110 Jeanette Needham. 
many centuries, has been the portion of the order of the clergy 
and of the nobility of France, to contribute to the happiness of all.* 
After the conclusion of his speech, the decree passed by the 
nobility was read in full.6 The Cardinal de la Rochefoucauld 
responded by stressing the fact that all acts of the clergy had 
for their principle, attachment to the king and zeal for the 
welfare of all the people.” The deputation then withdrew, the 
customary honors being shown by the clergy to the departing 
nobles.® 
The clergy meanwhile took up the problem of justifying their 
conduct on June 19, when the schism in their order first occurred. 
The hostile attitude of public opinion toward them made it very 
essential that the correctness of their position be shown. As 
already noted, Coster claims that action looking to this end 
had been contemplated on June 24, but evidently nothing had 
been done in regard to the matter until this session, when a 
member proposed that a narrative of the events that had taken 
place in their order since June 19 be prepared, and the proposi- 
tion seems to have been adopted. Six commissioners, besides 
the officers of the chamber, were named to draft the memoir 
which was to be completed by the next day and which was to 
be printed with all the minutes up to that date. Coster adds 
that the committee was to meet at six o’clock at the chateau 
with the Archbishop of Aix where the draft would be made.? 
With this matter out of the way, the promoteur reminded 
5 Barmond, Récit, 294-295; Procés-verbal . . . de la noblesse, 297. The 
texts are exactly the same. 
6 Barmond, Récit, 275-276; Procés-verbal . . . de la noblesse, 266; Procés- 
verbal of the national assembly, No. 8, 18-19. The texts in the first and 
third sources are identical with the exception of one word, but they vary 
slightly from the text in the Procés-verbal of the nobility. The variations are 
unimportant. 
7 Barmond, Récit, 276. 
8 Ibid.; Procés-verbal . . . de la noblesze, 297. 
®° Barmond, Récit, 276; Coster, Récit, 344. Coster refers to this after the 
deliberation upon the renunciation of pecuniary privileges. He does not 
mention the number forming the committee. The final proof of the action 
said to have been taken here is the existence of the Récit de ce qui s’est passé 
dans l’ordre du clergé, depuis le 19 juin jusqu’an 24 du méme mois., which was 
ratified by the assembly the next day. 
224 
