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the public purse and prevents the sovereign from spending too freely。
Such is the régime in countries where the feudal seigniors； instead of
allowing the sovereign to ally himself with the people against them；
allied themselves with the people against the sovereign。 To protect
their own interests better they secured protection for the interests
of others； and； after having served as the representatives of their
compeers they became the representatives of the nation。 Nothing of
this kind takes place in France。 The States…General are fallen into
desuetude； and the king may with truth declare himself the sole
representative of the country。 Like trees rendered lifeless under the
shadow of a gigantic oak； other public powers perish through his
growth； whatever still remains of these encumbers the ground； and
forms around him a circle of clambering briers or of decaying trunks。
One of them； the Parliament； an offshoot simply of the great oak；
sometimes imagined itself in possession of a root of its own； but its
sap was too evidently derivative for it to stand by itself and provide
the people with an independent shelter。 Other bodies； surviving；
although stunted； the assembly of the clergy and the provincial
assemblies； still protect an order； and four or five provinces； but
this protection extends only to the order itself or to the province；
and； if it protects a special interest it is commonly at the expense
of the general interest。
II。 The Clergy
Assemblies of the clergy。 … They serve only ecclesiastical
interests。 … The clergy exempted from taxation。 … Solicitation of its
agents。 … Its zeal against the Protestants。
Let us observe the most vigorous and the best…rooted of these
bodies； the assembly of the clergy。 It meets every five years； and；
during the interval； two agents； selected by it； watch over the
interests of the order。 Convoked by the government； subject to its
guidance； retained or dismissed when necessary； always in its hands；
used by it for political ends； it nevertheless continues to be a
refuge for the clergy； which it represents。 But it is an asylum solely
for that body； and； in the series of transactions by which it defends
itself against fiscal demands； it eases its own shoulders of the load
only to make it heavier on the shoulders of others。 We have seen how
its diplomacy saved clerical immunities； how it bought off the body
from the poll…tax and the vingtièmes； how it converted its portion of
taxation into a 〃free gift；〃 how this gift is annually applied to
refunding the capital which it has borrowed to obtain this exemption；
by which delicate art it succeeds； not only in not contributing to the
treasury； but in withdrawing from it every year about 1；500；000
livres； all of which is so much the better for the church but so much
the worse for the people。 Now run through the file of folios in which
from one period of five years to another the reports of its agents
follow each other； … so many clever men thus preparing themselves for
the highest positions in the church； the abbés de Boisgelin； de
Périgord； de Barral； de Montesquiou； at each moment； owing to their
solicitations with judges and the council； owing to the authority
which the discontent of the powerful order felt to be behind them
gives to their complaints； some ecclesiastic matter is decided in an
ecclesiastical sense； so feudal right is maintained in favor of a
chapter or of a bishop； some public demand is thrown out。＇1＇ In 1781；
notwithstanding decision of the Parliament of Rennes； the canons of
St。 Malo are sustained in their monopoly of the district baking oven。
This is to the detriment of the bakers who prefer to bake at their own
domiciles as well as of the inhabitants who would have to pay less for
bread made by the bakers。 In 1773； Guénin； a schoolmaster； discharged
by the bishop of Langres； and supported in vain by inhabitants； is
compelled to hand his place over to a successor appointed by the
bishop。 In 1770； Rastel； a Protestant； having opened a public school
at Saint…Affrique； is prosecuted at the demand of the bishop and of
clerical agents； his school is closed and he is imprisoned。 When an
organized body keeps purse strings in its own hands it secures many
favors； these are the equivalent for the money it grants。 The
commanding tone of the king and the submissive air of the clergy
effect no fun mental change； with both of them it is a bargain；＇2＇
giving and taking on both sides； this or that law against the
Protestants going for one or two millions added to the free gift。 In
this way the revocation of the Edict of Nantes is gradually brought
about； article by article； one turn of the rack after another turn；
each fresh persecution purchased by a fresh largess； the clergy
helping the State on condition that the State becomes an executioner。
Throughout the eighteenth century the church sees that this operation
continues。＇3＇ In 1717； an assemblage of seventy…four persons having
been surprised at Andure the men are sent to the galleys and the women
are imprisoned。 In 1724； an edict declares that all who are present at
any meeting； or who shall have any intercourse； direct or indirect；
with preachers； shall be condemned to the confiscation of their
property； the women to have their heads shaved and be shut up for
life； and the men to sent to the galleys for life。 In 1745 and 1746；
in Dauphiny； 277 Protestants are condemned to the galleys； and numbers
of women are whipped。 Between 1744 and 1752； in the east and in the
south； six hundred Protestants are imprisoned and eight hundred
condemned to various penalties。 In 1774； the two children of Roux； a
Calvinist of Nimes； are carried off。 Up to nearly the beginning of the
Revolution； in Languedoc； ministers are hung； while dragoons are
dispatched against congregations assembled to worship God in deserted
places。 The mother of M。 Guizot here received shots in the skirts of
her dress。 This is owing to the fact that； in Languedoc； through the
provincial States…Assembly 〃the bishops control temporal affairs more
than elsewhere； their disposition being always to dragoon and make
converts at the point of the bayonet。〃 In 1775； at the coronation of
the king； archbishop Loménie of Brienne； a well…known unbeliever；
addresses the young king： 〃You will disapprove of the culpable systems
of toleration。。。 Complete the work undertaken by Louis the Great。 To
you is reserved the privilege of giving the final blow to Calvinism in
your kingdom。〃 In 1780； the assembly of the clergy declares 〃that the
altar and the throne would equally be in danger if heresy were allowed
to throw off its shackles。〃 Even in 1789； the clergy in its registers；
while consenting to the toleration of non…Catholics； finds the edict
of 1788 too liberal。 They desire that non…Catholics should be excluded
from judicial offices； that they should never be allowed to worship in
public； and