opening of States General of lySg 63 



This motion was followed by one by Chapelier, which was an 

 expression of the feeling of the radical members of the as- 

 sembly. ^^- Chapelier first reviewed the attitude of the upper 

 orders since the opening of the states general, showing how the 

 deputies of the commons had waited in vain for these two orders 

 to come to the hall of the estates ; how certain deputies from the 

 third estate had gone tO' the privileged orders and informed them 

 that by their absence from the general hall they were hindering 

 the work which the people of France expected from their depu- 

 ties ; how the deputies of the clergy and of the nobility had paid 

 no attention to this warning, but instead had appointed deputa- 

 tions to the body "which they should have joined, and had 

 offered to confer on those questions which could be discussed and 

 deliberated upon only in the assembly of the states general." 



Chapelier worded his invitation and challenge to the privileged 

 orders thus : " The deputies of the commons invite and challenge 

 the deputies of the clergy and of the nobility to unite in the place 

 where for ten days they have been awaited, and to form the 

 states general in order to verify the credentials of all the repre- 

 sentatives of the nation. They ask those who have received 

 special instructions to deliberate in common and those who, free 

 to adopt that patriotic opinion, have already done so, to give an 

 example to their colleagues and to come and take the place which 

 is intended for them. 



" It has been painful to the deputies of the commons to think 

 that for ten days they have not yet begun the work which will 

 assure the public happiness and the splendor of the state, nor 

 presented to a beneficent king the tribute of homage and gratitude 

 which is due him because of the love he has shown for his sub- 

 jects and the justice he has rendered them. 



" Those who would retard still further the accomplishment of 

 such important duties, are accountable to the nation."^^^ 



^^^ Recit des seances des deputes des communes, 19; Biauzat, II, 56; 

 Journal des ctats-cjencraux, I, 23-27; Lettres dn Comte de Mirabeau, 

 No. 4. 5-7- 



'^^^ Journal des ctats-gcncraux, I, 23-27; Lettres du Comte de Mirabeau, 



265 



