40] 
renewed every two years by elec- 
tions, and that. this biennial period 
fhould be denominated a legiflature. 
This meafure of limiting the term 
of each convention to two years, 
was founded on the prejudices de- 
rived from that numerous body of 
Englifh ‘writers, who conftantly re- 
preient our feptennial parliaments 
as fraught with the greateft dan- 
gers to the ftate, and as adtually 
productive of all our public evils. 
The effects produced by the adoption 
of this guarded meafure in France 
will appear in its time. 
It was about this time, that the 
aflembly received a letter, written 
directly in the king’s name, in which, 
after approving of the general {pirit 
of their determinations, he, how- 
ever, declared, that there were a few 
articles to which-he could give only 
a conditional affent; _ promifing, 
however, to modify or renounce his 
own opinions, if convinced by: the 
obfervations of the nationalaffembly. 
He then remarked on the hardfhip 
of abolifhing, without any compen-. 
fation to the landlord, thofe rents, 
which had once, indeed, been paid 
as a compenfation for perfonal fer- 
vitude, but which, having been fet- 
tled between the lords and their vaf- 
fals ages ago, had fince frequently 
changed hands, had been exchang- 
ed, or bought and fold for a valua-: 
ble confideration, without the pur- 
chafers obferving or thinking of the 
odious origin of their tities. 
_ The king then took notice in his 
Jetter of the danger of offending, 
and the impropriety of offering 
wrong and injury to feveral of the 
German princes, who held creat 
feudal pofleffions in .Alface, and 
fome of the neighbouring territo- 
ries, which were guaranteed to them 
by the.mof folemn treaties; but 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. 
whofe eftates-and property were all 
indifcriminately involved in the ge- 
neral effeé&t of the decree for the 
reform of the feudal fyftem. He 
concluded by obferving the va- 
rious difficulties which would at- 
tend the unconditional abolition of 
tythes, without making an honoura- 
ble provifion for the clergy, and 
laying the burden of their fubfift- 
ence equally upon all clafles of the 
citizens. 
This letter was ill received, and 
occafioned much general difcontent ; 
not on account of its matter, which, 
whether agreed to or not, none 
could. ‘pretend. to be unreafonable, 
but on account of the interference of 
the executive power in attempting 
to influence the legiflative, by en- 
which it was only called upon to 
give a fanftion-to; or, in this in- 
ftance, as being parts of the new 
conftitution, merely to accept., The 
confequence may be eafily judged. 
The.king was obliged to give his 
fanétion fimply, without obfervation 
or comment ;. and the principle was 
eftablifhed or avowed, that fo far 
from fuipending, he could not even 
offer his advice upon, much lefs cri- 
ticife the meafures of the prefent le- 
giflature.. The aflembly, however, 
paid fo much attention to him as 
to fend word, that in the future 
difcuffion or carrying into a& the 
principles to which he objected, 
they would confider, and pay a pro- 
per. regard to the opinions he had 
given. ruil aPivriad 
In the mean time, things were 
teriding faft to an unexampled cri-. 
fis, which was to produce a new and 
extraordinary face of affairs. The 
violent republicans, both within and 
without the aflembly, had it long in 
contemplation, and were now deier= 
mined, 
_ tering into a difcuffion of laws , 
\ 
