40 Mae Darling 



clergy? On the morning of May 7, according to Thibault, the 

 clergy proceeded with the promised verification of credentials. 

 According to the same writer, AI. Dillon and M. Thibault agreed 

 to act as provisional secretaries, and were calling the roll by 

 bailliages, senechanssccs and goiivernemcnts, when they were in- 

 terrupted by the arrival of the deputation from the third estate, 

 which has been previously discussed. '^^ 



The clergy received this deputation with marked courtesy."^ 

 Thibault says that a deputation of six members of the clergy was 

 sent to receive them and to escort them to seats near the presi- 

 dent.'^" Vallet says that upon entering the hall, the deputation 

 was greeted with applause. Mounier acted as spokesman for 

 the deputation.'^ According to Thibault, he first expressed the 

 kindly feelings of the third estate for the clergy and then re- 

 quested the clergy to unite with the third estate for the verifica- 

 tion of credentials in common.'" Jallet, in his account of this 

 speech, calls attention to the fact that Alounier, in addressing the 

 clerg}', used the term "^Messieurs " exclusively, not once using 

 the title " ]\Iesseigneurs," although there were many bishops and 

 archbishops present. The writer adds that no one paid any 

 attention to this violation of conventionalities.^" 



After the departure of the deputation, the clergy took up the 

 discussion of the request which had been made by these mem- 

 bers of the third estate. It was apparently during this discussion 

 that the two cures withdrew to go to the commons and request 

 them not to separate until the clergy had finished its delibe-rations 

 on the request of the third estate. ^^ We have no record of the 

 debate that took place at this time, but judging from the fact 

 that there were two opposing factions in the order, it is safe to 

 assume that the discussions were not lackingf in interest. When 



"5 Thibault, 181. 



76 Thibault, 181 ; Vallet, Rccit, 8. 

 7" Thibault, 181. 

 '^ Ibid.; Jallet, 52. 

 '9 Thibault, 181 ; Jallet, 52. 

 so Jallet, 52. 



SI Vallet, Souvenirs in NonvcUe revue retrospective, 10 Avril, 1902, 234; 

 Biauzat, II, 41. 



242 



