Meeting of the Estates-General, 1789. 47 
to the chamber that on Saturday, June 20, while the sessions 
were suspended, the king had set Sunday as the day on which 
he would receive the deputation from the nobility. Accord- 
ingly, the president named a group of forty-one nobles, including 
himself, the Duke of Croy, who was the vice-president, and 
five of the six secretaries. Their reception occurred at six 
o’clock in the evening of June 21.’ It is significant to recall 
that this was the night when Necker’s plan was so violently 
opposed in the king’s council. It seems not unlikely that the 
‘uncompromising attitude of the nobility toward the third estate, 
expressed in the discourse presented by the delegation, may 
have been one of the reasons why Louis XVI backed the op- 
opnents to Necker’s project in the council, held later that 
evening. 
The discourse* in general is most flattering in tone toward 
the king, but severely hostile to the third estate, who are charged 
with usurping the rights of king, nobles and people, as the text 
discloses. It begins with a eulogy extolling the king: ‘‘The 
order of the nobility at last is able to bear to the foot of the 
throne the solemn homage of its respect and love. The goodness 
and justice of Your Majesty have restored to the nation, rights 
too long disregarded. It is sweet for us to be able to present 
to the most just, to the best of kings, the striking testimony 
of the sentiments which animate us. Interpreters of the French 
8 Procés-verbal . . . de la noblesse, 250-251. The names of the members 
of the deputation follow: Duc de Croy, vice-president; Marquis de Bouthillier, 
Président d’Ormesson, De Chailloué, Comte de Serent, Marquis de Digoine 
(secrétaires); Marquis de Mirepoix, D’Eprémesnil, Comte de Choiseul d’Aille- 
court, Marquis d’Ambly, De Bressey, Vicomte de Ségur-Cabanac, Comte de 
Richier, Cazalez, Comte d’Escars, Vicomte de la Queiiille, Baron de Noyelles, 
Comte d’Antraigues, Comte de Toulouse-Lautrec, Marquis de Clermont 
d’Amboise, Comte de la Gallaissonniere, Comte de la Chastre, Baron d’Allarde, 
Baron de Coiffier, Marquis de Loras, Marquis d’Avaray, Duc d’Havré, Duc 
de Villequier, Comte de Malartic, Marquis de Saint-Simon, Marquis de 
Causans, Marquis de Saint-Mexant, Marquis de Juigné, Comte d’Estagniol, 
Baron de Poiiilly, Comte de Montjoye, Coma Serra, Président de Grosbois, 
Vicomte du Hautoy, Vicomte de Rafelis-Broves. All names have been 
verified by comparison with the list in Brette, Les Constituants. 
4 Procés-verbal . . . de la noblesse, 247-248; Etats-généraux, Extrait du 
journal de Paris, I, 91-93. 
161 
