22] 
lence that might happen to operate 
upon the nation or affembly, no- 
thing could exceed their fenfe of the 
wrong, or their indignation at the 
injury. Nor did the contemptuous 
treatment which the abbé Sieyes 
had juft experienced, nor the cla- 
mour which was oppofed to their 
own arguments and remonttrances, 
nor even the galling ridicule which 
otcafionally intervened, and would 
pafs a fubje&, to them much too 
ferious for merriment, off asa jeft, at 
all deter them from contending vi- 
goroufly for their rights, and ftur- 
dily defending their daily bread. 
It was upon this occafion that one 
of the country vicars, in the bitter- 
nefs of his heart, addreffed himfelf 
to the commons; and calling out, 
with the higheft and moft marked 
indignation, afked, « Was it then to 
«: devour us, that you invited us to 
« join you in the name of the God 
“« of peace?” It cannot be doubted 
that a fenfe of their own condué in 
abandoning the nobility, with a re- 
collection of the means ufed to draw 
them to that meafure, and a galling 
comparifon between the fraternal 
embraces, along with the flattering 
title of faviours of their country, 
which they had fo lately received, 
and the immediate ingratitude of 
thofe very men by whom they had 
been fo highly carefled and bepraif- 
ed, and to whom they had in reality 
done fuch effential fervice, muft ail 
together have ferved to embitter 
the prefent fcene in the moft ex- 
treme degree. 
The debate, if a continued fcene 
of tumult, noife and confufion might 
be allowed to ufurp that name, was 
continued through the whole day. 
In vain did a number of the depu- | 
ties, who wifhed to get quit of fo 
tirefome a. difcuffion, by that fhort 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. 
decifion which confifted only in the 
counting of heads, and in which they 
were certain of a majority of two 
or three to one, call loudly and re- 
peatedly for the queftion. The 
diforder was too great, and the paf- 
fions on both fides too much inflam- 
ed, to admit of the coolnefs and re- 
gularity neceflary even for a divi- 
fion; fa that the bufinefs was by 
common ‘confent adjourned to the 
following day. 
The popular writers not only ac- 
knowledge, but feem to mention it as 
an inftance of the activity and abi- | 
lity of the leaders on their fide, 
that the night of the 5th of Augutft, 
which was that immediately fuc- 
ceeding the debate on tithes, was 
by no means idly or ineffectively 
fpent. Every engine was fet to 
work, to overcome the obftinacy, or 
to mollify the minds of the clergy. 
Hope, terror, and flattery were al- | 
ternately tried, and each in its turn 
found a foil fit for its reception, and 
produced its proper effet. ‘The 
object in view was to obtain from 
themfelves a formal, and at the fame 
time an apparently voluntary fur- 
render of tithes. In fa&, the clergy 
could not but fee, that the union of 
the nobles and commons againit 
them muft of neceflity render all 
their efforts abortive; and it re- 
quired no great trouble to deter- 
mine, whether it was not better to 
fubmit with a good grace to an in- 
evitable evil, than by a vain, and 
what would be deemed a pertina- 
cious refiftance, to exafperate that 
power on which they were ftill def- 
tined to rely for fupport and protec- 
tion. 
In thefe circumftances, and under 
thefe and fimilar impreffions, the 
point.was gained in the courfe of the 
night; and at the rT 
Cy) 
