44: Charles Kuhbnann 



were to be published for the judgment of the people, and 

 by this means i\wy intended to force their way. 



It is significant that in the four days of debate which 

 followed the introduction of the motion of Le Chapelier 

 few, if any, contested the principles contended for by the 

 deputies of Bretagne. The objections were based upon 

 gTounds of expediency; later, it was said, if attempts at 

 conciliation failed, they should be forced to adopt meas- 

 ures such as proposed; but every means of persuasion 

 must first be exhausted in order to avoid all causes for 

 reproach to the Third Estate and to assure the approval 

 of the people.^ When the motion came to the vote it was 

 lost by the crushing majority of 320 to 66,^ showing that 

 at this time the number of those who followed the Breton 

 advice Avas very small. 



Ill 



THE BRETON DEPUTIES AND THE CONFERENCES — THEIR 

 STANDING AVITH THEIR COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC 



During the debates on Le Chapelier's motion, the dep- 

 uties of Bretagne had insisted that the proposed confer- 

 ences Avould not lead to any useful result, that such de- 



le faire assister en quelque sorte a nos seances de nous envestir de 

 son opinion qui doit faire toute notre force et qui pent seule vaincre 

 la resistance des privilegies." Revue de la Revolution, vol. XI, p. 19. 



'Letter of Boulle, May 22: "Mils en louant le zele qui I'avait dictee 

 (the motion of Le Chapelier) on a regarde la declaration dont on 

 donnait le projet comme une manifest qui, par la raideur et I'inflex- 

 ibilite des principes, peut-etre prematurement annonce, donnait lieu 

 d'imputer aux communes d'avoir hate la rupture dans le temps meme 

 ou on leur proposait une conciliation." Revue de la Revolution, vol. 

 XI, p. 16. 



In his letter of May 15, Boulle gives a resume of the arguments 

 made up to that time. Ibid., 12-14. 



See also Bulletin de Brest, I, No. 2, pp. 6, 7. 



"Correspondance de MM. les deputes des communes de la province 

 d'Anjou, I, No. 3, p. 45, and Boull6. letter of May 22, Revue de la 

 Revolution, vol. XI, p. 16. 



250 



