28 Jeanette Needham. 
read the declarations, but they could not force the minority, 
which controlled the presidency, to resume the deliberation of 
June 19. The latter insisted, either that the business of that 
session had been finished, or that everything done prior to 
June 24 had been nullified in the royal session. Hence, it was 
essential to do just one thing, to examine the king’s declarations, 
to see whether they would accept these or not. The majority 
declared that such examination could be made only in a general 
assembly and refused to let the documents be read.?? The 
Abbé d’Abbecourt, who is said to have proposed verification in 
common, rose to speak, but could not be heard. Jallet says that 
he waited until things quieted down and then attacked the 
bishops for their personal abuse of him since he had joined the 
party of union. He taunted them for pretending to control the 
majority of the chamber and summoned them to produce, at 
once, in defense of their claim, the procés-verbal which they had 
drafted outside the chamber on Friday evening and presented 
to the king that night.2° Jallet says that this meeting occurred 
at the church of Notre Dame and lasted until half past nine.*! 
The minority asserted that the meeting of the majority after 
the champions of verification by order left the hall June 19 was 
irregular and illegal. To be accused by the abbé of similar 
but more flagrantly illegal action, inasmuch as their meeting 
was held outside the chamber, must have infuriated the aristo- 
cratic minority. 
Finally, the majority grew tired of the tactics of the minority. 
Jallet states that the Bishop of Langres began a speech which 
threatened to embroil the chamber in a long discussion. The 
curés in favor of union took the initiative in ending the intoler- 
able situation. They sent Jallet to notify the prelates in favor 
-of union of their intention to betake themselves at once to the 
national assembly.22 The Archbishop of Vienne arose and, 
apparently without any formal action, although Coster refers 
29 Jallet, 101; Barmond, Récit, 267; Coster, Récit, 239; Récit, 262-265. 
30 Jallet, IOI. 
3 Tbid., 93. 
32 Jallet, IoI—-102. 
142 
