Meeting of the Estates-General, 1789. i 
deputy, in supporting the first decree, broached the idea of 
carrying it to the king and offering to him all the measures, 
which, as father of the country and friend of the people, he 
judged fitting in this decisive circumstance. Another suggested 
a project of the discourse which should be delivered when the 
decree was presented to the king, whether by the order of the 
nobility as a whole, by a deputation, or by the president. After 
more discussion they passed, as was customary, to the expression 
of their opinions upon the first decree; several different views 
were disclosed by the roll-call. Some were for adoption, others 
for modification and explanation, a large number favored ac- 
ceptance, but with reservations, while a few acting in accordance 
with their instructions, refused to vote. A very small number, 
bound by imperative instructions, advocated rejecting it alto- 
gether.’ 
This point in proceedings had been reached when the deputa- 
tion from the clergy, bearing their decrees of June 24 and June 25 
relative to the first declaration, was announced. Eight nobles 
were sent to receive the eight clergy,® said to have formed the 
party, which was seated at the president’s right. Their spokes- 
man, the Bishop of Lucon, read the two decrees and laid them 
on the table. The accustomed ceremonies marked their retire- 
ment.’ 
Immediately after this interruption the question of adopting 
the first decree proposed upon the declaration was put to a 
vote. It carried by a very large majority, one hundred eighty- 
eight to nine, but many votes were qualified. Only sixty-four 
deputies voted simply yes, sixty others added restrictions to 
their yeas, and twenty-six others supported it indirectly by 
voting for the plurality, but seventeen of these made reserva- 
tions, sixteen members did not vote at all, two voted an un- 
conditional no, while seven others made explanation of their 
votes. The decree having been adopted, it was decided by a 
5 Procés-verbal . , . de la noblesse, 267. 
6 As noted previously, the minutes of the clergy name only six and one 
of those names is not found in the list of eight given in the Procés-verbal of 
the nobility. 
7 Procés-verbal . . . de la noblesse, 268. 
19I 
