219 
of Edinburgh^ Session 1863 - 64 . 
other two orders in their own chambers. On the Wednesday 
(24th June), a considerable number of the noblesse, who had been 
restrained hitherto by the instructions they had received from their 
constituents, declared their resolution to unite themselves to the 
National Assembly, and the day following about fifty actually 
joined the Deputies of the Commons. Among these were the Duke 
of Orleans, the Comte de Montmorency, the Due de la Eochefoucault, 
the Due d’Aiguillon, the Comte de Clermot Tonerre, and a number 
besides of the very first names in France. 
“ Despremenil, and some others, particularly of the new noblesse, 
were still blustering in their own chamber. It is curious that Des- 
premenil^ who was a roturier^ and wEo has not yet held his office the 
complete term of years necessary to confer noblesse, should have 
been on this occasion the great champion of his order, although he 
was frequently reminded of the history of his family by some of his 
brethren, in terms abundantly humiliating. It is said, in particular, 
that the Due de Liancourt told him one day, in the Chamber of the 
Noblesse, — ‘ II faut avouer. Monsieur, que votre zele pour la no- 
blesse soit bien desinterresse car il vous manque encore six mois 
d’etre G-entilhomme,’ During this time the desertions of the clergy 
from their own Chamber to that of the Tiers Etat were continuing, 
insomuch that the President found one morning a bit of paper tied 
about the tongue of his bell (the Presidents of all the three orders 
have a small bell before them on the table, which they ring when 
they wish to establish order in their Assembly), with the following 
inscription, — Vox damans in deserto. 
“ At last, on Saturday, the King sent a letter to the Chambers 
of the Clergy and the Noblesse, desiring them to unite themselves 
without delay to the National Assembly, which they accordingly 
did that very day. 
‘‘ Since that time nothing of consequence has been done, as the 
Assembly has been wholly occupied in verifying the powers of the 
new members, and in some other preliminary business. 
“ I requested of you in a former letter, to take the trouble of 
mentioning the principal contents of my letters to D. Bannatyne 
and Mr Millar. Both of them will naturally expect that I should 
have written to them from time to time, and you will easily see the 
absolute impossibility of my doing so. I must therefore at present 
