36 Mae Darling 



that time, the nobles should be informed of the request that had 

 come from the third estate.*'^ The deputies, in their report, men- 

 tioned the courtesy which had been shown them by the com- 

 missioners of the nobility, and told how, upon their leaving the 

 hall of the nobles, the commissioners had said to them, " We 

 must leave you, but our hearts follow you."*^^ The deputation 

 reported that the clergy had answered the invitation to unite with 

 the third estate by saying that they would deliberate on the 

 matter, and would send their reply later.^^ The third estate had 

 taken the first step towards a settlement of the existing diffi- 

 culties ; it remained to be seen what would be the result of their 

 action. 



After the return of the deputation to the other orders, the third 

 estate seems to have been seized with feelings of regret for having 

 allowed the deputies to go.^^ Biauzat says that the eyes of the 

 deputies were opened and that there was a general cry of re- 

 proach against the deputation, 'the commons evidently fearing 

 that this action would make it appear that they were organized 

 as a separate order. Biauzat also says that it was decided that 

 when the clergy should bring their reply, the dean should tell 

 them that the commons were not organized and explain the pur- 

 pose of the deputation. This same writer states that Mirabeau 

 attempted to put this answer in writing, but discussions arose over 

 every word until finally the idea of writing the reply was given 

 up entirely, lest it should give the impression that they were a 

 " constituted assembly."*'*' 



Before the clergy brought its formal reply to the request of 

 the third estate, there came into the hall of the commons two 

 cures who asked the deputies of the third estate not to adjourn, 

 as the clergy was at that time deliberating on the reply that they 



^^ Recit des seances des deputes des communes, 9. 



^3 Biauzat, 11, 40; Duquesnoy, I, 10. 



^* Biauzat, II, 40; Duquesnoy, I, 11; Recit des seances des deputes des 

 communes, 9. The Recit alone says that they promised to send a reply. 



^•'"Biauzat, II, 40; Lettres dti Comte de Mirabeau, No. 2, 2; Boulle in 

 Revue de la revolution, X, Documents inedits, 170. 



6® Biauzat, II, 40. 



238 



