ootnote 4299: Archives Nationales, AF., II., 73. (Letter by the
Directory of Calvados, Prairial 26, year III.) "We have not a grain
of wheat in store, and the prisons are full of cultivators." Archives
Nationales, D., p 1, file No.3. (Warrants of arrest issued by
Representative Albert, Pluviose 19, year III., Germinal 7 and 16.)
On the details of the difficulties and annoyances attending the
requisitions, cf. this file and the five preceding or following files.
(Letter of the National agent, district of Nogent-sur-Seine, Germinal
13.) "I have had summoned before the district court a great many
cultivators and proprietors who are in arrears in furnishing the
requisitions made on them by their respective municipalities.... A large
majority declared that they were unable to furnish in full even if their
seed were taken. The court ordered the confiscation of the said grain
with a fine equal to the value of the quantity demanded of those called
upon.. It is now my duty to execute the sentence. But, I must observe to
you, that if you do not reduce the fine, many of them will be reduced
to despair. Hence I await your answer so that I may act accordingly."
(Another letter from the same agent, Germinal 9.) "It is impossible
to supply the market of Villarceaux; seven communes under requisition
prevented it through the district of Sozannes which constantly keeps
an armed force there to carry grain away as soon as thrashed."--It is
interesting to remark the inquisitorial sentimentality of the official
agents and the low stage of culture. (Proces verbal of the Magincourt
municipality, Ventose 7.) Of course I am obliged to correct the spelling
so as to render it intelligible. The said Croiset, gendarme, went with
the national agent into the houses of citizens in arrears, of whom,
amongst those in arrears, nobody refused but Jean Mauchin, whom we could
not keep from talking against him, seeing that he is wholly egoist and
only wants for himself. He declared to us that, if, the day before his
harvesting he had any left, he would share it with the citizens that
needed it.. .. Alas, yes, how could one refrain from shutting up such
an egoist who wants only for himself to the detriment of his fellow
citizens? A proof of the truth is that he feeds in his house three dogs,
at least one hundred and fifty chickens and even pigeons, which uses
up a lot of grain, enough to hinder the satisfaction of all the
requisitions. He might do without dogs,