62 Jeanette Needham. 
after the roll-call, would seem to justify all that was believed 
of the exalted patriotism, high integrity, and genuine enthusiasm 
for the nation’s good ascribed to the nobility. He began by 
referring to the gratification the nobles felt at meeting again 
compatriots whom they had come to know and honor in the 
provinces and by saying that the nobles asked from their fellow- 
citizens the same sentiments as were entertained for them. 
““We do not seek to boast,’”’ he declared, ‘‘that we have pre- 
ceded, perhaps by a few days, the coming of the remainder of 
the nobles into this hall; the severity of some of their instruc- 
tions, the examination of the plan proposed by the king, pre- 
vent them from joining us yet; but the spirit of justice and the 
love of the public welfare which direct them will doubtless soon 
force them into our midst.’’ He appealed to the assembly to 
forget the first moments of disquietude that had divided them 
and to let the world see that the French nation had preserved 
its ancient character. 
‘Carried away by our passions, gathered from all parts of this 
vast empire, having various interests to protect, holding to our 
opinions and wishing to imperiously maintain them... ,” 
such circumstances, he felt could but result in the effervescence 
that for some time had agitated them. ‘‘But let us view the 
tempest with a calm and serene eye,” he urged, “‘that our spirits 
may be quieted in proportion to the dangers which surround us; 
let us cast an attentive eye upon all the abuses which we must 
reform; let us have before us only the happiness of the people 
confided to us and let these sacred motives be the rallying 
point of our hearts and of our thoughts.”’ 
The theme of devotion to the king was next forehead upon, 
of devotion to a king, ‘‘so worthy because of his personal virtues, 
104) says of the speech: ‘ M. le marquis de Pilleri fit un excellent discours, 
repli de sentiments patriotiques.’’ He has the name wrong or it has been 
printed incorrectly. Jallet noted that ‘‘ Il fit éloge des curés, de toutes les 
classes de citoyens qui composaient les députés des communes et méme des 
laboureurs; il ne dit pas un mot des prélats.’’ Duquesnoy (I, 130) mentions 
that the marquis made a speech, but before the roll-call, while the Point du 
jour and the Procés-verbal note that it was after the roll-call. Etats-généraux, 
Extrait du journal de Paris, I, 109. This source refers to the speech after 
the roll call. Mercure de France: Journal Politique de Bruxelles, No. 27, 43-44. 
176 
