outward things。 Never have they
been at once more blind and more chimerical。 Never has their
disturbed reason rendered them more tranquil concerning real danger
and created more alarm at imaginary danger。 Strangers with cool blood
and who witness the spectacle； Mallet du Pan； Dumont of Geneva； Arthur
Young； Jefferson； Gouverneur Morris； write that the French are insane。
Morris； in this universal delirium； can mention to Washington but one
sane mind； that of Marmontel； and Marmontel speaks in the same style
as Morris。 At the preliminary meetings of the clubs； and at the
assemblies of electors； he is the only one who opposes unreasonable
propositions。 Surrounding him are none but the excited； the exalted
about nothing； even to grotesqueness＇54＇。 In every act of the
established régime； in every administrative measure； 〃in all police
regulations； in all financial decrees； in all the graduated
authorities on which public order and tranquility depend； there was
naught in which they did not find an aspect of tyranny。 。 。 。 On
the walls and barriers of Paris being referred to； these were
denounced as enclosures for deer and derogatory to man。〃
〃I saw；〃 says one of these orators； 〃at the barrier Saint…
Victor； sculptured on one of the pillars would you believe it？ …
… an enormous lion's head； with open jaws vomiting forth chains as a
menace to those who passed it。 Could a more horrible emblem of
slavery and of despo