56 diaries KuhUiiiUin 



chmissees on the same day.^ It was, undoubtedly, to pre- 

 vent tlie adjournment of the reply from the privileged or- 

 ders that Sieyes proposed to allow only one hour between 

 the summons and the beginning of the verification of cre- 

 dentials.- But in this attempt to carry both the assem- 

 bly of the Third Estate and the other orders by storm they 

 failed, as Boulle "writes, largely through their own impa 

 tieuce,^ the decisive vote not being taken until the evening 

 session. 



In introducing his motion, Sieyes announced that it was 

 merely preparatory in character, and that should it pass, 

 he had another to present to the assembly.'* Without 

 doubt he referred to the motion he introduced on the 15th, 

 proposing to constitute under the name: "Les seuls rep- 

 resentants verifies et connus de la nation f rangaise," which 

 he had also submitted to the Breton Club, or was to sub- 

 mit, before introducing it in the assembly,^ and for which 

 he gained the vigorous support of that body. But the in- 

 troduction of this motion led the assembly into a debate 

 over subtleties, over nice distinctions, which could be noth- 

 ing less than congenial to the character of the Breton dep- 

 uties who were noted for the clearness with which they 

 were accustomed to express themselves. In their minds. 



'Boulle wrote on June 10: "Mais on desirait de la faire passer 

 promptement et avant que le Clerge et la Noblesse eussent desempare, 

 afin de leur faire de suite la sommation de se reunir pour la verifi- 

 cation des pouvoir et de commencer en consequence dans le jour I'appel 

 des bailliages et senechaussees, c'est ce qu'on entreprit et ce qu'on 

 reussit, en effet, a empecher en entrainant de longues discussions." 

 Revue de la Revolution, vol. XII, p. 53. 



'^Rccits, p. 103. 



^Boulle, June 10: "L 'impatience meme de ceux qui voulaient faire 

 passer la motion, contraria leur objet et les eloignait de leur but; 

 des cris s'eleverent a plusieurs reprises pour demander les voix, mais 

 ils ne servient qu'a faire perdre pres d'une heure dans le tumulte." 

 Revue de la Revolution, vol. XII, p. 53. 



*Ibid., p. 52. 



'■Expose de la coyiduite de M. Mounier, etc. Paris, 1789, p. 5. 



262 



