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the year； even lack barley and oat bread which is their sole food； and
which they are compelled to take out of their own and their children's
mouths to pay the taxes。 It pains me to see this sad spectacle every
year on my visits。 The Negroes of our colonies are； in this respect；
infinitely better off； for； while working； they are fed and clothed
along with their wives and children； while our peasantry； the most
laborious in the kingdom； cannot； with the hardest and most devoted
labor； earn bread for themselves and their families； and at the same
time pay their charges。〃 In 1740＇7＇ at Lille； the people rebel against
the export of grain。 〃An intendant informs me that the misery
increases from hour to hour； the slightest danger to the crops
resulting in this for three years past。 。 。 。Flanders； especially； is
greatly embarrassed； there is nothing to live on until the harvesting；
which will not take place for two months。 The provinces the best off
are not able to help the others。 Each bourgeois in each town is
obliged to feed one or two poor persons and provide them with fourteen
pounds of bread per week。 In the little town of Chatellerault； （of
4；000 inhabitants）； 1800 poor； this winter； are in that situation。 。 。
。 The poor outnumber those able to live without begging 。 。 。 while
prosecutions for unpaid dues are carried on with unexampled rigor。 The
clothes of the poor； their last measure of flour and the latches on
their doors are seized； etc。 。。 。 The abbess of Jouarre told me
yesterday that； in her canton； in Brie； most of the land had not been
planted。〃 It is not surprising that the famine spreads even to Paris。
〃Fears are entertained of next Wednesday。 There is no more bread in
Paris； except that of the damaged flour which is brought in and which
burns （when baking）。 The mills are working day and night at
Belleville； regrinding old damaged flour。 The people are ready to
rebel； bread goes up a sol a day； no merchant dares； or is disposed；
to bring in his wheat。 The market on Wednesday was almost in a state
of revolt； there being no bread in it after seven o'clock in the
morning。 。 。 。 The poor creatures at Bicêtre prison were put on short
rations； three quarterons （twelve ounces）； being reduced to only half
a pound。 A rebellion broke out and they forced the guards。 Numbers
escaped and they have inundated Paris。 The watch； with the police of
the neighborhood； were called out； and an attack was made on these
poor wretches with bayonet and sword。 About fifty of them were left on
the ground； the revolt was not suppressed yesterday morning。〃
Ten years later the evil is greater。＇8＇
〃In the country around me； ten leagues from Paris； I find increased
privation and constant complaints。 What must it be in our wretched
provinces in the interior of the kingdom？ 。 。 。 My curate tells me
that eight families； supporting themselves on their labor when I left；
are now begging their bread。 There is no work to be had。 The wealthy
are economizing like the poor。 And with all this the taille is exacted
with military severity。 The collectors； with their officers；
accompanied by locksmiths； force open the doors and carry off and sell
furniture for one…quarter of its value； the expenses exceeding the
amount of the tax 。 。 。 〃 … 〃I am at this moment on my estates in
Touraine。 I encounter nothing but frightful privations； the melancholy
sentiment of suffering no longer prevails with the poor inhabitants；
but rather one of utter despair； they desire death only； and avoid
increase。 。 。 。 It is estimated that one…quarter of the working…days
of the year go to the corvées； the laborers feeding themselves； and
with what？ 。 。 。 I see poor people dying of destitution。 They are paid
fifteen sous a day； equal to a crown； for their load。 Whole villages
are either ruined or broken up； and none of the households recover。 。
。 。 Judging by what my neighbors tell me the inhabitants have
diminished one…third。 。 。 。 The daily laborers are all leaving and
taking refuge in the small towns。 In many villages everybody leaves。 I
have several parishes in which the taille for three years is due； the
proceedings for its collection always going on。 。 。 。 The receivers of
the taille and of the taxes add one…half each year in expenses above
the tax。 。 。 。 An assessor； on coming to the village where I have my
country…house； states that the taille this year will be much
increased； he noticed that the peasants here were fatter than
elsewhere； that they had chicken feathers before their doors； and that
the living here must be good； everybody doing well； etc。 … This is
the cause of the peasant's discouragement； and likewise the cause of
misfortune throughout the kingdom。〃 … 〃In the country where I am
staying I hear that marriage is declining and that the population is
decreasing on all sides。 In my parish； with a few fire…sides； there
are more than thirty single persons； male and female； old enough to
marry and none of them considering it。 On being urged to marry they
all reply alike that it is not worth while to bring unfortunate beings
like themselves into the world。 I have myself tried to induce some of
the women to marry by offering them assistance； but they all reason in
this way as if they had consulted together。〃＇9＇ … 〃One of my curates
sends me word that； although he is the oldest in the province of
Touraine； and has seen many things； including excessively high prices
for wheat； he remembers no misery so great as that of this year； even
in 1709。 。 。 。 Some of the seigniors of Touraine inform me that； being
desirous of setting the inhabitants to work by the day； they found
very few of them； and these so weak that they were unable to use their
hands。〃
Those who are able to leave； go。
〃A person from Languedoc tells me of vast numbers of peasants
deserting that province and taking refuge in Piedmont； Savoy； and
Spain； tormented and frightened by the measures resorted to in
collecting tithes。 。 。 。 The extortioners sell everything and imprison
everybody as if prisoners of war； and even with more avidity and
malice； in order to gain something themselves。〃 … 〃I met an
intendant of one of the finest provinces in the kingdom； who told me
that no more farmers could be found there； that parents preferred to
send their children to the towns； that living in the surrounding
country was daily becoming more horrible to the inhabitants。 。 。 。 A
man； well…informed in financial matters； told me that over two hundred
families in Normandy had left this year； fearing the collections in
their villages。〃 … At Paris； 〃the streets swarm with beggars。 One
cannot stop before a door without a dozen mendicants besetting him
with their importunities。 They are said to be people from the country
who； unable to endure the persecutions they have to undergo； take
refuge in the cities 。 。 。 pre