The First Revolutionary Step 35 



be discovered the essential principle which is the basis of the 

 constitution." 1 It was agreed that the resolution and invitation 

 as finally adopted should be drawn up at once and signed by the 

 dean and his assistants. The assistants were instructed to carry 

 the invitation and resolution to the two privileged orders at the 

 opening of the next session, June 12. The conciliatory commis- 

 sioners and Sieves were charged to prepare the address to the 

 king. 2 



June 1 1 was Ascension Day and no session was held. This was 

 a great disadvantage to the commons, for the enthusiasm with 

 which their resolution would have been received by the lower 

 clergy was checked by the delay. Duquesnoy, writing on June 

 11, complained of the long discussions on June 10 in the hall of 

 the third estate, and he did so with reason. 3 Had the invitation 

 been sent during the morning session of that very day, the prob- 

 abilities are that a large proportion of the clergy would have 

 united at once with the commons. The assembly of the clergy 

 was divided into two groups, the higher and the lower clergy. 

 The higher clergy favored the nobility ; the lower clergy, or cures, 

 the commons. 4 



On June 12, the ten, going to each chamber, delivered their 

 message. 5 The assembly of the nobility, through its president, 

 answered the deputation of the commons that it would consider 

 the invitation and send its answer. 6 The deputies of the commons, 

 while waiting for an answer to the invitation, considered the ad- 

 dress to the king. A heated discussion arose upon the question 

 as to whether the address should be read in the open assembly. 

 But the debate was interrupted by a deputy from Paris, who 

 called attention to the fact that it was now more than ever in 

 the interest of the assembly to constitute itself and to begin work 



'Bailly, I, 134. 



2 Recit, 110-13. 



3 Duquesnoy, I, S4. 



*Memoires du marquis de Ferricres, I, 48; La revolution francaise, 

 XXIII, 448. 



: 'Rccit, 114-16; Duquesnoy, I, 86; Courrier de Provence, Lettre X, 12; 

 Biauzat, II, 107-8; La revolution francaise, XXIII, 528; Journal des etats- 

 gencraux, I, 65, 66 ; Revue dc la revolution, XII, Documents inedits, 55, 56. 



"Ibid. 



35 



