On the 20th of April Baron de Bezenval, military commander in the Central Provinces, writes: "I once more lay before M.Necker a picture of the frightful condition of Touraine and of Orleanais.

Every letter I receive from these two provinces is the narrative of three or four riots, which are put down with difficulty by the troops and constabulary,"[1115]--and throughout the whole extent of the kingdom a similar state of things is seen.

The women, as is natural, are generally at the head of these outbreaks.

It is they who, at Montlhery, rip open the sacks of grain with their scissors.

On learning each week, on market day that the price of a loaf of bread advances three, four, or seven sous, they break out into shrieks of rage: at this rate for bread, with the small salaries of the men, and when work fails,[1116] how can a family be fed?
Crowds gather around the sacks of flour and the doors of the bakers.