76 Carl Christophelsmeier 



the first of a series of crises. Madame de Stael says of the 

 constitution of the third estate that "it was the revolution itself." 1 



Since the deputies had now formed themselves into an active 

 assembly, Bailly requested the election of regular officers. But 

 time was thought precious; other business was considered more 

 urgent. Bailly, who was, up to this time, called dean, was con- 

 tinued as president, and Camus and Pison du Galland as 

 secretaries. 2 



The next step on the program was a very impressive one. The 

 president and secretaries took an oath to fulfil their functions 

 faithfully. The president next administered the oath to the as- 

 sembly. To the deputies, standing with uplifted right hands and 

 profoundly silent, the president repeated the following formula : 

 "Nous jurons et promettons de remplier avec sele et Udelite les 

 fonctions dont nous sommes charges." The assembly solemnly 

 responded: "Nous le jurons et promettons." "This imposing 

 and truly religious act" was followed by an outburst of applause. 3 



There had been much discussion as to the wording of the for- 

 mula. Bailly had proposed the expression: "Nous jurons tons a 

 Dieu, au roi, a la patrie de remplir avec zele et Udelite la mission 

 que nous avons recue."* But it is clear that the assembly did not 

 wish to commit itself to the king, even on this day of good feel- 

 ing. While the deputies at one time practically lost themselves 

 in enthusiasm and expressions of admiration for the king, shortly 

 afterward they formulated an oath, to which they swore in the 

 most solemn manner, that could not be more formal, less emo- 

 tional, more non-committal, more general. They swore to no one, 

 they promised nothing to anybody but to France itself. They 

 vowed to perform the functions with which they were charged. 



'Stael, I, 164; Cherest III, 144. 



2 Proccs-vcrbal, no. I, 5, 9-10. Courrier de Provence, Lettre XII, 4; 

 Biauzat, II, 122 ; Duquesnoy, I, 105 ; Revue de la revolution, XIII, Docu- 

 ments incdits, 14. 



3 Proccs-verbal, no. I, 10; Courrier de Provence, Lettre XI, 57; Biauzat, 

 II, 122-23 ; Duquesnoy, I, 105-6 ; Revue de la revolution, XIII, Documents 

 incdits, 14. 



4 Duquesnoy (I, 105) wrote: "Cette formule noble, grande, paraissait 

 devoir etre adoptee ; cependant, sans qu'on puisse dire pourquoi, on a 

 prefere la suivante . . ." Biauzat, II, 123; Lc point du jour, no. I, 4. 



7 6 



