按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
absence is necessary to deaden their vivid impression； they move the
heart when the eye contemplates them。 Familiarity； moreover； engenders
sympathy； one cannot remain insensible to the trials of a poor man to
whom； for over twenty years； one says good…morning every day on
passing him； with whose life one is acquainted； who is not an abstract
unit in the imagination； a statistical cipher； but a sorrowing soul
and a suffering body。 … And so much the more because； since the
writings of Rousseau and the economists； a spirit of humanity； daily
growing stronger； more penetrating and more universal； has arisen to
soften the heart。 Henceforth the poor are thought of； and it is
esteemed an honor to think of them。 We have only to read the registers
of the States…General＇11＇ to see that spirit of philanthropy spreads
from Paris even to the chateaux and abbeys of the provinces。 I am
satisfied that； except for a few country squires； either huntsmen or
drinkers； carried away by the need of physical exercise； and confined
through their rusticity to an animal life； most of the resident
seigniors resembled； in fact or in intention； the gentry whom
Marmontel； in his moral tales； then brought on the stage。 Fashion took
this direction； and people in France always follow the fashion。 There
is nothing feudal in their characters； they are 〃sensible〃 people；
mild； very courteous； tolerably cultivated； fond of generalities； and
easily and quickly roused； and very much in earnest。 For instance like
that amiable logician the Marquis de Ferrières； an old light…horseman；
deputy from Saumur in the National Assembly； author of an article on
Theism； a moral romance and genial memoirs of no great importance；
nothing could be more remote from the ancient harsh and despotic
temperament。 They would be glad to relieve the people； and they try to
favor them as much as they can。＇12＇ They are found detrimental； but they
are not wicked； the evil is in their situation and not in their
character。 It is their situation； in fact； which； allowing them rights
without exacting services； debars them from the public offices； the
beneficial influence； the effective patronage by which they might
justify their advantages and attach the peasantry to them。
But on this ground the central government has taken their place。
For a long time now have they been rather feeble against the
intendant； unable to protect their parish。 Twenty gentlemen cannot not
assemble and deliberate without the king's special permission。＇13＇ If
those of Franche…Comté happen to dine together and hear a mass once a
year； it is through tolerance； and even then this harmless group may
assemble only in the presence of the intendant。 Separated from his
equals； the seignior； again； is further away from his inferiors。 The
administration of the village is of no concern to him； he is not even
tasked with its supervision。 The apportionment of taxes； the militia
contingent； the repairs of the church； the summoning and presiding
over a parish assembly； the making of roads； the establishment of
charity workshops； all this is the intendant's business or that of the
communal officers whom the intendant appoints or directs。＇14＇ Except
through his justiciary rights； so much curtailed； the seignior is an
idler in public matters。＇15＇ If； by chance； he should desire to act in
an official capacity； to make some reclamation for the community； the
bureaus of administration would soon make him shut up。 Since Louis
XIV； the higher officials have things their own way； all legislation
and the entire administrative system operate against the local
seignior to deprive him of his functional efficiency and to confine
him to his naked title。 Through this separation of functions and title
his pride increases； as he becomes less useful。 His vanity deprived of
its broad pasture…ground； falls back on a small one； henceforth he
seeks distinctions and not influence。 He thinks only of precedence and
not of government。＇16＇ In short； the local government； in the hands of
peasants commanded by bureaucrats； has become a common； offensive lot
of red tape。 〃His pride would be wounded if he were asked to attend to
it。 Raising taxes； levying the militia； regulating the corvées； are
servile acts； the works of a secretary。〃 He accordingly abstains；
remains isolated on his manor and leaves to others a task from which
he is excluded and which he disdains。 Far from protecting his
peasantry he is scarcely able to protect himself or to preserve his
immunities。 Or to avoid having his poll…tax and vingtiémes reduced。 Or
to obtain exemption from the militia for his domestics； to keep his
own person； dwelling； dependents； and hunting and fishing rights from
the universal usurpation which places all possessions and all
privileges in the hands of 〃Monseigneur l'intendant〃 and Messieurs the
sub…delegates。 And the more so because he is often poor。 Bouillé
estimates that all the old families； save two or three hundred； are
ruined。＇17＇ I Rouergue several of them live on an income of fifty and
even twenty…five louis； （1000 and 500 francs）。 In Limousin； says an
intendant at the beginning of the century； out of several thousands
there are not fifteen who have twenty thousand livres income。 In
Berry； towards 1754； 〃three…fourths of them die of hunger。〃 In
Franche…Comté the fraternity to which we have alluded appears in a
humorous light； 〃after the mass each one returning to his domicile；
some on foot and others on their Rosinantes。〃 In Brittany 〃lots of
gentlemen found as excisemen； on the farms or in the lowest
occupations。〃 One M。 de la Morandais becomes the overseer of an
estate。 A certain family with nothing but a small farm 〃attests its
nobility only by the pigeon…house； it lives like the peasants； eating
nothing but brown bread。〃 Another gentleman； a widower； 〃passes his
time in drinking； living licentiously with his servants； and covering
butter…pots with the handsomest title…deeds of his lineage。〃 All the
chevaliers de Chateaubriand；〃 says the father； 〃were drunkards and
beaters of hares。〃 He himself just makes shift to live in a miserable
way； with five domestics； a hound and two old mares 〃 in a chateau
capable of accommodating a hundred seigniors with their suites。〃 Here
and there in the various memoirs we see these strange superannuated
figures passing before the eye； for instance； in Burgundy； 〃gentlemen
huntsmen wearing gaiters and hob…nailed shoes； carrying an old rusty
sword under their arms dying with hunger and refusing to work。〃＇18＇
Elsewhere we encounter 〃M。 de Pérignan； with his red garments； wig and
ginger face； having dry stone wails built on his domain； and getting
intoxicated with the blacksmith of the place；〃 related to Cardinal
Fleury； he is made the first Duc de Fleury。…Everything contributes to
this decay； the law； habits and customs； and； above all； the right of
primogeniture。 Instituted for the purpose of ma