Influence of the Breto)i Deputation 43 



us, determined to declare themselves the ensemble of the 

 nation; to constitute themselves its natural and legitimate 

 representatives, and in that quality occupy themselves 

 with the public affairs conjointly with those of the church 

 and the Nobility who may wish to join them."^ 



But if this motion was revolutionary in that it was 

 clearly intended to prepare the way for the deputies of 

 the Tliird Estate to assume the powers of a national as- 

 sembly, the means by which it was intended to execute it 

 were still more so. There was no invitation to argument 

 — indeed the theory upon which the motion was based 

 made argument impossible, because no legal parties capa- 

 ble of ar^ment were recognized as existing — nor was 

 there any appeal to any constituted authority. The ap- 

 peal was directly to the unorganized nation; to the peoj)le 

 as individuals. 2 The proceedings of the Third Estate 



•No. 46. 



^That the intention was to make an appeal to the people directly 

 is not only to be inferred from the motion itself, but was expressly 

 stated at the time. In the Bulletin de Brest. I, No. 2, is published 

 under date of May 17, 1789, a letter from the deputies of Brest in 

 which occurs the following passage: "Nous demandons que cette 

 invitation soit imprimee et publiee dans les provinces, avec le compte 

 exacte de nos d-marches vis-a-vis les deux orders privilegies; ce 

 compte contiendra en outre le detail circonstancie de nos occupations 

 journalieres, et des moyens que nous avons mis en usage pour pre- 

 venir et eviter tons les inconveniens et les obstacles qu'on nous 

 suscite actuellement. Nous ferons connaitre egalement nos resolu- 

 tions relatives au cas ou la Noblesse insisterait dans la sclsson qu' 

 elle a formee. et a celui du Cierge de la premiere classe continuerait- 

 a tenir une conduite equivoque et versatile." 



In the Hcrault de la Nation, No. 46, we find under date of May 22: 

 "Si oh les parcourt inutilement (i. e., the conferences) si les deux 

 classes separent de la nation, comme le firent les Tribus de Somaire, 

 les communes, d'apres les proposition de MM. de la Borde et de le 

 Chapelier, paralssent decidees a publier, non un manifeste, mais un 

 tableau fidele de leur conduite, afin d'instruire la France que leurs 

 soins, leurs tentatives, leurs prieres, leurs recherches ont ete in- 

 fructieuses; afin d'instruire toutes les provinces de I'empire que des*^ 

 intgrets particulieres, des prejuges politiques s'opposent a ce qu'on 

 s'occupe de leurs pressans besoins; afin d'apprendre au peuples libres 

 et aux nations esclaves, que le despotisme ou I'oligargie ne pei'dent 

 jamais leur esprit de conquete, d'asservissement et de conservation." 



BouUe wrote on May 22: "La necessite d'instruire le public et de^ 



249 



