24 Carl Christophelsmeier 



true disposition in this matter would be discovered and their res- 

 olution would seduce nobody; and if, on the other hand, they 

 should accept the invitation, the assembly of the commons would 

 accomplish its end. 1 The dean read a project to be sent to the 

 clergy. It was received by the commons with lively and repeated 

 applause 2 and was carried to the hall of the clergy by a solemn 

 deputation, but the attempt was again unsuccessful. 3 There was 

 left now no hope whatever of bringing all the deputies together 

 in the assembly by peaceful means ; the third estate could only 

 wait for the conclusion of the conferences in order to organize 

 as an active assembly. The conferences were closed on June 9. 



But in the meantime preparations for the final step were 

 made. Some members were restless and wanted to organize at 

 once. Malouet proposed that the assembly should begin to verify 

 the credentials of its members and constitute itself immediately 

 thereafter. 4 But the most of the deputies considered Malouet's 

 motion premature and were wise enough to wait. They occupied 

 themselves with rules of order and formed themselves into twenty 

 committees, so that the organization, once begun, could be car- 

 ried on expeditiously. 5 



When the dean at the opening of the session of June 9 asked if 

 there was any business, all were silent. No one ventured to 

 speak. It was the calm before the storm. But it was necessary 

 to kill time, as the conciliatory conferences closed that day, and 

 so the records of the last conferences were read a second time. 

 The details in the arrangement of the committees were fixed. 6 



^Recit, 85; Biauzat, II, 97; Courrier de Provence, Lettre IX, 17. 



2 Recit, 87; Biauzat, II, 97. 



'Recti, 87. 



*Recit, 96-97; Courrier dc Provence, Lettre X, 2; Biauzat, II, 99; Du- 

 quesnoy, I, 79-80 ; La revolution frangaise, XXIII, 523-24. 



*Recit, 96, 97, 99; Biauzat, II, 99; Courrier de Provence, Lettre X, 1, 2; 

 Duquesnoy, I, 79, 80; La revolution frangaise, XXIII, 523, 524. 



"Biauzat, II, 101: "II n'est pas meme leve un seul depute. L'on ne 

 sera par surpris de ce silence lorsque Ton saura que nous etions tous tenus 

 dans un etat d'indecision par des demi-ouvertures que Ton se faisait comme 

 secretement de quelques trames qui s'ourdissent pour la dissolution des 

 etats-generaux. L'importance de l'objet et l'incertitude des annonces for- 

 maient un embarras dans les bonnes tetes, et personne n'osait parler. 

 Cependant il faillait tuer le temps." 



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