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Meeting of the Estates-General, 17809. 181 
Just when the news came is not certain, but evidently some 
little time elapsed before the upper orders appeared. Boullé, 
one of the third estate, states that it was about a quarter of 
twelve when they learned that the king had sent to the nobility 
a letter prescribing union and that it was causing great debates 
in the chamber. Evidently the news stopped their discussion 
of the question of San Domingo, upon which he says they were 
engaged. Presumably, the entire assembly was informed of the 
situation. Boullé adds that it was this knowledge which caused 
the Count of Pardieu and the Marquis of Bourran to ask for 
the immediate verification of their credentials, that they might 
be able to say they had come to the assembly of their own free 
will. -Boullé continues that not until half past one did the 
commons hear that the clergy also had received a letter from 
the king.*° This knowledge might have made them believe that 
the union of the orders was about to take place, but it seems 
reasonable to presume that this news did not come for some little 
time yet, probably not until well toward three o’clock, about 
the time that the clergy heard the nobility would yield.“’ Still 
cette circonstance que je demande la parole.” Then follows the text of the 
speech as given in the Courrier de Provence and at the close is this sentence: 
“Voici le projet d’adresse que je présente.”” The address follows and it has 
this at the end: ‘“‘ On demande de tout parts l’impression de ce projet d’adres- 
se.” Boullé, Documents inédits, Revue de la révolution, XIV, 28-29; Etats- 
généraux, Extrait du journal de Paris, 1,124. Both the latter state that they 
were discussing the third proposition, but neither says explicitly that the 
first and second had been decided. The Journal de Paris says that the news 
of the prospective union of the clergy stopped everything: ‘‘on s’est levé; 
on s’est mélé pour s’entretenir de cette grande nouvelle.’ Mercure de France: 
Journal Politique de Bruxelles, No. 27, 52. The latter states that the first 
two questions had passed. 
40 Boulle, Documents inédits, Revue de la rév., XIV, 28; Etats-généraux, 
Extrait du journal de Paris, I, 125. This source states: ‘‘ Deux députés de 
la noblesse et deux députés du clergé déja présens, mais nouvellement arrivés 
se sont empressés 4 demander acte de la présentation de leurs pouvoirs.” 
- 4 Jallet states that a recess of the national assembly began at 3 o’clock. 
No other source gives the hour at which the recess began, but practically all 
state that the assembly was taking a recess when the upper orders arrived. 
The Journal de Paris and Jallet state explicitly that the session was suspended 
until five o’clock. The upper orders came probably between four and five.. 
The Procés-verbal, Boullé, and the Journal de Paris agree on four o'clock. 
295 
