3533 THE PLEBISCITE IN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION 55 



in 1 791. These two provinces, situated in the Provence, 

 formed part of the Papal States, but by ties of nature be- 

 longed to France. The subject of their incorporation in the 

 French State was first brought before the National Assem- 

 bly on November 12, 1789, by the Jacobin Bouche of the 

 Provence.* In June, 1790, a petition and a deputation were 

 sent from Avignon to Paris requesting union with France. 

 Introducing the petition in the French National Assembly 

 on June 17, M. Camus stated that "the anniversary of 

 the Constitution should be celebrated in the National As- 

 sembly by a great event. Penetrated by admiration and 

 respect for the decrees of the National Assembly the Avig- 

 nonais have unanimously decided to unite with France. 

 . . ." The petition for reunion was sent by special courier 

 to MM. Camus and Bouche, deputies to the French Assem- 

 bly, and was signed, "Raphel, Couls, Peytier, BlanC, 

 Richard, officiers municipaux." The letter read in part as 

 follows : 



Gentlemen, you have been informed at the time by M. Raphel, one 

 of us, of the events which have succeeded each other rapidly in our 

 city: he has communicated to us your responses and the obliging 

 offers of service which have been made to him for the city of Avig- 

 non. Gentlemen, the moment to accept these offers has arrived. 

 Thursday, the loth of this month, our city has been the scene of 

 the greatest disorder. The aristocrats, mustering all their forces, 

 fired from all parts. Masters of the City Hall and of seven pieces 

 of cannon, they cried: Vive I'aristocratie! More than thirty per- 

 sons, honorable citizens, good patriots, have been the victims of their 

 zeal and patriotism ; the people marched against the aristocrats with 

 intrepidation and the cruel assassins, dispersed, have sought salva- 

 tion in fligiit. Four of these wretches [scelcrats] have been arrested 

 and sacrificed by a people, justly indignant, and horribly massacred 

 [assasshie]. . . . The municipality has vainly made all efforts to pre- 

 vent this. Twenty-two, also arrested, would certainly have been 

 sacrificed except for the help of the national guards of Orange, 

 Courthcson, Jonquicrcs, Bagnols, le Pont-Saint-Esprit, Chatcau- 

 Kenard and other places. Their generous efforts and the confidence 

 of the people of Avignon in their allies, the French, have stayed 

 their vengeance. . . . Quiet has almost been re-established ; but, in 

 order to insure it entirely, the national guards of France have kindly 

 consented to lend us for a few days part of their detachment. Day 

 before yesterday at eleven, the districts assembled in «ir<Ier to con- 

 sider their position. The union [with France] has been decided 

 upon unanimously. , . ." 



*Arch. pari., ser. I, vol. x, p. 4. Motion for incorporation, with 

 historical and ix)litical justification is found, ibid., pp. 208-J15. 

 " Ibid., vol. xvi, i>p. J56, .^6<;, .\^i. 



