36 Ethel Lee Hozvie 



takes up the formation and the constitution of the estates- 

 general. "^^° 



The assembly appears to have been pleased with this proposed 

 decree and also with the suggestion that the motions made on 

 previous days should be read and the vote taken immediately.^'^ 



The motion of the Bishop of Autun was then read. Some 

 changes had been made by the bishop, notably in the clause which 

 declared the imperative instructions null. In place of this, he 

 proposed to ask the bailliages and the provinces to change their 

 instructions and thus to conform to the wishes of the majority. ^'^ 



When the decree suggested by the Archbishop of Bordeaux 

 was read there was a general commotion in the hall. A member 

 of the nobility said that they were " about to consider very im- 

 portant questions and that there will be neither orders nor sepa- 

 rate chambers — a condition which is contrary to the constitution. 

 Imperative instructions being only a consequence of ancient 

 rights could be given and were not null."^'^ Clermont-Tonnerre 

 vigorously opposed this stating that the motion of Talleyrand was 

 not prejudicial so long as the assembly was united. Clermont- 

 Lodeve, on the other hand, believed that the majority, or more 

 exactly, almost all the instructions of the nobles were imperative 

 in demanding the vote by order. If by examination such was 

 found to be the case, it could not truthfully be said that the 

 majority were opposed to imperative instructions and it was not 

 right to consider the question.^'* 



Mirabeau, we are told, was about to answer Clermont-Lodeve 

 and even began his speech when he was interrupted, it is asserted, 

 by nobles who " dissatisfied with the quizzing directed by a de- 

 fender of the commons against a member of their order cried out 

 ""fl I'ordre.'" Whatever the real motive for the interruption 



^"'^ Assemhlee nationale, I, 412; Point du jour, I, 139; Courrier de 

 Provence, I, 17th letter, 28; Bulletins de I'assemhlce nationale, July 8. 



I'l Assemblee nationale, I, 412. 



^'- Assemblee nationale,!, 412; Bulletins dc I'asscniblee nationale, July 8; 

 Point du jour, I, 139. 



'^'^ Assemblee nationale,!, 41^', Bulletins dc I'assemblee nationale, July 8. 



^'* Assemblee nationale,!, 412; Bulletins de I'assemblee nationale, July 8. 



318 



