20] 
which were afterwards, upon cool 
recollection, forely regretted ; and it 
is pofitively afferted, that feveral 
of the nobility, who had from the 
beginning been eminent for their 
patriotifm, and for the fhare they 
bad taken in forwarding a reform 
of the old government, were, not- 
withftanding, fo much difeuited by 
the proceedings of this might, that 
they immediately abandoned the 
popular fide and party, and ranked 
from thence among the moit vio- 
lent ariftocrates. 
The afflemb'y, however, confider- 
ing this as a complete regeneration 
of France, decreed that a medal 
fhould be ftruck, in order to im- 
mortalize the acts of that great and 
glorious night; and, tranfported 
by the warmth of their paffions, 
and the eagernefs of their zeal, 
they conferred upon the king the 
flattering and glorious, but fhort- 
lived title of Reflorer of the Liberty of 
France; and ordered a deputation to 
prefent him with the decrees, with 
the homage of his regenerated king- 
dom, and to addrefs him by his new 
title: When La Chapelier, the 
prefident, and the deputation, had 
addrefied the king, he concluded his 
anfwer to them with the following 
words; “ Let. us go and return 
«thanks to God, for the generous 
« fentiments which prevail in your af- 
« fembly.” A folemn Te Deum was 
accordingly celebrated, and attended 
hy the whole affembly, La Chape- 
lier, (the leader and founder of the 
famous Breton club, fo determinedly 
inimical to monarchy) walking as 
prefident, though a commoner, by 
the fide of the king, and thus, 
it is .obferved, properly fupporting 
the micjeity of the pecple.. It is 
* Rabaut. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. 
likewife obferved by the fame writ- 
er *, that this was the firft bene- 
diGion of religion over the birth of 
liberty. fT 
It is remarkable that the concef- 
fioas made by the clergy, confider- 
able as they were, and freely offered, 
did not procure them the {malleft 
mark of tavour or acknowledgment, 
fome noify and tranfitory marks of 
immediate- approbation excepted, 
from either the nobles or the com- 
mons. On the contrary, there were 
ftrong indications, both then and af- 
ter, that they were deftined outcaits 
from both parties; and all the joy, 
triump, aad good-humour of the 
4th of Auguft was wound up by a 
motion, fucceeded by an earneft de- 
bate which lafted tuk morning, for 
the fuppreffion of their tithes. — 
This debate was refamed on the 
next day, and continued on the fuc- 
ceeding, and the motion oppofed 
with great vigour. ‘The celebrated 
Abbe Sieyes, with all his abftract 
notions of government, was, how- 
ever, a firm adherent to the rights of 
the church, at leaft in thofe things — 
that related to her eftablifhment and 
independence, and he oppofed this 
violent invafion of both with great 
vigour and ability. He had not 
heen prefent at the firft debate, 
but hearing that it was. intended to 
feize the tithes without an indemni- 
fication, he rapidly compofed an ela- 
borate written {peech, which he carri- 
ed to the aflembly, full fraught with 
argument, but not more argumenta- 
tive than acrimonious, ftrongly urg- 
ing the violence, oppreffion, and 
injuttice of the propofed meafure, as 
well as the infecurity and danger to 
which the precedent would expofe 
all other property; and infifting 
that 
