BOOK II.

I. Why Feudal Rights had become more odious to the People in France than in any other country 19 II. Showing that Administrative Centralisation is an Institution anterior in France to the Revolution of 1789, and not the product of the Revolution or of the Empire, as is commonly said 28 III. Showing that what is now called Administrative Tutelage was an Institution in France anterior to the Revolution 36 IV. Administrative Jurisdiction and the Immunity of Public Officers are Institutions of France anterior to the Revolution 45 V. Showing how Centralisation had been able to introduce itself among the ancient Institutions of France, and to supplant without destroying them 50 VI. The Administrative Habits of France before the Revolution 54 VII. Of all European Nations France was already that in which the Metropolis had acquired the greatest preponderance over the Provinces, and had most completely absorbed the whole Empire 63 VIII. France was the Country in which Men had become the most alike 67 IX. Showing how Men thus similar were more divided than ever into small Groups, estranged from and indifferent to each other 71 [4]X. The Destruction of Political Liberty and the Estrangement of Classes were the causes of almost all the disorders which led to the Dissolution of the Old Society of France 84 XI. Of the Species of Liberty which existed under the Old Monarchy, and of the Influence of that Liberty on the Revolution 94 XII. Showing that the Condition of the French Peasantry, notwithstanding the progress of Civilisation, was sometimes worse in the Eighteenth Century than it had been in the Thirteenth 105 XIII. Showing that towards the Middle of the Eighteenth Century Men of Letters became the leading Political Men of France, and of the effects of this occurrence 119 XIV. Showing how Irreligion had become a general and dominant passion amongst the French of the Eighteenth Century, and what influence this fact had on the character of the Revolution 128 XV. That the French aimed at Reform before Liberty 136 XVI. Showing that the Reign of Louis XVI. was the most prosperous epoch of the old French Monarchy, and how this very prosperity accelerated the Revolution 146 XVII. Showing that the French People were excited to revolt by the means taken to relieve them 155 XVIII. Concerning some practices by which the Government completed the Revolutionary Education of the People of France 162 XIX. Showing that a great Administrative Revolution had preceded the Political Revolution, and what were the consequences it produced 166 XX. Showing that the Revolution proceeded naturally from the existing State of France 175 SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. On the Pays d’États, and especially on the Constitutions of Languedoc 182