Meeting of the Estates-General, 1789. 29 
to a “‘tumultuous appeal to their partisans,’”’ the majority retired 
from the hall.** 
IV 
Not only had that which the court opposition would have 
prevented been effected, but it had been accomplished without 
evidence of any real advances by the assembly toward bringing 
about such union, although doubtless the desire for such a step 
was strong. Duquesnoy states that, at the time when Mounier 
made his motion concerning the removal of the troops, he had 
proposed also that a deputation be sent to the clergy to learn 
whether anything prevented them from joining the assembly. 
But in all probability, nothing was done with this, at least, no 
further trace of it is found.t. It- was very natural that the 
assembly should feel that since the clergy had united with it 
once, they would do so again. Under the circumstances, it can 
well be assumed that the deputies of the commons were anxious 
to have any support from the other orders that might sustain 
them in their stand. 
In viewing the significance for the assembly of the action of 
the clergy, we note that not only was the position of that body 
greatly strengthened by the voluntary accession of so many, 
but one of the conditions which had given potency to the demand 
for withdrawal of the troops was removed. The complaint that 
communication with the other orders was interrupted no longer 
held. If the guards had been placed to keep the orders apart, 
as must have been believed, they had failed, at least, to execute 
such instructions in full. Although the main door leading into 
the general assembly hall was closed by troops, the clergy had 
found a way that was unguarded.?. Either some door had been 
8 Coster, Récit, 339; Thibault, 247. Under the circumstances, formal 
action could hardly have been taken by the majority, although in drafting the 
minutes Thibault says, ‘‘ ceux que avaient voté . . . pour la vérification des 
pouvoirs en commun, ont arrété de se rendre sur-le-champ dans la salle de 
l’assemblée nationale.” 
1 Duquesnoy, I, 125. 
2 Jallet, 102. This man, who was among the number that came to join 
the national assembly, says of the route the clergy had to take: ‘ On avait 
fait fermer la porte de communication qui conduisait des salles des ordres a 
143 
