* The First Revolutionary Step 19 



both our sentiments and our principles." 1 Some deputies made 

 mention of the fact that on that very day — in the morning ses- 

 sion of May 28 — the assembly of the nobility had formally de- 

 clared itself in favor of orders, and that it would persist in 

 upholding this principle. These deputies maintained that a con- 

 tinuation of the conference was entirely useless, that every attempt 

 to conciliate the nobility would fail. 2 The clergy, and the no- 

 bility too, accepted the king's request to continue the confer- 

 ences. 3 The commons did the same, though with great reluctance 

 and on the condition that "of each session a proces-verbal shall 

 be drawn up and signed by all those who have taken part in the 

 conferences, in order that the conferences may not be called into 

 question." 4 The deputies of the third estate accepted the king's 

 invitation because it was policy for them to do so; they did not 

 wish, nor could they afford, to be considered obstinate by the 

 public. 



The conferences were renewed, the commissioners of the king 

 being present. 5 Seemingly trivial matters were discussed, such 

 as whether the minutes of the sessions should be kept. There 

 was disagreement in regard to having a secretary, and, after it 

 was decided that there should be one, a discussion ensued as to 

 whether he should be chosen from one of the commissioners 



of the commons "feront tous leurs efforts pour que cette conference ait 

 lieu dans la salle commune . . . lorsqu'il s'agit des droits les plus 

 precieux des communes, elles ne peuvent prendre ni juges ni arbitres." 

 La revolution frangaise, XXIII, 458; Duquesnoy, I, 53-55; Courrier de 

 Provence, Lettre VII, 13. 



1 Courrier de Provence, Lettre VII, 4; Duquesnoy, I, 56. 



2 Recit, 44; La revolution frangaise, XXIII, 457: "Qu'a voulu dire le 

 roi en nous annongant ses intentions de vouloir contribuer directment a 

 une harmonie si desirable et si instante? Nous sommes les maitres des 

 moyens a employer et son intervention est prejudiciable a nos droits. Que 

 produiront de nouvelles conferences ? Le parti de la noblesse est pris et 

 la trahison du clerge est manifeste." 



'Duquesnoy, I, 52; Biauzat, II, 96. 



4 Recit, 48-49, 57-5S ; Courrier de Provence, Lettre VII, 14, 15; Biauzat, 

 I, 89-90, 93; La revolution frangaise, XXIII, 458-59; Duquesnoy, I, 56. 



5 Recit, 56-59, 64-68, 68-74. The king's commissioners were: MM. le 

 garde-des sceaux, "le due de Nivernais, de la Michodiere, d'Ormesson, 

 Vidaud de la Tour, Chaumont de la Galaiziere, le comte de Montmorin, 

 Laurent de Villedeuil, le comte de la Luzerne, le comte de Puysegur, ie 

 comte de Saint-Priest, Necker et Delessart." Biauzat, II, 94-95. 



19 



