The First Revolutionary Step 65 



bates the title, national assembly. The two privileged classes, he 

 asserted, were a part, but only a small part, of the nation; they 

 were in the nation, but they could not have a separate existence 

 as chambers ; the deputies had to come to the general assembly 

 if they wanted to take part in the national business. The motion 

 declared for the indivisibility of the national assembly and against 

 interference in its deliberations by any right of veto. This mo- 

 tion was overlooked ; the hearers were tired and waiting for the 

 midday rest. Pison du Galland made another motion similar to 

 that of Le Grand. He proposed that the assembly constitute 

 itself as a national assembly. 1 These speakers were followed by 

 various deputies who for the most part favored Sieyes' motion. 2 

 According to Duquesnoy, 3 a Lorrain proposed the title, national 

 assembly. "All the speakers who followed appeared to adopt 

 this advice, with the exception of Mounier, who delivered a long 

 discourse in order to bring his motion again into favor." 4 



At about two o'clock, the assembly adjourned to five that same 

 afternoon. 5 Almost the whole evening session was taken up, 

 either directly or indirectly, with the question of constituting the 

 assembly. 6 Mirabeau spoke in favor of his title and in opposi- 

 tion to the other titles. He had been angered by the reception 

 of the word peuple. He knew the great superiority of his title, 

 yet, because of his unpopularity and the great popularity of 

 Sieyes, it was rejected. The assembly was led by men and not 

 by ideas. He disliked Sieyes, according to Dumont, because he 

 did not flatter him. 7 He feared a revolution and saw the assem- 



etats-generaux, I, 111, 112 ; Proces-verbal, I, 98 : "La discussion com- 

 menced hier a ete reprise. II a ete propose une nouvelle motion a l'assem- 

 blee sur la forme de sa constitution." This must have reference to the 

 motion of either Le Grand or of Pison du Galland. 



1 Courrier de Provence, Lettre XI, 34, 54, 55; Biauzat, II, 119. 



2 Biauzat, II, 119; Duquesnoy, I, 99. Andrieu, Robespierre, Durand, de 

 Maillane, Girot de Pouzols, Roussillon de Toulouse, Regnaud, Rewbell, 

 Bouchotte. 



3 Duquesnoy, I, 99. Possibly Duquesnoy himself. 



* Duquesnoy, I, 100. According to Biauzat (II, 120) and the Journal 

 des etats-generaux (I, 116), Mounier spoke in the evening session. 



5 Proces-verbal, I, 99-104; Journal des etats-generaux, I, 113. 



^Journal des etats-generaux, I, 113, 114. 



7 Dumont, 70: "II etait peu content de Sieyes et des Bretons, qui ne le 

 flattaient point." 



65 



