~ ike lai 
Meeting of the Estates-General, 1789. 171 
the count, submitted his credentials without explanation and 
seated himself with the other nobles.® 
The assembly then proceeded immediately to the task of 
reading minutes, those of June 23 to June 26 inclusive being 
communicated to the deputies. If uninteresting, such work 
was very necessary, “since sometimes, in spite of the scrupulous 
care of the officials, errors slip in.’’ But occasionally, it was 
needful to decide just what was to be inserted, and an example 
of this was to be given on this day as on June 24. It seems that 
Pison du Galland, the second secretary, had inserted in the 
minutes, the document left the day before by the deputation 
from the nobility. Camus, the first secretary, objected to this 
proceeding and appealed to the assembly to justify his contention 
that it be withdrawn. If the assembly indicated that it recog- 
nized the extract, then it must protest against the false, anti- 
constitutional principles contained therein and place this protest 
after the entry of the act in the minutes. Then he went on to 
show that, after the decree of persistency June 23, it was wholly 
unnecessary to make protests; hence the document from the 
nobility should not be inserted at all. His objection and ex- 
planation led to a discussion. Those in favor of his ideas held 
some such view as this, that such an article, contrary to the 
organization of the assembly, impairing its rights and committing 
an offense against the principles of the monarchy, should not 
remain on the records unless the records showed also the feelings 
of disapproval which it had inspired among the deputies.” 
5 Tbid., No. 9, 1-2; Duquesnoy, I, 140; Point du jour, I, 61; Courrier de 
Provence, Letire XIV, 4; Boullé, Documents inédits, Revue de la rev., 14, 29. 
The latter states that when news of the king’s letter to the nobility came, 
these two nobles asked tkat their credentials be verified immediately that it 
might be said that they united freely and of their own will. Their request 
was granted. Evidently the same thing is referred to in the Etats-généraux, 
Extrait du Journal de Paris, I, 125. It says, referring to the news of the 
impending union: ‘‘ Dans le méme instant deux députés de la noblesse et 
deux députés du clergé, déja présents, mais nouvellement arrivés, se sont 
empressés 4 demander acte de la présentation de leurs pouvoirs.” 
6 Procés-verbal, No. 9, 3; Point du jour, 1, 61; Boullé, Docs. inédits, Revue 
de la rév., XIV, 27. Boullé refers to the reading of the procés-verbal de la veille. 
7 Assemblée nationale, I, 256. This paper gives a full account of this 
incident, showing how it occurred and naming some of the participants in 
285 
