62 Charles Kuhlmann 



ulatioii among its members and an attempt to learn what 

 the dispositions of tlie government were, was inevitable, 

 but it can not have been until late on the 22d that they re- 

 ceived truthful information, for only twelve to fifteen 

 members were present at their meeting that evening, and 

 Le Koulx, to Avhom the proceedings of the council were 

 partly known, assured his municipality on the same day 

 that nothing would be done against the work so far ac- 

 complished by the assembly. The Archbishop of Paris, 

 he said, had indeed misled the king and caused him to 

 take an unfavorable resolution, but Necker had since per- 

 suaded him to change his decision, "Instructed of what 

 the court meditated for the next day," says Gregoire, 

 "each article was discussed by all ; and all expressed their 

 opinions as to what was to be done. The first resolution 

 was to remain in the hall despite the interdiction of the 

 king. It Avas agreed that before the opening of the ses- 

 sion we would circulate in the groups of our colleagues 

 to announce to them what was about to pass under their 

 eyes and what it was necessary to oppose to it. But, said 

 someone, is the opinion of twelve to fifteen x>ersons able 

 to determine the conduct of twelve hundred deputies? It 

 was answered that the particle on has a magical force; 

 we will say : This is what the court will do, and, among 

 the patriots, they {on) are agreed upon such measures. 

 They signifies four hundred as well as ten. — The exped- 

 ient succeeded."^ 



The important influence of the Breton deputies and 

 their club in the resolutions of the assembly had in July 



^Mcmoires, I, 380. See note 5, p. 36. Using the somewhat obscure 

 account of this session of the club given in the Mcmoires de Gondorqet, 

 Zinkeisen reached a conclusion exactly the contrary of the one given 

 here, that is, that the club decided to prevent a collision with the 

 government and to use its influence the next day to restrain the more 

 violent deputies. The club is, therefore, represented as a moderating 

 element in the assembly! 



2GS 



