Before I first visited Paris in 1833, my understanding of this country was almost entirely from books. However, after conversing with the Royalists of Vendee and Brittany, I realized that the backbone of these Royalists was not the Orthodox nobility. Although the nobility occupied leadership roles within this group, without the support of the provincial peasants, they could never have stood on equal footing with the republican and Bonaparte parties.
Reviewing the development process of France from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, it is clear that the center of the European Continent, Paris, was continuously expanding, while the local autonomy of rural areas was constantly diminishing. The passion and characteristics of independent living were gradually disappearing, many unique rural traditions were vanishing, and the ancient national lifestyle was slowly fading until no traces of history could be found.
