Influence of the Breton Deputation 83 



prepare, but it is the frightful perspective offered by the 

 consequences of such a movement."^ 



With the address, or about the same time, the munici- 

 pality of Kennes wrote to its deputies a letter of which 

 we have not the text, but in which it expressed in severe 

 terms its dissatisfaction with its representatives. "It (the 

 deputation of Rennes) has received from the municipality 

 of Ilennes the most incredible marks of ingratitude and 

 dissatisfaction," wrote Legendre and Moyot. "M. Le 

 Chapelier, especially, is so abused that if his mission were 

 not so far advanced he would already- have sent his resig- 

 nation, and it is reasonable that his co-deputies would fol- 

 low his example, for the injustice and calumny are carried 

 to the last extreme."- On September 12, Le Chapelier an- 

 swered in a letter to the citizens of Rennes in which he out- 

 lines clearly and firmly his position on the veto and in 

 which he makes some significant statements regarding his 

 general attitude. The suspensive veto, he said, was not 

 gTanted out of consideration for the king, but because the 

 nation required some means by which it would be enabled 

 to reverse the decision of its representatives should this 

 be found necessary. He had prepared to defend the sus- 

 pensive veto in the assembly by a written speech, but be- 

 fore an opportunity of reading it presented itself the ad- 

 dress of Eennes had arrived. He did not think that in 

 this a clear distinction was made between the representa- 

 tives and the represented, but he believed it -his duty to 

 defend the principles contained in it, and had therefore 

 done so. He pronounced the opinion of Rennes and voted 

 against the veto of whatever nature it might be; and this 

 despite his cahiers which favored a suspensive veto. B^t 



'Letter of Legendre and Moyot, September 13, MSS., Archives de 

 Brest. 

 ^Letter of Legendre and Moyot, September 13. 



289 



