20 Charles Kuhlmann 



united by a "compact of union" and to a large extent 

 armed. ^ When, on the 26th of January, the young men 

 at Rennes who were accustomed to gather at the Cafe 

 cVUnion were attacked by the valets, they hurriedly sent 

 messengers to the "jeunes gens" of several other cities 

 asking for aid.^ Nantes and Saint-Malo responded so 

 promptly that their contingents arrived near Rennes be- 

 fore new messengers could inform them that the rapid 

 settlement of the difficulty rendered their services no 

 longer necessary. ^ 



This anned demonstration made a deep impression upon 

 the two privileged orders. There could be no doubt of 

 the close alliance of the leaders of the Third Estate and 

 this armed body throughout the province. At the law 

 school at Rennes where the avocats were the most violent 

 supporters of the Third Est^ite, a club had been organized 



^Relations des cvenements qui se sont passes en Bretagne, redi- 

 gees par les deputes du Glerge et de la Noblesse. Bih. Nat. Lb39/6900. 

 "Une ligue qui existait long-temps avant le 27 Janvier entre les 

 jeunes gens de Rennes, de Saint-Malo, de Nantes et d'Angers, s'est 

 etendue dans toutes les villes de la province; les associes portent un 

 ruban oil Ton voit un embleme du Tiers, et pour devise, vaincre ou 

 mourir; ils ont conserve les fusils enleves du magazin du Roi; ils ont 

 ose traiter avec le commandant de la province; ils ont des drapeaux 

 ou sont peintes les armes de la Bretagne et celle de M. de Thiard; ils 

 vont par troupes et armes dans les differents villes, ils y font des 

 enrolements, la vie de' quelques gentilshommes est menacee." These 

 bodies of young men were the forerunners of the National Guards, 

 but they seemed to have been without any legal control or status 

 whatsoever. Their action, when not entirely spontaneous, was taken 

 upon the advice of private individuals, and thus served as a power- 

 ful instrument in the hands of the leaders of the Third Estate. In 

 the departmental archives at Saint-Brieuc (C. 165) exist two different 

 plans or constitutions for the union of the different units, the title 

 of one of which, "Facte social entre les jeunes citoyens de Bretagne 

 et provinces voisines, et autorises par leurs peres," is instructive. 

 Concerning their spirit and manner of action, see Arritc de I'assem- 

 blve gcncrale des jeunes citoyens et etudiants en droits, de la ville 

 de Rennes, etc. 2 mars, 17S9. Bib. Nat. Lb39/7008. Another delib- 

 eration by the same body, Feb. 27. Bib. Nat. Lb39/7060. Also Pro- 

 testation et arretc des jeunes gens de Nantes, du 2S Janvier 17S9. 

 Bib. Nat. Lb39/6932. Popquet, II, chaps. VI and VII. 



^Pocquet, II, chap. YII. 



*Ibid. 



22C 



