e 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."]

[Footnote 4156: 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 Etats,' and especially those of
Languedoc, where the clergy took much greater part than elsewhere in
administrative details, as well as the proces-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 abbes, 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."]

[Footnote 4157: "The Ancient Regime," p.300.--"The Revolution," vol. I.,
p. 116. Buchez et Roux, I., 481. The list of notables convoked by the
King in 1787 gives an approximate idea of this social staff. Besides the
leading princes and seigniors we find, among one hundred and thirty-four
members, twelve marshals of France, eight Councillors of State, five
maitres de requetes, fourteen bishops and archbishops, twenty presidents
and seventeen procureurs generaux des parlements, or of royal councils,
twenty-five mayors, prevots des marchands, capitouls, and equerries of
large towns, the deputies of the "Etats" of Burgundy, Artois, Brittany
and Languedoc, three ministers and two chief clerks.--The capacities
were all there, on hand, for bringing about a great reform; but there
was no firm, strong, controlling hand, that of a Richelieu or Frederic
II.]

[Footnote 4158: See "The Revolution II" Ed. Lafont page 617. US edition
P. 69. (SR.)]

[Footnote 4159: "Memoires de Gaudin," duc de Gaete.]

[Footnote 4160: Mallet-Dupan, "Memoires," II., 25, 24. "The War
Committee is composed of engineer and staff-officers, of which the
principal are Meussuer, Favart, St. Fief, d'Arcon, Lafitte-Clave and a
few others. D'Arcon directed the raising of the siege of Dunkirk and
tha