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prejudices against every measure proceeding from them； even the most
liberal and the most beneficial。 〃At the mere mention of the new
assemblies；〃 says a provincial commission in 1787；＇17＇ 〃we heard a
workman exclaim； 'What； more new extortioners！' 〃 Superiors of every
kind are suspected； and from suspicion to hostility the road is not
long。 In 1788＇18＇ Mercier declares that 〃insubordination has been
manifest for some years； especially among the trades。 。 。 。 Formerly；
on entering a printing…office the men took off their hats。 Now they
content themselves with staring and leering at you； scarcely have you
crossed threshold when you yourself more lightly spoken of than if you
were one of them。〃 The same attitude is taken by the peasants in the
environment of Paris； Madame Vigée…Lebrun；＇19＇ on going to Romainville
to visit Marshal de Ségur； remarks： 〃Not only do they not remove their
hats but they regard us insolently； some of them even threatened us
with clubs。〃 In March and April following this； her guests arrive at
her concert in consternation。 〃In the morning； at the promenade of
Longchamps； the populace； assembled at the barrier of l'Etoile；
insulted the people passing by in carriages in the grossest manner；
some of the wretches on the footsteps exclaiming： 'Next year you shall
be behind the carriage and we inside。' 〃 At the close of the year
1788； the stream becomes a torrent and the torrent a cataract。 An
intendant＇20＇ writes that； in his province； the government must
decide； and in the popular sense； to separate from privileged classes；
abandon old forms and give the Third…Estate a double vote。 The clergy
and the nobles are detested； and their supremacy is a yoke。 〃Last
July；〃 he says； 〃the old States…General would have been received with
pleasure and there would have been few obstacles to its formation。
During the past five months minds have become enlightened； respective
interests have been discussed； and leagues formed。 You have been kept
in ignorance of the fermentation which is at its height among all
classes of the Third…Estate； and a spark will kindle the
conflagration。 If the king's decision should be favorable to the first
two orders a general insurrection will occur throughout the provinces；
600；000 men in arms and the horrors of the Jacquerie。〃 The word is
spoken and the reality is coming。 An insurrectionary multitude
rejecting its natural leaders must elect or submit to others。 It is
like an army which； entering on a campaign； finding itself without
officers； the vacancies are for the boldest； most violent； those most
oppressed by the previous rule； and who； leading the advance； shouting
〃forward〃 and thus form the leading groups。 In 1789； the bands are
ready； for； below the suffering people there is yet another people
which suffers yet more； whose insurrection is permanent； and which；
repressed； persecuted； and obscure； only awaits an opportunity to come
out of its hiding…place and openly give their passions free vent。
IV。
Insurrectionary leaders and recruits。 … Poachers。 … Smugglers and
dealers in contraband salt。 … Bandits。 … Beggars and vagabonds。 …
Advent of brigands。 … The people of Paris。
Vagrants； recalcitrants of all kinds； fugitives of the law or the
police； beggars； cripples； foul； filthy； haggard and savage； they are
bred by the social injustice of the system； and around every one of
the social wounds these swarm like vermin。 … Four hundred
captaincies protects vast quantities of game feeding on the crops
under the eyes of owners of the land； transforming these into
thousands of poachers； the more dangerous since they are armed； and
defy the most terrible laws。 Already in 1752＇21＇ are seen around Paris
〃gatherings of fifty or sixty； all fully armed and acting as if on
regular foraging campaigns； with the infantry at the center and the
cavalry on the wings。 。 。 。 They live in the forests where they have
created a fortified and guarded area and paying exactly for what they
take to live on。〃 In 1777＇22＇； at Sens in Burgundy； the public
attorney； M。 Terray； hunting on his own property with two officers；
meets a gang of poachers who fire on the game under their eyes； and
soon afterwards fire on them。 Terray is wounded and one of the
officers has his coat pierced； guards arrive； but the poachers stand
firm and repel them； dragoons are sent for and the poachers kill of
these； along with three horses； and are attacked with sabers； four of
them are brought to the ground and seven are captured。…Reports of the
States…General show that every year； in each extensive forest； murders
occur； sometimes at the hands of a poacher； and again； and the most
frequently； by the shot of a gamekeeper。 … It is a continuous warfare
at home； every vast domain thus harbors its rebels； provided with
powder and ball and knowing how to use them。
Other recruits for rioting are found among smugglers and in
dealers in contraband salt＇23＇。 A tax； as soon as it becomes
exorbitant； invites fraud； and raises up a population of delinquents
against its army of clerks。 The number of such defrauders may be seen
when we consider the number of custom officers： twelve hundred leagues
of interior custom districts are guarded by 50；000 men； of which
23；000 are soldiers in civilian dress＇24＇。 〃In the principal provinces
of the salt…tax and in the provinces of the five great tax leasing
administrations （fermes）； for four leagues （ten miles） on either side
of the prohibited line；〃 cultivation is abandoned； everybody is either
a customs official or a smuggler＇25＇。 The more excessive the tax the
higher the premium offered to the violators of the law； at every place
on the boundaries of Brittany with Normandy； Maine and Anjou； four
pence per pound added to the salt…tax multiplies beyond any conception
the already enormous number of contraband dealers。 〃Numerous bands of
men；＇26＇ armed with frettes； or long sticks pointed with iron； and
often with pistols or guns； attempt to force a passage。 〃A multitude
of women and of children； quite young； cross the brigades boundaries
or； on the other side； troops of dogs are brought there； kept closed
up for a certain time without food or drink； then loaded with salt and
now turned loose so that they； driven by hunger； immediately bring
their cargo back to their masters。〃…Vagabonds； outlaws； the famished；
sniff this lucrative occupation from afar and run to it like so many
packs of hounds。 〃The outskirts of Brittany are filled with a
population of emigrants； mostly outcast from their own districts； who；
after a year's registered stay； may enjoy the privileges of the
Bretons： their occupation is limited to collecting piles of salt to
re…sell to the contraband dealers。〃 We might imagine them； as in a
flash of lightening； as a long line of restless nomads； nocturnal and
pursued； an entire tribe； male and female； of unsociable prowlers；
familiar wit