To these epoch-making pronouncements the Assembly added, in 1790, that crimes should be visited only on the guilty individual, not on the family; and that penalties must be proportioned to the offences.

The last two of these principles had of late been flagrantly violated; but the general pacification of France now permitted a calm consideration of the whole question of criminal law, and of its application to normal conditions.
Civil law was to be greatly influenced by the Rights of Man; but those famous declarations were to a large extent contravened in the ensuing civil strifes, and their application to real life was rendered infinitely more difficult by that predominance of the critical over the constructive faculties which marred the efforts of the revolutionary Babel-builders.

Indeed, such was the ardour of those enthusiasts that they could scarcely see any difficulties.

Thus, the Convention in 1793 allowed its legislative committee just one month for the preparation of a code of civil law.

At the close of six weeks Cambaceres, the reporter of the committee, was actually able to announce that it was ready.