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！
traits； it should be shaped on the living material to which it is
applied； otherwise it will burst and fall to pieces。 Hence； if we
should succeed in finding ours； it will only be through a study of
ourselves； while the more we understand exactly what we are； the more
certainly shall we distinguish what best suits us。 We ought；
therefore； to reverse the ordinary methods； and form some conception
of the nation before formulating its constitution。 Doubtless the first
operation is much more tedious and difficult than the second。 How much
time； how much study； how many observations rectified one by the
other； how many researches in the past and the present； over all the
domains of thought and of action； what manifold and age…long labors
before we can obtain an accurate and complete idea of a great people。
A people which has lived a people's age； and which still lives！ But it
is the only way to avoid the unsound construction based on a
meaningless planning。 I promised myself that； for my own part； if I
should some day undertake to form a political opinion； it would be
only after having studied France。
What is contemporary France？ To answer this question we must know
how this France is formed； or； what is still better； to act as
spectator at its formation。 At the end of the last century （in 1789）；
like a molting insect； it underwent a metamorphosis。 Its ancient
organization is dissolved； it tears away its most precious tissues and
falls into convulsions； which seem mortal。 Then； after multiplied
throes and a painful lethargy； it re…establishes itself。 But its
organization is no longer the same： by silent interior travail a new
being is substituted for the old。 In 1808； its leading characteristics
are decreed and defined： departments； arondissements； cantons and
communes； no change have since taken place in its exterior divisions
and functions。 Concordat； Code； Tribunals； University； Institute；
Prefects； Council of State； Taxes； Collectors； Cours des Comptes； a
uniform and centralized administration； its principal organs； are
still the same。 Nobility； commoners； artisans； peasants； each class
has henceforth the position； the sentiments； the traditions which we
see at the present day （1875）。 Thus the new creature is at once stable
and complete； consequently its structure； its instincts and its
faculties mark in advance the circle within which its thought and its
action will be stimulated。 Around it； other nations； some more
advanced； others less developed； all with greater caution； some with
better results； attempt similarly a transformation from a feudal to a
modern state； the process takes place everywhere and all but
simultaneously。 But； under this new system as beneath the ancient； the
weak is always the prey of the strong。 Woe to those （nations） whose
retarded evolution exposes them to the neighbor suddenly emancipated
from his chrysalis state； and is the first to go forth fully armed！
Woe likewise to him whose too violent and too abrupt evolution has
badly balanced his internal economy。 Who； through the exaggeration of
his governing forces； through the deterioration of his deep…seated
organs； through the gradual impoverishment of his vital tissues is
condemned to commit inconsiderate acts； to debility； to impotency；
amidst sounder and better…balanced neighbors！ In the organization；
which France effected for herself at the beginning of the （19th）
century； all the general lines of her contemporary history were
traced。 Her political revolutions； social Utopias； division of
classes； role of the church； conduct of the nobility； of the middle
class； and of the people； the development； the direction； or deviation
of philosophy； of letters and of the arts。 That is why； should we wish
to understand our present condition our attention always reverts to
the terrible and fruitful crisis by which the ancient regime produced
the Revolution； and the Revolution the new regime。
Ancient régime； Revolution； new régime； I am going to try to
describe these three conditions with exactitude。 I have no other
object in view。 A historian may be allowed the privilege of a
naturalist； I have regarded my subject the same as the metamorphosis
of an insect。 Moreover； the event is so interesting in itself that it
is worth the trouble of being observed for its own sake； and no effort
is required to suppress one's ulterior motives。 Freed from all
prejudice； curiosity becomes scientific and may be completely
concentrated on the secret forces； which guide the wonderful process。
These forces are the situation； the passions； the ideas； the wills of
each group of actors； and which can be defined and almost measured。
They are in full view； we are not reduced to conjectures about them；
to uncertain divination； to vague indications。 By singular good
fortune we perceive the men themselves； their exterior and their
interior。 The Frenchmen of the ancient régime are still within visual
range。 All of us； in our youth； （around 1840…50）； have encountered one
or more of the survivors of this vanished society。 Many of their
dwellings； with the furniture； still remain intact。 Their pictures and
engravings enable us to take part in their domestic life； see how they
dress； observe their attitudes and follow their movements。 Through
their literature； philosophy； scientific pursuits； gazettes； and
correspondence； we can reproduce their feeling and thought； and even
enjoy their familiar conversation。 The multitude of memoirs； issuing
during the past thirty years from public and private archives； lead us
from one drawing room to another； as if we bore with us so many
letters of introduction。 The independent descriptions by foreign
travelers； in their journals and correspondence； correct and complete
the portraits； which this society has traced of itself。 Everything
that it could state has been stated； except；
* what was commonplace and well…known to contemporaries；
* whatever seemed technical； tedious and vulgar；
* whatever related to the provinces； to the bourgeoisie； the
peasant； to the laboring man； to the government； and to the household。
It has been my aim to fill this void； and make France known to
others outside the small circle of the literary and the cultivated。
Owing to the kindness of M。 Maury＇1＇ and the precious indications of
M。 Boutaric； I have been able to examine a mass of manuscript
documents。 These include the correspondence of a large number of
intendants； （the Royal governor of a large district）； the directors of
customs and tax offices； legal officers； and private persons of every
kind and of every degree during the thirty last years of the ancient
regime。 Also included are the reports and registers of the various
departments of the royal household； the reports and registers of the
States General in 176 volumes； the dispatches of military officers in
1789 and 1790； letters； memoirs and detailed statistic