fiifliicnce of the Breton Deputation 75 



revealing the frightful state of anarchy existing in France, 

 proposed a. proc-hiniation wliich in it-s contents and ex- 

 pressions was distinctly condemnatoi'y of the various dis- 

 orders,^ the Breton dei)uties were no more inclined to 

 acquiesce in this measure than they had been in the reso- 

 lution of Lalh^-Tollendal two weeks earlier. But this time 

 they found themselves in the minority, and while the proc- 

 lamation was in the hands of the committee of redaction 

 they prepared in their club the means of counteracting 

 what they thought the evil effect which would be pro- 

 duced b}^ the proposed action. "At the assembly of yes- 

 terday,'' wrote Corroller du Moustoir, deputy of Henne- 

 bont, "it was decided that a proclamation should be made 

 intended to arrest the pillage in the country districts, the 

 burning of villages and castles in the provinces, the pro- 

 scriptions of the lords and nobles. It was pretended that 

 this was the work of brigands. The commons were per- 

 suaded that it was the effect of the desire for liberty. They 

 did not cease to say: this decree had been against their 

 opinion and it was of a nature to inflame rather than to 

 calm. There is a limit to slavery and tyranny; the mo- 

 ment for throwing off both had arrived; we -were con- 

 vinced of these truths. Several very rich seigneurs of our 

 assembly, whom we had convinced that, in order that this 

 proclamation might produce its effect, it was necessary 

 that it be preceded, on the part of the privileged orders, 

 by a complete abandonment of their pecuniary exemp- 

 tions, were prepared to follow us. ^Ye awaited the read- 

 ing of the draft of this proclamation, which was to be 

 made in this session, ready to cause it to fail, if this pre- 

 liminarv were omitted." ^ ^^ 



^ Proces-verbal, II, No. 40 bis. Point du Jour, II, No. LIII, p. 18, No. 

 LIV, 26-28. 



-Extract published by Kerviler, Recherches et notices, art. Corroller 

 du Moustoir. 



281 



