书城公版The Origins of Contemporary France
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第576章

[92] Schmidt, I.96 (Letter of citizen Lauchou to the president of the Convention, Oct. 11, 1792). - II. 37 (Dutard, June 13). Statement of a wigmaker's wife: "They are a vile set, the servants. Some of them come here every day. They chatter away and say all sorts of horrible things about their masters. They are all just alike. Nobody is crazier than they are. I knew that some of them had received benefits from their masters, and others who were :still being kindly treated; but nothing stopped them."[93] Schmidt, I. 246 (Dutard, May 18). -- Grégoire, "Mémoires," I.

387. The mental and moral decline of the party is well shown in the new composition of the Jacobin Club after September, 1792: "I went back there," says Grégoire in September, 1792 (after a year's absence), "and found it unrecognizable; no opinions could be expressed there other than those of the Paris section . . . I did not set foot there again; (it was) a factious disreputable drinking place." --Buchez et Roux, XXVI. 214 (session of April 30,1793, speech by Buzot).

"Behold that once famous club. But. thirty of its founders remain there; you find there none but men steeped in debt and crime."[94] Schmidt, I. 189 (Dutard, May 6).

[95] Cf. Rétif de la Bretonne, "Nuits de Paris," vol. XVI. (July 12, 1789). At this date Rétif is in the Palais-Roya1, where "since the 13th of June numerous meetings have been held and motions made. . . Ifound there none but brutal fellows with keen eyes, preparing themselves for plunder rather than for liberty."[96] Mortimer-Ternaux, V.226 and following pages (address of the sans-culottes section, Sept. 25). -- "Archives Nationales," F7, 146(address of the Roule section, Sept. 23). In relation to the threatening tone of those at work on the camp, the petitioners add:

"Such was the language of the workshops in 1789 and 1790."[97] Schmidt, II.12 (Dutard, June 7): "During a few days past I have seen men from Neuilly, Versailles, and Saint-Germain staying here, attracted by the scent."[98 Schmidt, I.254 (Dutard, May 19) .-- At this date robbers swarm in Paris; Mayor Chambon, in his report to the Convention, himself admits it (Moniteur, XV. 67, session of Jan. 5, 1793).

[99] De Concourt, "La Société Fran?aise pendant 'a Révolution."(According to the" Courrier de l'Egalité, Jul. 1793).

[100] Buzot, 72.

[101] Moore, Nov.10, 1792 (according to an article in the Chronique de Paris). 'The day Robespierre made his "apology," "the galleries contained from seven to eight hundred women, and two hundred men at most. Robespierre is a priest who has his congregation of devotees." -- Mortimer-Ternaux, VII. 562 (letter of the deputy Michel, May 20, 1793): "Two or three thousand women, organized and drilled by the Fraternal Society in session at the Jacobin Club, began their uproar.

which lasted until 6 o'clock, when the house adjourned. Most of these creatures are prostitutes."[102] An expression of Gadol's in his letter to Roland.

[103] Buzot, 57.

[104] Buchez et Roux, XXVIII. 80 (Letter of Gadolle to Roland).

[105] Beaulieu, "Essais," I. 108 (an eye-witness). - Schmidt, II. 15.

Report by Perrières, June 8.

[106] Beaulieu, "Essais," I. 100. "Maillard died, his stomach eaten away by brandy" (April 15, 1794). - Alexandre Sorel, "Stanislas Maillard," pp. 32 to 42. Report of Fabre d'Eglantine on Maillard, Dec.

17, 1793. A decree subjecting him to indictment along with Ronsin and Vincent, Maillard publishes his apology, in which we see that he was already active in the Rue Favart before the 31st of May. "I am one of the members of that meeting of true patriots and I am proud of it, for it is there that the spark of that sacred insurrection of the 31st of May was kindled."[107] Alexandre Sorel, ibid. (denunciation of the circumstance by Lecointre, Dec.14, 1793 accompanied with official reports of the justices). -- "Archives Nationales," F7, 3268 (letter of the directory of Corbeil to the Minister, with official report, Nov. 28,1792). On the 26th of November eight or ten armed men, foot-soldiers, and others on horseback, entered the farm-house of a man named Ruelle, in the commune of Lisse. They dealt him two blows with their sabers, then put a bag over his head, kicked him in the face, tormented him, and almost smothered his wife and two women servants, to make him give up his money. A carter was shot with a pistol in the shoulder and twice struck with a saber; the hands about the premises were tied and bound like so many cattle. Finally the bandits went away, carrying with them silver plate, a watch, rings, laces, two guns, etc.

[108] Moniteur, XV. 565. -- Buchez et Roux, XXIV. 335 and following pages. - Rétif de la Bretonne, "Nuits de Paris," VIII. 460. (an eye witness). The last of these details are given by him.

[109] Cf. Ed. Fleury, "Baboeuf;" pp.139 and 150. Through a striking coincidence the party staff is still of the same order in 1796.