8 EEMINISCEXCES OF A SPOKTSMA]S'. 



France. An immense crowd of artisans and mechanics 

 issued from the towns, and, joining the rural population, 

 spread themselves on the fields, in search of game ; the 

 greatest violence was speedily committed by the armed 

 and uncontrollable multitude. No sort of regard was 

 paid to the clause in the decree of the National As- 

 sembly, that the right of the chase was given to each 

 man on his own ground only; it was universally con- 

 sidered as conferring a general right to shoot on any 

 ground whatever. Enclosures were struck down, woods 

 destroyed, houses broken open, robberies perpetrated, 

 under pretence of exercising the newly regained rights 

 of man." 



The abolition of the entail on landed property in 

 France, and the equal division of personal and landed 

 property among children, were the two most deadly 

 blows aimed by the National Assembly against the 

 aristocracy. It is calculated that at this time there 

 are not less than six millions of landed proprietors in 

 France, whose income derived from this source is not 

 more than five or six hundred francs a year. 



