Meeting of the Estates-General, 17809. fess 
of being forever the object of affection by his people. He calls 
us his children: Ah! without doubt, we should regard ourselves 
as a united family, having varied interests in our paternal house- 
hold. He offers us peace: let us accept it without hesitation, 
that he may not see the olive branch which he offers us, fade and 
wither away in his hands.’’ To the first order of the state, he 
likewise paid high tribute. ‘‘It isin the presence of the assembled 
nation that we render to the clergy the homage due to its virtues.”’ 
Then continuing, he said: ‘‘the great number of you, gentlemen, 
witnesses of the sorrows and comforters of the rural inhabitants,— 
you will make known to us the sympathetic details of their 
sufferings and, by your advice, will aid us in finding the most 
speedy means to relieve them.”’ 
“And you, gentlemen,” addressing the members of the third 
estate, ‘‘who embrace within your body distinguished citizens 
of all stations—enlightened magistrates, celebrated litterateurs, 
faithful merchants, clever artists—you will assist by your in- 
telligence and your learning, in procuring for France laws neces- 
sary for the reform of the public order.’’ Then he turned to 
the provincials as the men whose ‘‘respectable labors served to 
support and enrich the citizens of all classes. If the French 
nobility is proud to have the right of marching at the head of 
the legions for the defense of the country,’ he declared, ‘“‘it 
honors to the same degree this formidable soldiery which con- 
stitutes the glory and the security of the empire.’”’ The lofty 
sentiments of the marquis produced a marked impression upon 
the assembly which showed its appreciation by applause.*? 
But before the labor and the excitement of speech-making 
and of roll-call attendant upon the union of the nobility were 
over, a great commotion was produced in the assembly by an 
attempt of the populace to force an entrance into the hall.* 
30 Point du jour, I, 50; Duquesnoy, I, 130. 
3t Assemblée nationale (I, 224) says, ‘‘ L’appel n’était pas encore fini que 
la salle se trouva, du cété de la rue du Chantier assaillie par le peuple.” The 
Point du jour (1, 49-50) has this: ‘‘ Ona fait l’appel des députés de la noblesse 
qui remettaient leurs pouvoirs pour la vérification, lorsque le peuple . . . a 
forcé la porte,’’ but the paper gives some incidents of the call after the account 
of the attempt of the people to enter. Duquesnoy (I, 129), indicates that the 
disturbance preceded the roll-call. Jallet (104) and Bulletin d’un agent 
177 
