ies who, since the 18th of Fructidor, year V., swarm, with a
few exceptions only, among the constituted authorities. Whatever is most
foul and incompetent is in office, every good citizen being frightened
to death."--Ibid. (Letter of Montauban, director of the registry since
1793 to the Minister of the Interior, a compatriot, Avignon, Pluviose
7, year VII.) "Honest folks are constantly annoyed and put down by the
authors and managers of the 'Glaciere'.... . by the tools of the bloody
tribunal of Orange and the incendiaries of Bedouim." He enjoins secrecy
on this letter, which, "if known to the Glacierists, or Orangeists,
would cost him his life."]

[Footnote 33141: Ibid., F.7, 7164. (Department of Var, year V., "Idee
Generale.") "National character is gone; it is even demoralized: an
office-holder who has not made his fortune quickly is regarded as a
fool."]

[Footnote 33142: Moniteur, XXII., 240. (Indictment of the fourteen
members of the Revolutionary committee of Nantes, and the summing-up
of the examination, Vendemiaire 23, year II.) When there is no special
information concerning the other committees the verdict, on the whole,
is nearly always as overwhe1ming.-Ibid. (Session of Vendemiaire 12, year
III. complaint of a deputation from Ferney-Voltaire.) "The Gex district
was, for over a year, a prey to five or six scoundrels who took refuge
there. Under the mask of patriotism they succeeded in getting possession
of all the offices. Vexations of every kind, robberies of private
houses, squandering of public money, were committed by these
monsters." (The Ferney deputies brought with them the testimony of
witnesses.)--Ibid., 290. (Letters of Representative Goupilleau, Beziers,
Vendemiaire 28, year III. on the terrorists of Vaucluse.) "These
carnivorous fellows, regretting the times when they could rob and
massacre with impunity.... Who, six months ago, were starving and who
now live in the most scandalous opulence... Squanderers of the public
funds, robbers of private fortunes... Guilty of rapine, of forced
contributions, of extortions," etc.--Prudhomme, "Les crimes de la
Revolution," VI., 79. (On the Revolutionary committee installed by
Fouche at Nevers.) The local investigation shows that the eleven leaders
were men of vile character, unfrocked and disreputable priests, lawyers
and notaries driven out of their professional bodies, and even from
the popular clubs, on account of their dishonesty, penniless actors,
sur