SENIOR DEPUTY OF THE COMMUNES. 173 
had breathed his last sigh, when Bailly, President of the 
Third Estate, insisted on admission to the king, who had 
prohibited any one being allowed to intrude upon him. 
But so positive was the demand, that they were obliged 
-to yield, and Louis XVI. exclaimed, ‘ There are then no 
fathers in that chamber of the Third Estate. The 
chamber very much applauded this trait of brutal insen- 
sibility in Bailly, which they termed a trait of Spartan 
stoicism.” 
As many errors as words. The following is the truth. 
The illness of the Dauphin had not prevented the two 
privileged orders from being received by the king. This 
preference offended the Communes. They ordered the 
President to solicit an audience. He discharged his duty 
with great caution. All his proceedings were concerted 
with two ministers, Necker and M. de Barentin. The 
king answered, “ It is impossible for me to see M. Bailly 
in the situation in which I am to-night, nor to-morrow 
morning, nor to fix a day for receiving the deputation of 
the Third Estate.” The note ends with these words: 
“ Show my note to M. Bailly for his vindication.” 
Thus, on the day of these events the Dauphin was not 
dead ; thus the king was not obliged to yield, he did not 
receive Bailly; thus the chamber had no act of insensi- 
bility to applaud ; thus Louis XVI. perceived so clearly 
that the President of the Communes was fulfilling the 
duties of his office, that he felt it requisite to give him 
an exoneration. 
The death of the Dauphin happened on the 4th of 
June. As soon as the assembly of the Third Estate 
were informed of it, they charged the President, I quote 
the very words, “to report to their majesties the deep 
grief with which this news had penetrated the Com- 
munes.” 
