Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/stateofsocietyin00tocquoft THE STATE OF SOCIETY IN FRANCE BEFORE THE REVOLUTION OF 1789 And the Causes Which Led to That Event by ALEXIS de TOCQUEVILLE Member of the French Academy Translated by Henry Reeve, D.C.L. Third Edition London John Murray, Albemarle Street 1888 Printed by Spottiswoode and Co., New-Street Square London CONTENTS. PAGE TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION [5] PRELIMINARY NOTICE [9] _BOOK I._ CHAPTER I. Opposing Judgments passed on the French Revolution at its Origin 1 II. The Fundamental and Final Object of the Revolution was not, as has been supposed, the destruction of Religious Authority and the weakening of Political Power 5 III. Showing that the French Revolution was a Political Revolution which followed the course of Religious Revolutions, and for what Reasons 9 IV. Showing that nearly the whole of Europe had had precisely the same Institutions, and that these Institutions were everywhere falling to pieces 12 V. What was the peculiar scope of the French Revolution 16 _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