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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

The
conversation was general, without any subject being dwelt on. There,
misfortune was treated as if it were a bad child to be laughed at,
and, in fact, they did openly make sport of Marat's divinity,
Robespierre's sacerdoce and the magistracy of Fouquier. They seemed
to say to all these bloody menials: 'You may slaughter us when you
please, but you cannot hinder us in being aimable'"-Archives
Nationales, F.7, 31167. (Report by the watchman, Charmont, Niv?se 29,
year II.) "The people attending the executions are very much surprised
at the firmness and courage they show (sic) on mounting the scaffold.
They say that it looks (sic) like going to a wedding. People cannot
get used to it, some declaring that it is supernatural."
[56] Sauzay, I.. introduction. - De Tocqueville, "L'Ancien Regime et
la Revolution," 166. "I have patiently read most of the reports and
debates of the provincial ?tats,' and especially those of Languedoc,
where the clergy took much greater part than elsewhere in
administrative details, as well as the proc?s-verbaux of the
provincial assemblies between 1779 and 1787, and, entering on the
study with the ideas of my time, I was surprised to find bishops and
abb?s, among whom were several as eminent for their piety as their
learning, drawing up reports on roads and canals, treating such
matters with perfect knowledge of the facts, discussing with the
greatest ability and intelligence the best means for increasing
agricultural products, for ensuring the well-being of the people and
the property of industrial enterprises, oftentimes much better than
the laymen who were interested with them in the same affairs.


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