Meeting of the Estates-General, 1789. 173 
Bailly presented a memorial from the inhabitants of Versailles 
who wished to be represented by a direct deputation to the 
States-general and this matter was referred to the committee of 
verification.” 
The report of that committee was given as usual. Bluget 
announced that the credentials of seven nobles and clergy were 
in proper form, and they were recognized as members. The 
Bishop of Autun, however, had failed to produce the true act 
of election and was admitted only provisionally. Bluget also 
reported on the credentials of La Roche-Negly and Chabault, 
whe had just entered, and one of the secretaries had proceeded 
to an immediate examination of those of Veytard and of the 
Count of Pardieu. These four had the necessary papers and 
were admitted. The Marquis de Bourran lacked the true 
document of election, but was given a provisional seat." 
The chief task of the committee was the report of Prieur of 
its investigation and decision relative to the San Domingo 
deputation. In its broadest aspect, this request of the San 
Domingans for representation threatened to open the whole 
question of French colonial policy. The old paternal system of 
control, which recognized dependencies merely as instruments 
of commercial advantage to the mother land, was brought face 
to face with the new conception founded on the idea of natural 
rights, that colonies should participate in all the legislative 
activities of the motherland. Recent events in America must 
have had their influence on this situation and the indications 
were that there was no desire to discuss the question as applying 
to all French colonies, but rather the intention to confine the 
debate to the case in hand, 7. e., whether there was sufficient 
reason to justify the assembly in admitting San Domingo. 
The situation was presented first from the historical standpoint, 
instead of sixteen, as on June 22, would assist in the work of verification. No 
other account indicates that such a change was ordered, although the Procés- 
verbal usually notes carefully any change in the organization of committees. 
2 Point du jour, 1, 61; Assemblée nationale, I, 259. 
13 Procés-verbal, No. 9, 3-4; Assemblée nationale, I, 259. 
14 Procés-verbal, No. 9, 3-4; Assemblée nationale, I, 259; Point du jour, I, 
61; Biauzat, II, 146; Jalet, 107; Boullé, Docs. inedits, Revué de la rév., XIV, 
28; Etats-généraux, Extrait du journal de Paris, 1, 123-125. 
287 
