The First Revolutionary Step 39 



dentials 1 and were equally well received. One of the new comers, 

 Dillon, spoke in behalf of all. He said that he regretted much 

 that they had not come with their three colleagues, whose inten- 

 tions they had not known. "Being convinced," he continued, 

 "that our credentials ought to be verified by all the representa- 

 tives of the nation, we come, gentlemen, in the hope of seeing at 

 last the termination of our unhappy situation," division and in- 

 activity. "Convinced that the union of the three orders alone 

 can bring about the happy results which the nation awaits with 

 the greatest impatience, we announce to you, gentlemen, that it 

 was this most ardent desire of establishing union that brought us 

 here." On June 15, three more cures presented their credentials. 

 Two of them spoke. Marolles said : 2 "Gentlemen, since the 

 opening of the states general, my heart has been with you. In a 

 chamber that has remained isolated, I have fought for your in- 

 terests, interests which are also ours and those of the whole na- 

 tion. I come here, gentlemen, to announce this truth boldly and 

 to give recognition by my action to the indispensable necessity of 

 common verification of credentials in a national assembly. I sub- 

 mit my credentials to your examination. It is in this document 

 that you will find the evidence of the right of your co-laborer to 

 assist in the important work of the regeneration of the state ; in 

 my conduct you will find the principles and the tender affection of 

 a brother. If my example is not followed by a great many, you 

 will certainly allow me to return to the chamber of the clergy, 

 where the defense of your cause will demand my presence." 



Such words and such action as those of the twelve cures dur- 

 ing these three days cheered and animated the commons in their 

 forward course. They certainly inspirited the. debates of June 

 15 and June 16 and gave additional force to the bold decrees of 

 June 17. The news of the union of the cures with the deputies 

 of the third estate spread at once among the public, and the ad- 

 mirable effect that was produced in favor of the commons reacted 

 in turn upon the assembly. The decisive step, together with this 



1 Proces-vcrbal, I, 80-82 ; Journal des ctats-gencraux, I, 83-84; Duques- 

 noy, I, 95 ; Biauzat, II, 116 ; Revue de la revolution, XII, Documents in- 

 edits, 110. 



-Proces-verbal, I. 84, 85, 87-89; Journal des ctats-gencraux, I, 87. 



39 



