His vanity deprived of its broad pasture-ground, falls back on a small one; henceforth he seeks distinctions and not influence.

He thinks only of precedence and not of government.[1316] In short, the local government, in the hands of peasants commanded by bureaucrats, has become a common, offensive lot of red tape.

"His pride would be wounded if he were asked to attend to it.

Raising taxes, levying the militia, regulating the corvees, are servile acts, the works of a secretary." He accordingly abstains, remains isolated on his manor and leaves to others a task from which he is excluded and which he disdains.

Far from protecting his peasantry he is scarcely able to protect himself or to preserve his immunities.