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eminence and better still； an influence somewhat like that to day
maintained over his domain by grand duke incorporated into the new
German empire。 Near him； in Hainaut； the abbé of Saint…Armand
possesses seven…eighths of the territory of the provostship while
levying on the other eighth the seigniorial taxes of the corvées and
the dime。 He nominates the provost of the aldermen； so that； in the
words of the grievances； 〃he composes the entire State； or rather he
is himself the State。〃＇26＇ I should never end if I were to specify all
these big prizes。 Let us select only those of the prelacy； and but one
particular side； that of money。 In the 〃Almanach Royal；〃 and in 〃La
France Ecclésiastique〃 for 1788； we may read their admitted revenues。
The veritable revenue； however； is one…half more for the bishoprics；
an double and triple for the abbeys； and we must again double the
veritable revenue in order to estimate its value in the money of to
day。＇27＇。 The one hundred and thirty…one bishops and arch…bishops
possess in the aggregate 5； 600； 000 livres of episcopal income and
1；200；000 livres in abbeys； averaging 50；000 livres per head as in the
printed record； and in reality 100；000。 A bishop thus； in the eyes of
his contemporaries； according to the statement of spectators cognizant
of the actual truth； was 〃a grand seignior； with an income of 100；000
livres。〃＇28＇ Some of the most important sees are magnificently
endowed。 That of Sens brings in 70；000 livres； Verdun； 74；000； Tours；
82；000； Beauvais； Toulouse and Bayeux； 90；000； Rouen； 100；000； Auch；
Metz and Albi； 120；000； Narbonne； 160；000； Paris and Cambray； 200；000
according to official reports； and probably half as much more in sums
actually collected。 Other sees； less lucrative； are； proportionately；
still better provided。 Imagine a small provincial town； oftentimes not
even a petty sub…prefecture of our times； … Conserans； Mirepoix；
Lavaur； Rieux； Lombez； Saint…Papoul； Comminges； Lu？on； Sarlat； Mende；
Fréjus； Lescar； Belley； Saint…Malo； Tréguier； Embrun； Saint…Claude； …
and； in the neighborhood； less than two hundred； one hundred； and
sometimes even less than fifty parishes； and； as recompense for this
slight ecclesiastical surveillance； a prelate receiving from 25；000 to
70；000 livres； according to official statements； from 37；000 to
105；000 livres in actual receipts； and from 74；000 to 210；000 livres
in the money of to day。 As to the abbeys； I count thirty…three of them
producing to the abbé from 25；000 to 120；000 livres； and twenty…seven
which bring from 20；000 to 100；000 livres to the abbess。 Weigh these
sums taken from the Almanach； and bear in mind that they must be
doubled； and more； to obtain the real revenue； and be quadrupled； and
more； to obtain the actual value。 It is evident； that； with such
revenues； coupled with the feudal rights； police； justiciary and
administrative； which accompany them； an ecclesiastic or lay grand
seignior is； in fact； a sort of prince in his district。 He bears too
close a resemblance to the ancient sovereign to be entitled to live as
an ordinary individual。 His private advantages impose on him a public
character。 His rank； and his enormous profits； makes it incumbent on
him to perform proportionate services； and that； even under the sway
of the intendant； he owes to his vassals； to his tenants； to his
feudatories the support of his mediation； of his patronage and of his
gains。
To do this he must be in residence； but； generally； he is an
absentee。 For a hundred and fifty years a kind of all…powerful
attraction diverts the grandees from the provinces and impels them
towards the capital。 The movement is irresistible； for it is the
effect of two forces； the greatest and most universal that influence
mankind； one； a social position； and the other the national character。
A tree is not to be severed from its roots with impunity。 Appointed to
govern； an aristocracy frees itself from the land when it no longer
rules。 It ceases to rule the moment when； through increasing and
constant encroachments； almost the entire justiciary； the entire
administration； the entire police； each detail of the local or general
government； the power of initiating； of collaboration； of control
regarding taxation； elections； roads； public works and charities；
passes over into the hands of the intendant or of the sub…delegate；
under the supreme direction of the comptroller…general or of the
king's council。＇29＇ Civil servants； men 〃of the robe and the quill；〃
colorless commoners； perform the administrative work； there is no way
to prevent it。 Even with the king's delegates； a provincial governor；
were he hereditary； a prince of the blood； like the Condés in
Burgundy； must efface himself before the intendant； he holds no
effective office； his public duties consist of showing off and
providing entertainment。 Besides he would badly perform any others。
The administrative machine； with its thousands of hard； creaking and
dirty wheels； as Richelieu and Louis XIV； fashioned it； can work only
in the hands of workmen who may be dismissed at any time therefore
unscrupulous and prompt to give way to the judgment of the State。 It
is impossible to allow oneself to get mixed up with rogues of that
description。 He accordingly abstains； and abandons public affairs to
them。 Unemployed； bored； what could he now do on his domain； where he
no longer reigns； and where dullness overpowers him？ He betakes
himself to the city； and especially to the court。 Moreover； only here
can he pursue a career； to be successful he has to become a courtier。
It is the will of the king； one must frequent his apartments to obtain
his favors； otherwise； on the first application for them the answer
will be； 〃Who is he？ He is a man that I never see。〃 In the king's eyes
there is no excuse for absence； even should the cause is a conversion；
with penitence for a motive。 In preferring God to the king； he has
deserted。 The ministers write to the intendants to ascertain if the
gentlemen of their province 〃like to stay at home；〃 and if they
〃refuse to appear and perform their duties to the king。〃 Imagine the
grandeur of such attractions available at the court； governments；
commands； bishoprics； benefices； court…offices； survivor…ships；
pensions； credit； favors of every kind and degree for self and family。
All that a country of 25 millions men can offer that is desirable to
ambition； to vanity； to interest； is found here collected as in a
reservoir。 They rush to it and draw from it。 … And the more readily
because it is an agreeable place； arranged just as they would have it；
and purposely to suit the social aptitudes of the French character。
The court is a vast permanent drawing room to which 〃 access is easy
and free to the king's subjects；〃 where they live with him； 〃in gentle
and virtuous society in spite of the almost infinite distance of rank
and power；〃 where the monarch prides him