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the east。 Chalons…sur…Marne to Lyons。 The Comtat and Provence。
The tone and the responses of the Jacobin administration。 The
programme of the party。
Let us enter the cabinet of Roland； Minister of the Interior； a
fortnight after the opening of the Convention； and suppose him
contemplating； some evening； in miniature； a picture of the state of
the country administered by him。 His clerks have placed the
correspondence of the past few weeks on his table； arranged in proper
order； his replies are noted in brief on the margin； he has a map of
France before him； and； placing his finger on the southern section； he
moves it along the great highway across the country。 At every stage he
recurs to the paper file of letters； and passing innumerable reports
of violence； he merely gives his attention to the great revolutionary
exploits。＇52＇ Madame Roland； I imagine； works with her husband； and
the couple； sitting together alone under the lamp； ponder over the
doings of the ferocious brute which they have set free in the
provinces the same as in Paris。
Their eyes go first to the southern extremity of France。 There；＇53＇ on
the canal of the Deux…Mers； at Carcassonne； the population has seized
three boats loaded with grain； demanded provisions； then a lower
prices of bread； then guns and cannon from the magazine； and； lastly；
the heads of the administrators； an inspector…general has been wounded
by an axe； and the syndic…attorney of the department； M。 Verdie；
massacred。 The Minister follows with his eye the road from
Carcassonne to Bordeaux； and on the right and on the left he finds
traces of blood。 At Castres；＇54＇ a report is spread that a dealer in
grain was trying to raise the price； whereupon a mob gathers； and； to
save the dealer； he is placed in the guard…house。 The volunteers；
however； force open the guard…house； and throw the man out of the
first…story window； they then finish him off with 〃blows with clubs
and weights；〃 drag his body along the street and cast it into the
river。 The evening before； at Clairac；＇55＇ M。 Lartigue…Langa； an
unsworn priest； pursued through the street by a troop of men and
women； who wanted to remove his cassock and set him on an ass； found
refuge； with great difficulty； in his country…house。 They go there for
him； however； fetch him back to the public promenade； and there they
kill him。 A number of brave fellows who interfered were charged with
incivism； and severely handled。 Repression is impossible； the
department writes to the Minister that 〃at this time it would be
impolitic to follow the matter up。〃 Roland knows that by experience。
The letters in his hands show him that there； as in Paris； murder
engenders murder。 M。 d'Alespée； a gentleman； has just been
assassinated at Nérac； 〃all reputable citizens formed around him a
rampart with their bodies；〃 but the rabble prevailed； and the
murderers； 〃through their obscurity；〃 escaped。 The Minister's
finger stops at Bordeaux。 There the federation festivities are marked
with a triple assassination。＇56＇ In order to let this dangerous moment
pass by； M。 de Langoiran； vicar…general of the archbishopric； had
retired half a league off； in the village of Cauderan； to the
residence of an octogenarian priest； who； like himself； had never
meddled with public matters。 On the 15th of July the National Guards
of the village； excited by the speeches of the previous night； have
come to the residence to pick them up； and moreover； a third priest
belonging in the neighborhood。 There is nothing to lay to their
charge； neither the municipal officers； nor the justices before whom
they are brought； can avoid declaring them innocent。 As a last
recourse； they are conducted to Bordeaux； before the Directory of the
department。 But it is getting dark； and the riotous crowd becoming
impatient； makes an attack on them。 The octogenarian 〃receives so
many blows that he cannot recover〃； the abbé du Puy is knocked down
and dragged along by a rope attached to his feet； M。 de Langoirac's
head is cut off； carried about on a pike； taken to his house and
presented to the servant； who is told that 〃her master will not come
home to supper。〃 The torment of the priests has lasted from five
o'clock in the morning to seven o'clock in the evening； and the
municipal authorities were duly advised； but they cannot put
themselves out of the way to give succor； they are too seriously
occupied in erecting a liberty…pole。
Route from Bordeaux to Caen。 The Minister's finger turns to the
north； and stops at Limoges。 The day following the federation has
been here celebrated the same as at Bordeaux。＇57＇ An unsworn priest；
the abbé Chabrol； assailed by a gang of men and women； is first
conducted to the guard…house and then to the dwelling of the juge…de…
paix； for his protection a warrant of arrest is gotten out； and he is
kept under guard； in sight； by four chasseurs； in one of the rooms。
But the populace are not satisfied with this。 In vain do the
municipal officers appeal to it； in vain do the gendarmes interpose
themselves between it and the prisoner； it rushes in upon them and
disperses them。 Meanwhile； volleys of stones smash in the windows；
and the entrance door yields to the blows of axes； about thirty of the
villains scale the windows； and pass the priest down like a bale of
goods。 A few yards off； 〃struck down with clubs and other
instruments；〃 he draws his last breath； his head 〃crushed〃 by twenty
mortal wounds。 Farther up； towards Orleans； Roland reads the
following dispatches； taken from the file for Loiret：＇58＇ 〃Anarchy is
at its height；〃 writes one of the districts to the Directory of the
department； 〃there is no longer recognition of any authority； the
administrators of the district and of the municipalities are insulted；
and are powerless to enforce respect。 。 。 。 Threats of slaughter；
of destroying houses and giving them up to pillage prevail； plans are
made to tear down all the chateaux。 The municipal authorities of
Achères； along with many of the inhabitants； have gone to Oison and
Chaussy； where everything is smashed； broken up and carried off On
the 16th of September six armed men went to the house of M。 de
Vaudeuil and obliged him to return the sum of 300 francs； for
penalties pretended to have been paid by them。 We have been notified
that M。 Dedeley will be visited at Achères for the same purpose to…
day。 M。 de Lory has been similarly threatened。 。 。 Finally； all
those people there say that they want no more local administrations or
tribunals； that the law is in their own hands； and they will execute
it。 In this extremity we have decided on the only safe course； which
is to silently accept all the outrages inflicted upon us。 We have not
called upon you for protection； for we are well aware of the
embarrassment you labor under。〃 The best part of the National
Guard； indeed； having been disarmed at the county…town； there is no
longer an armed force to put riots down。 Consequently； at this same
date；＇59＇ the populace； increased by the afflux of 〃strangers〃 and
ordinary nomads； hang a corn…inspector； plant his head on the end of a
pike； drag his body through the streets； sack five houses and burn the
furniture of a municipal officer in front of his own door。 Thereupon；
the obedient municipality sets the arrested rioters free； and lowers
the price of bread one…sixth。 Above the Loire； the dispatches of Orne
and Calvados complete the picture。 〃Our district；〃 writes a
lieutenant of the gendarmerie；＇60＇ 〃is a prey to brigandage。 。 。 About
thirty rascals have just sacked the chateau of Dampierre。 Calls for
men are constantly made upon us；〃 which we cannot satisfy； 〃because
the call is general on all sides。〃 The details are curious； and here；
notwithstanding the Minister's familiarity with popular misdeeds； he
cannot avoid noting one extortion of a new species。 〃The inhabitants
of the villages＇61＇ collect to