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that of their priests； no law but that of those above them； no
morality but that of self…interest； these are the beings who； led on
by drunken curates； are now on the high road to liberty； and the first
use they make of it is to rebel on all sides because there is
dearth。〃＇9＇
How could things be otherwise？ Every idea； previous to taking root
in their brain； must possess a legendary form； as absurd as it is
simple； adapted to their experiences； their faculties； their fears and
their aspirations。 Once planted in this uncultivated and fertile soil
it vegetates and becomes transformed； developing into gross
excrescences； somber foliage and poisonous fruit。 The more monstrous
the greater its vigor； clinging to the slightest of probabilities and
tenacious against the most certain of demonstrations。 Under Louis XV；
in an arrest of vagabonds； a few children having been carried off
willfully or by mistake； the rumor spreads that the king takes baths
in blood to restore his exhausted functions； and； so true does this
seem to be； the women； horrified through their maternal instincts；
join in the riot； a policeman is seized and knocked down； and； on his
demanding a confessor； a woman in the crowd； picking up a stone； cries
out that he must not have time to go to heaven； and smashes his head
with it； believing that she is performing an act of justice＇10＇。 Under
Louis XVI evidence is presented to the people that there is no
scarcity： in 1789； ＇11＇ an officer； listening to the conversation of
his soldiers； hears them state 〃with full belief that the princes and
courtiers； with a view to starve Paris out； are throwing flour into
the Seine。〃 Turning to a quarter…master he asks him how he can
possibly believe such an absurd story。 〃Lieutenant；〃 he replies； 〃'tis
time … the bags were tied with blue strings （cordons bleus）。〃 To them
this is a sufficient reason； and no argument could convince them to
the contrary。 Thus； among the dregs of society； foul and horrible
romances are forged； in connection the famine and the Bastille； in
which Louis XVI。； the queen Marie Antoinette； the Comte d'Artois；
Madame de Lamballe； the Polignacs； the revenue farmers； the seigniors
and ladies of high rank are portrayed as vampires and ghouls。 I have
seen many editions of these in the pamphlets of the day； in the
engravings not exhibited； and among popular prints and illustrations；
the latter the most effective； since they appeal to the eye。 They
surpass the stories of Mandrin＇12＇ and Cartouche； being exactly
suitable for men whose literature consists of the popular laments of
Mandrin and Cartouche。
II。
Political incapacity。 … Interpretation of political rumors and of
government action。
By this we can judge of their political intelligence。 Every
object appears to them in a false light； they are like children who；
at each turn of the road； see in each tree or bush some frightful
hobgoblin。 Arthur Young； on visiting the springs near Clermont； is
arrested；＇13＇ and the people want to imprison a woman； his guide； some
of the bystanders regarding him as an 〃agent of the Queen； who
intended to blow the town up with a mine； and send all that escaped to
the galleys。〃 Six days after this； beyond Puy； and notwithstanding his
passport； the village guard come and take him out of bed at eleven
o'clock at nights； declaring that 〃I was undoubtedly a conspirator
with the Queen； the Count d'Artois and the Count d'Entragues （who has
property here）； who had employed me as arpenteur to measure their
fields in order to double their taxes。〃 We here take the unconscious；
apprehensive； popular imagination in the act； a slight indication； a
word； prompting the construction of either air castles or fantastic
dungeons； and seeing these as plainly as if they were so many
substantial realities。 They have not the inward resources that render
capable of separating and discerning； their conceptions are formed in
a lump； both object and fancy appear together and are united in one
single perception。 At the moment of electing deputies the report is
current in Province＇14＇ that 〃the best of kings desires perfect
equality； that there are to be no more bishops； nor seigniors； nor
tithes； nor seigniorial dues； no more tithes or distinctions； no more
hunting or fishing rights； 。 。 。 that the people are to be wholly
relieved of taxation； and that the first two orders alone are to
provide the expenses of the government。〃 Whereupon forty or fifty
riots take place in one day。 〃Several communities refuse to make any
payments to their treasurer outside of royal requisitions。〃 Others do
better： 〃on pillaging the strong…box of the receiver of the tax on
leather at Brignolles； they shout out Vive le Roi！〃 〃The peasant
constantly asserts his pillage and destruction to be in conformity
with the king's will。〃 A little later； in Auvergne； the peasants who
burn castles are to display 〃much repugnance〃 in thus maltreating
〃such kind seigniors；〃 but they allege 〃imperative orders； having been
advised that the king wished it。〃＇15＇ At Lyons； when the tapsters of
the town and the peasants of the neighborhood trample the customs
officials underfoot they believe that the king has suspended all
customs dues for three days。＇16＇ The scope of their imagination is
proportionate to their shortsightedness。 〃Bread； no more rents； no
more taxes！〃 is the sole cry； the cry of want； while exasperated want
plunges ahead like a famished bull。 Down with the monopolist ！ …
storehouses are forced open； convoys of grain are stopped； markets are
pillaged； bakers are hung； and the price of bread is fixed so that
none is to be had or is concealed。 Down with the octroi ！ …
barriers are demolished； clerks are beaten； money is wanting in the
towns for urgent expenses。 Burn tax registries； account…books；
municipal archives； seigniors' charter…safes； convent parchments；
every detestable document creative of debtors and sufferers ！ The
village itself is no longer able to preserve its parish property。 The
rage against any written document； against public officers； against
any man more or less connected with grain； is blind and determined。
The furious animal destroys all； although wounding himself； driving
and roaring against the obstacle that ought to be outflanked。
III。
Destructive impulses。 … The object of blind rage。 … Distrust of
natural leaders。 … Suspicion of them changed into hatred。 …
Disposition of the people in 1789。
This owing to the absence of leaders and in the absence of
organization； a mob is simply a herd。 Its mistrust of its natural
leaders； of the great； of the wealthy； of persons in office and
clothed with authority； is inveterate and incurable。 Vainly do these
wish it well and do it good； it has no faith in their humanity or
disinterestedness。 It has been too down…trodden； it entertains
prejudices against every measure proceeding from them； even the