书城公版The Origins of Contemporary France
19097600000994

第994章

"Everybody, at first, wanted it . . From the king down to the most insignificant man in the kingdom, everybody did something to help it along; one let it come on up to his shoe-buckle, another up to his garter, another to his waist, another to his breast, and some will not be content until their head is attacked!"[5] My French dictionary tells me that the Carmagnole is not only a popular revolutionary dance but also a short and tight jacket worn by the revolutionaries between 1792 and 1795 and that it came via Marseille with workers from the town of Carmagnola in Piedmont. (SR.)[6] "The Revolution," pp. 271-279. (Laff. I. 505 to 509.) -Stourm "Les Finances de 1'ancien régime et de la Révolution," I., 171 to 177.

- (Report by Ramel, January 31, 1796.) "One would scarcely believe it - the holders of real-estate now owe the public treasury over 13milliards."- (Report by Gaudin, Germinal, year X. on the assessment and collection of direct taxes.) "This state of things constituted a permanent, annual deficit of 200 millions."[7] "The Ancient Régime," p. 99, and "The Revolution," p.407. (Laff.

I. pp 77-78 and II. 300) (About 1,200 millions per annum in bread for Paris, instead of 45 millions for the civil and military household of the King at Versailles.)[8] "The Ancient Régime," p. 68. (Laff. I. p. 55) - Madame Campan, "Mémoires," I., 291, 292.

[9] "The Revolution," II., 151, and III., 500. (Laff. II. 282-283)[10] "Mémorial." (Napoleon's own words.) "The day when, adopting the unity and concentration of power, which could alone save us, . . . the destinies of France depended solely on the character, measures and conscience of him who had been clothed with this accidental dictatorship - beginning with that day, public affairs, that is to stay the State, was myself . . . I was the keystone of an entirely new building and how slight the foundation! Its destiny depended on each of my battles. Had I been defeated at Marengo you would have then had a complete 1814 and 1815."[11] Beugnot, "Mémoires,"II., 317. "To be dressed, taxed, and ordered to take up arms, like most folks, seemed a punishment as soon as one had found a privilege within reach," such, for example, as the title of "déchireur de bateaux" (one who condemns unseaworthy craft and profits by it), or inspector of fresh butter (using his fingers in tasting it), or tide-waiter and inspector of salt fish. These titles raised a man above the common level, and there were over twenty thousand of them.

[12] See "The Ancient Régime," p. 129. (Laff. I. p. 99)[13] Madame de Rémusat, "Mémoires," III., 316, 317.

[14] De Beausset, "Intérieur du palais de Napoléon " I., p. 9 et seq..

For the year 1805 the total expense is 2,338,167 francs; for the year 1806 it reaches 2,770,861 francs, because funds were assigned "for the annual augmentation of plate, 1,000 silver plates and other objects."- "Napoleon knew, every New Year's day, what he expended (for his household) and nobody ever dared overpass the credits he allowed."[15] "The Ancient Régime," pp. 35o-357.(Laff. I. 259-266)[16] "The Revolution," I. pp. 276-281.(Laff. pp. 508-510) - Stourm, ibid., 168-171. (Speech by Bénard-Lagrave to the Five Hundred, Pluvi?se II, year IV.) "It cannot be concealed that, for many years, people were willingly accustoming themselves to the non-payment of taxes."[17] Stourm, ibid.,II., 365. (Speech of Ozanam to the Five Hundred, Pluvi?se 14, year VII.) "Scandalous traffic. . . . Most of the (tax)collectors in the republic are heads and managers of banks." -(Circular of the minister of the finances, Floréal 25 year VII.)"Stock-jobbing of the worst kind to which many collectors give themselves up, using bonds and other public securities received in payment of taxes." - (Report by Gros-Cassaud Florimond, Sep.19, 1799.)"Among the corruptible and corrupting agents there are only too many public functionaries." - Mollien, "Mémoires," I., 222. (In 1800, he had just been appointed director of the sinking-fund.) "The commonplace compliment which was everywhere paid to me (and even by statesmen who affected the sternest morality) was as follows - you are very fortunate to have an office in which one may legitimately accumulate the largest fortune in France. " - Cf. Rocquain, "état de la France au 18 Brumaire." (Reports by Lacuée, Fourcroy and Barbé-Marbois.)[18] Charlotte de Sohr, "Napoléon en Belgique et en Hollande," 1811, vol. I., 243. (On a high functionary condemned for forgery and whom Napoleon kept in prison in spite of every solicitation.) "Never will Ipardon those who squander the public funds. . . . Ah ! parbleu! We should have the good old times of the contractors worse than ever if Idid not show myself inexorable for these odious crimes."[19] Stourm, ibid., I., 177. (Report by Gaudin, Sep. 15, 1799.) "A few (tax) rolls for the year V, and one-third of those for the year VII, are behindhand." - (Report by the same, Germinal I, year X.)"Everything remained to do, on the advent of the consulate, for the assessment and collection of direct taxes; 35,000 rolls for the year VII still remained to be drawn up. With the help of the new office, the rolls for the year VII have been completed; those of the year VIIIwere made out as promptly as could be expected, and those of the year IX have been prepared with a dispatch which, for the first time since the revolution, enables the collections to be begun in the very year to which they belong."[20] "Archives parlementaires," VIII., p.11. (Report by Necker to the States-General, May 5, 1789.) "These two-fifths, although legitimately due to the king, are always in arrears. . . . (To-day) these arrears amount in full to about 80 millions."[21] De Foville, "la France économique," p.354.