de Talleyrand, de Jarente, and de Brienne, are unbelievers and notorious for their licentiousness; the others are influenced by their consciences, above all, by their esprit de corps and a point of honor.

Most of the cures rally around this staff of officers.

In the diocese of Besancon,[2278] out of fourteen hundred priests, three hundred take the oath, a thousand refuse it, and eighty retract.

In the department of Doubs, only four consent to swear.

In the department of Lozere, there are only "ten out of two hundred and fifty." It is stated positively," writes the best informed of all observers that everywhere in France two-thirds of the ecclesiastics have refused the oath, or have only taken it with the same reservations as the Bishop of Clermont." Thus, out of seventy thousand priests, forty-six thousand are turned out of office, and the majority of their parishioners are on their side.
This is apparent in the absence of electors convoked to replace them: at Bordeaux only four hundred and fifty came to the poll out of nine hundred, while elsewhere the summons brings together only "a third or a quarter" In many places there are no candidates, or those elected decline to accept.