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Now, a large number of pretended emigrants, who had never left
France,[101] nor even their province, nor even their commune, and
whose names have been put on the lists simply to strip them of their
property, find that they are no longer protected either by the
constancy or the notoriety of their residence. The new law is no
sooner read than they begin to imagine the firing squad; the natal
soil is too warm for them and they speedily emigrate.[102] On the
other hand, once the name is down on the list, rightly or wrongly, it
is never removed. The government purposely refuses to strike it off,
while two decrees are applied which render its removal
impossible;[103] each name maintained on the list of spoliation and
death relieves the Revolution of a probable adversary, and places one
more domain at its disposal.
The Directory renews and aggravates the measures of the Convention
against the remainder of the property-holders: there is no longer a
disguised but a declared bankruptcy. 386,000 fund-holders and
pensioners are deprived of two-thirds of their revenue and of their
capital.[104] A forced loan of 100 millions is levied progressively,
and wholly on "the well-off class.
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