If we call that Revolutionary Tribunal a Sword, which Sansculottism has provided for itself, then let us call the ‘Law of the Maximum,’ a Provender-scrip, or Haversack, wherein better or worse some ration of bread may be found.  It is true, Political Economy, Girondin free-trade, and all law of supply and demand, are hereby hurled topsyturvy:  but what help?  Patriotism must live; the ‘cupidity of farmers’ seems to have no bowels.  Wherefore this Law of the Maximum, fixing the highest price of grains, is, with infinite effort, got passed; (Moniteur, du 20 Avril, &c. to 20 Mai, 1793.) and shall gradually extend itself into a Maximum for all manner of comestibles and commodities:  with such scrambling and topsyturvying as may be fancied!  For now, if, for example, the farmer will not sell?  The farmer shall be forced to sell.  An accurate Account of what grain he has shall be delivered in to the Constituted Authorities:  let him see that he say not too much; for in that case, his rents, taxes and contributions will rise proportionally:  let him see that he say not too little; for, on or before a set day, we shall suppose in April, less than one-third of this declared quantity, must remain in his barns, more than two-thirds of it must have been thrashed and sold.  One can denounce him, and raise penalties.

By such inextricable overturning of all Commercial relation will Sansculottism keep life in; since not otherwise.  On the whole, as Camille Desmoulins says once, “while the Sansculottes fight, the Monsieurs must pay.”  So there come Impots Progressifs, Ascending Taxes; which consume, with fast-increasing voracity, and ‘superfluous-revenue’ of men:  beyond fifty-pounds a-year you are not exempt; rising into the hundreds you bleed freely; into the thousands and tens of thousands, you bleed gushing.  Also there come Requisitions; there comes ’Forced-Loan of a Milliard,’ some Fifty-Millions Sterling; which of course they that have must lend.  Unexampled enough:  it has grown to be no country for the Rich, this; but a country for the Poor!  And then if one fly, what steads it?  Dead in Law; nay kept alive fifty years yet, for their accursed behoof!  In this manner, therefore, it goes; topsyturvying, ca-ira-ing;—­and withal there is endless sale of Emigrant National-Property, there is Cambon with endless cornucopia of Assignats.  The Trade and Finance of Sansculottism; and how, with Maximum and Bakers’-queues, with Cupidity, Hunger, Denunciation and Paper-money, it led its galvanic-life, and began and ended,—­remains the most interesting of all Chapters in Political Economy:  still to be written.

All which things are they not clean against Formula?  O Girondin Friends, it is not a Republic of the Virtues we are getting; but only a Republic of the Strengths, virtuous and other!

Chapter 3.3.VI.

The Traitor.