en the veto, tional Assembly to lay down the prin 
628 
History. falcation of man ‘of the taxes, payment of which was 
—rYm cluded or refused by the 
refractory Neck- 
ar, therefore, found his difficulties increase, while his 
means of removing them were diminished ; for he could 
not ex in the disturbed and discontented state of 
the country, that any financial measures would be well 
received, or could be rendered uctive. He soy 
fore thought it his duty, expressly to point out to the 
National “Assembly, chive when he attra there were 
in the royal treasury only 400,000 livres ; that the ex- 
iture immensely exceeded the revenue; and that 
blic credit was extinguished. In this state of things, 
he proposed a loan of thirty millions, at an interest of 
five per cent. ; but the Assembly, in the foolish excess of 
their mistaken patriotism, decreed, that the interest 
should be only 44 per cent. ; that no security should 
be given to the subscribers ; and that no period should 
be fixed for reimbursement. The consequence was, 
that, in 20 days, little more than two million livres 
were subscribed ; the finances became still more em- 
barrassed, and at length it was deemed expedient’ to 
vote a loan of 80 ions, at five per cent. to be re- 
deemed in ten years. They thus went into the con- 
trary extreme ; and, by the very favourable terms which 
po A rine and the large amount of the loan, gave 
pa le proofs of the wants of the state, and of their 
cnowledge or suspicion of the inability, or the unwil- 
po nee Lact porte ed men to supply those wants. 
Abolition of . “ ac s nee ie 
he next subject which occupied their attention, was 
the abolition of tithes. That they were a grievance, 
and detrimental not only to agriculture, but to the 
cause of religion, was acknowl by almost all the 
members ; but they undertook to abolish them, before 
they had well considered by what means this could be 
effected, so as not to injure any . They confound- 
ed the impropriate tithes with of the church ; that 
is, they confounded absolute property with what the 
state had set apart for the discharge of religious duty, 
and might therefore take away. The Abbé Sieyes on 
this oceasion, sup the rights of the clergy, and 
the Marquis de Mirabeau opposed them. The debates 
were long and eloquent; at last, a few of the curés 
having voluntarily surrendered their tithes, their ex- 
ample was followed by most of the clergy. This fund 
thus supplied, even if it could have been made imme- 
diately efficient and applicable, was by no means ade- 
quate to the necessities of the state ; and Neckar be- 
held a national bankruptey approaching. To avert 
this, as all the ar plans of finance had utterly fail- 
ed, he addressed himself to the patriotic enthusiasm of 
the people. The people were, in general, willing, but 
their means were , and they made no secret that 
they ex to be recompenced for their liberality, 
by a still further curtailment of the royal powers and 
privileges. 
The committee which had been appointed by the Na- 
| Asi — of anew 
constitution, expressly declared that the King ought to 
have an absolute veto on every law. This ae on oo 
™met with violent and geamelie opposition from the peo- 
ple ; and, while it was discussed in the Assembly, nu- 
merous guards of militia, and several pieces of cannon, 
were stationed in different of the capital. From 
the first meeting of the Assembly, all their debates had 
been carried on in a large hall, into which admission 
was perfectly free: the as might have 
heen foreseen, were absolutely destructive of freedom 
of discussion, as the members, either. fear, or 
the desire of popularity, weretop qaseagoinguaaiien 
FRANCE. 
ad that side of ion which knew 
pa" meet the wolletlon pce thesnoltienden fo who Be 
led the galleries. The month of August was consumed 
in debates about the veto, which at length was indi- 
rectly negatived by the decrees that were passed for 
the pene cme Fe recy oe amc 
in some respects rational and practical ; they were 
preceded by a declaration of the rights of men and citi- 
zens, sO ive and metaphyeical, where it w 
well founded, as to be of no utility ; and in.other points 
calculated to mislead and inflame the ignorant and al- 
ready maddened populace. The decrees the 
constitution, went to establish a limited monarchy, and 
to separate completely the legislative from the execu- 
tive powers: but it is unnecessary to give the details of 
this or of any other of the numerous constitutions which 
were made in France ; it is sufficient to notice the lead 
ing principles on which they were grounded. 
ligent observer, the state of the ca~ 
o the most 
pital at this period must have a very threaten~ 
ing. _ Parties ran excessively high ; and on neither side 
was there moderation. But the most alarming symp- nie 
lukewarm, and ing far short of what they ought 
to have atchieved. On the feelings of the lowest of the 
mob, this third party operated’ with wonderful 
most mischievous effect. The scarcity which still ex- 
isted, was ascribed to government. A report that the 
King intended to leave Versailles, and y the 
kingdom, was Yee ge Aa Tt and the most inno- 
cent actions of the royal family were grossly misrepre- 
sented. Unfortunately the Queen did not conduct herself 
with that reserved and prudent caution, which her, un- 
ord 
al cockade, which had been 
Paris, where, while the people were suffering under the 
pressure of farnine, they learned that a splendid enter~ 
tainment had been given at Versailles, as if to insult 
their misery, and that. the symbol of that constitution, 
from which they expected the removal of their griev- 
ances, had been supplanted by the symbol of that. go- 
vernment, to which they pe them. The populace 
were joined by the militia of Paris and, the ancient’ 
Fren ards; and the Marquis de la Fay 
formed fiat 
to exterminate those who had insulted the. national 
cockade, and even to depose the King, if 
rotect and relieve them, The Marquis employed 
is influence and authority in vain. An immense num- 
ber of women of the yt rank, ——- ecaipone bread, 
and rather encouraged than preven ry ’ 
set off for Versailles. As soon as they arrived, they/be- 
also arri~ 
_ He first presented himself to the National Assem- 
bly, and afterwards went. ae he King and royal 
family. The Queen was the. object of the 
fu ‘attempt was made 
on her life ; but she, as well as the rest. of the royal 
family, were saved by the rise of La Fayette; 
they were determined to go to Versailles, sailles 
