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！
from judicial offices； that they should never be allowed to worship in
public； and that mixed marriages should be forbidden。 And much more
than this； they demand preliminary censure of all works sold by the
bookshops； an ecclesiastical committee to act as informers； and
ignominious punishment to be awarded to the authors of irreligious
books。 Lastly they claim for their body the direction of public
schools and the oversight of private schools。 … There is nothing
strange in this intolerance and selfishness。 A collective body； as
with an individual； thinks of itself first of all and above all。 If；
now and then； it sacrifices some one of its privileges it is for the
purpose of securing the alliance of some other body。 In that case；
which is that of England； all these privileges； which compound with
each other and afford each other mutual support； form； through their
combination； the public liberties。 … In this case； only one body
being represented； its deputies are neither directed nor tempted to
make concession to others； the interest of the body is their sole
guide； they subordinate the common interest to it and serve it at any
cost； even to criminal attacks on the public welfare。
III。 Influence of the Nobles。。
Regulations in their favor。 … Preferment obtained by them in the
Church。 … Distribution of bishoprics and abbeys。 … Preferment obtained
from them from the State。 … Governments； offices； sinecures； pensions；
gratuities。 … Instead of being useful they are an expense。
Thus do public bodies work when； instead of being associated
together； they are separate。 The same spectacle is apparent on
contemplating castes and associations； their isolation is the cause of
their egoism。 From the top to the bottom of the scale the legal and
moral powers which should represent the nation represent themselves
only； while each one is busy in its own behalf at the expense of the
nation。 The nobility； in default of the right to meet together and to
vote； exercises its influence； and； to know how it uses this； it is
sufficient to read over the edicts and the Almanac。 A regulation
imposed on Marshal de Ségur＇4＇has just restored the old barrier； which
excluded commoners from military rank； and thenceforward； to be a
captain； it is necessary to prove four degrees of nobility。 In like
manner； in late days； one must be a noble to be a master of requests；
and it is secretly determined that in future 〃all ecclesiastical
property； from the humblest priory to the richest abbeys； shall be
reserved to the nobility。〃 In fact； all the high places； ecclesiastic
or laic； are theirs； all the sinecures； ecclesiastic or laic； are
theirs； or for their relations； adherents； protégés； and servitors。
France＇5＇ is like a vast stable in which the blood…horses obtain
double and triple rations for doing nothing； or for only half…work；
whilst the draft…horses perform full service on half a ration； and
that often not supplied。 Again； it must be noted； that among these
blood…horses is a privileged circle which； born near the manger； keeps
its fellows away and feeds bountifully； fat； shining； with their skins
polished； and up to their bellies in litter； and with no other
occupation than that of appropriating everything to themselves。 These
are the court nobles； who live within reach of favors； brought up from
infancy to ask for them； to obtain and to ask again； solely attentive
to royal condescension and frowns； for whom the OEil de boeuf＇6＇
forms the universe。 They are as 〃indifferent to the affairs of the
State as to their own affairs； allowing one to be governed by
provincial intendants as they allowed he other to be governed by their
own intendants。〃
Let us contemplate them at work on the budget。 We know how large
that of the church is； I estimate that they absorb at east one…half of
it。 Nineteen chapters of male nobles； twenty…five chapters of female
nobles； two hundred and sixty commanderies of Malta belong to them by
institution。 They occupy； by favor； all the archbishoprics； and；
except five； all the bishoprics。＇7＇ They furnish three out of four
abbés…commendatory and vicars…general。 If； among the abbeys of females
royally nominated； we set apart those bringing in twenty thousand
livres and more； we find that they all have ladies of rank for
abbesses。 One fact alone shows the extent of these favors： I have
counted eighty…three abbeys of men possessed by the almoners；
chaplains； preceptors or readers to the king； queen； princes； and
princesses； one of them； the abbé de Vermont； has 80；000 livres income
in benefices。 In short； the fifteen hundred ecclesiastical sinecures
under royal appointment； large or small； constitute a flow of money
for the service of the great； whether they pour it out in golden rain
to recompense the assiduity of their intimates and followers； or keep
it in large reservoirs to maintain the dignity of their rank。 Besides；
according to the fashion of giving more to those who have already
enough； the richest prelates possess； above their episcopal revenues；
the wealthiest abbeys。 According to the Almanac； M。 d'Argentré； bishop
of Séez；＇8＇ thus enjoys an extra income of 34；000 livres； M。 de
Suffren； bishop of Sisteron； 36；000； M。 de Girac； bishop of Rennes；
40；000； M。 de Bourdeille； bishop of Soissons； 42；000； M。 d'Agout de
Bonneval； bishop of Pamiers； 45；000； M。 de Marboeuf bishop of Autun；
50；000； M。 de Rohan； bishop of Strasbourg； 60；000； M。 de Cicé；
archbishop of Bordeaux； 63；000； M。 de Luynes； archbishop of Sens；
82；000； M。 de Bernis； archbishop of Alby； 100；000； M。 de Brienne；
archbishop of Toulouse； l06；000； M。 de Dillon； archbishop of Narbonne；
120；000； M。 de Larochefoucauld； archbishop of Rouen； 130；000 ； that is
to say； double and sometimes triple the sums stated； and quadruple；
and often six times as much； according to the present standard。 M。 de
Rohan derived from his abbeys； not 60；000 livres but 400；000； and M。
de Brienne； the most opulent of all； next to M。 de Rohan； the 24th of
August； 1788； at the time of leaving the ministry；＇9＇ sent to
withdraw from the treasury 〃the 20；000 livres of his month's salary
which had not yet fallen due； a punctuality the more remarkable that；
without taking into account the salary of his place； with the 6；000
livres pension attached to his blue ribbon； he possessed； in
benefices； 678；000 livres income； and that； still quite recently； a
cutting of wood on one of his abbey domains yielded him a million。〃
Let us pass on to the lay budget； here also are prolific sinecures；
and almost all belong to the nobles。 Of this class there are in the
provinces the thirty…seven great governments…general； the seven small
governments…general； the sixty…six lieutenancies…general； the four
hundred and seven special governments； the thirteen governorships of
royal palaces； and a number of others； all of them for ostentation and
empty honors。 They ar