Meeting of the Estates-General, 1789. 187 
to cause the editor of the Point du jour to reflect as to ‘‘how any- 
one could dare to slander, in the presence of the throne, a nation 
so sensible, so generous, and so idolatrous of its kings.’"* Yet 
it was generally rumored that such discredit was being cast 
upon the French people. 
Next to the king, Necker was made the object of popular 
adoration. The common opinion of the people that he was 
the only one of the royal advisers who was working in the interests 
of the nation was sufficient to create the feeling that he was 
responsible for the union of the ordets. As the crowd had gone 
to the chateau of the king, so it went to Necker’s residence, 
repeating its testimonials of love and respect and “blessing him 
as the tutelary divinity of France.’”’* Duquesnoy regarded the 
“‘benedictions of the people”’ as but a fitting recompense for’ 
Necker’s services. ‘‘Today is for M. Necker the day of the 
grandest glory that any man ever acquired. It cannot be hidden 
that the plan is his work,” he wrote. Then, as if in extenuation 
of his faults, he continued: ‘‘Perhaps he has not put into exe- 
cution all the firmness, all the measures which circumstances 
seemed to render necessary; perhaps he has been too timid, 
perhaps he has not known men and the times well enough, but 
the essential thing is that he has succeeded, and that he has 
attained his aim without shedding a drop of blood.’’ When a 
conservative could express such views, it is not to be wondered 
at that the people in general went wild over their idolized min- 
sister, that crowds still stood before his house the next morning.'® 
4 Boullé, Documents inédits, Revue de la rév., X1V, 30-31; Hist. de la rév., I, 
243; Etats-généraux, Extrait du journal de Paris, I, 126-127; Letler of a deputy 
from Paris, le 27, a minuit; Jefferson, II, 488; Bailli de Virieu, 104-105; Biauzat, 
II, 147; Assemblée nationale, 1, 266; Point du jour, 1, 67; Jallet, 108; Duques- 
noy, I, 138; Dorset, I, 226; Young, 183. 
15 Point du jour, I, 67; Duquesnoy, I, 138; Jallet, 108; Bulletins d'un agent 
secret (La révolution francaise, XXIV, 76). Under date of June 27, the last 
writer describes a scene in the Palais Royal on June 26, when Necker’s letter 
of June 24 to the assembly was read. He gives his opinion of the strength 
of the popular belief in Necker thus: “‘ Je le répéte, jamais ministre n’a joui 
d’un plus grand triomphe; on le regarde comme un dieu déscendu du ciel 
pour le salut de la patrie.’”’ Bailli de Virieu, 105; Dorset, I, 227; Jefferson, 
488; Letter of a deputy from Paris, le 27, a minuit. 
16 Duquesnoy, I, 139, I4I. 
301 
