FRA 
produce the defired effeft was the aflembly of the Jlates- 
general: that aflembly had been demanded by the una¬ 
nimous voice of the people ; but it was witli great, reluc¬ 
tance that the fovereign confented to convene a body of 
men, whofe powers and popularity mult overfliadow his 
own authority, and whofe jurifdiction would confine 
within narrow limits the high prerogative he had inherit¬ 
ed from his predeceflors. Even Necker himfelf was not 
a little embarraffed by the choice of difficulties which 
prefented themfelves in aflembling the llates-general. 
The parliament alfo, recovering from their enthufiafm, 
beheld, in the re-eftablifhment of the ftates-general, the 
extinction of their own power; they therefore endea¬ 
voured to augment the perplexity of the minifter, by 
fupporting the pretenfions of the nobles and clergy 
againfl: the commons ; pretenfions which they had them¬ 
felves but lately protefted againfl: as unconftitutional. 
From the reign of Philip the Fair, the period in which 
the third cjlate , or reprefentatives of the commons , had firft 
been admitted into the aflembly of the ftates-general, to 
the year 1614, the influence of that eftate had undergone 
a confiderable fluctuation; its numbers had been occa- 
fionally varied ; it had always poflefl'ed a greater number 
of voices than either of the other orders feparated, but 
had never been equal to the clergy and nobility united. 
The interefting queftion was now propofed, whether the 
reprefentatives of the commons ought to be confined to 
a third in number of the ftates-general ; or, whether 
they ought to be allowed a number equal to the other 
two orders united ? An objeCt fo important could not 
fail of being difcufled with warmth and ability ; the par- 
tifans of the different orders were numerous and aCtive ; 
the prefs groaned with inceffant publications; even the 
fentiments of the princes of the blood were divided ; and 
while the count d’Artois, the princes of Conde and Conti, 
with the duke of Bourbon, fupported the ancient claims 
of the nobility, the duke of Orleans ranged himfelf on 
the popular fide, and declared openly for the commons. 
His fentiments were received with the loudeft applaufe, 
and the people looked with gratitude towards a leader, 
who, in defending their rights, appeared to be fleaf to 
perfonal intereft. 
The declaration of the duke of Orleans was followed 
by the decifion of Necker; his propofal was, after long 
and ferious deliberation, approved by the" king, and re- 
giftered by the parliament. It fixed the number of de¬ 
puties to the ftates-general at one thoufand and upwards; 
it ordained, that the reprefentatives of the third eftate, 
or commons, fhould equal in number thofe of the nobi¬ 
lity and clergy united ; and it decreed that the different 
bailiwicks, in returning their members, fhould be guided 
by the ftandard of population. The acclamations of the 
people on thus being admitted to an equal fhare in the 
legiflative body, was perfectly decorous though un¬ 
bounded; yet it appeared that this concefiion, important 
as it was, might yet be eafily evaded ; and it was early 
forefeen by thofe who confidered with attention the litu- 
ation of the two parties, that the nobility and clergy, 
(who had already offered to bear their part of the burden 
of the ftate,) to preferve their influence, would urge 
their claim to vote by order; while the reprefentatives 
of the commons would be equally ftrenuous that every 
queftion fhould be decided by a plurality of voices ; that 
this difference of opinion .would foon increafe into an 
open fchifm ; and would deftroy that unanimity fo necef- 
fary to the public tranquillity, and fo elfential to the de¬ 
liberations of the ftates-general. 
g?;Thofe who had ventured to predict thefe confequences, 
were not difappointed. On the fifth of May, 1789, the 
king opened at Verfailles this long-expe6fed aflembly of 
the ftates-general. His fpeech on this occafion was fuch 
as became the fovereign and the friend of the people. 
He declared, “ that the day which his heart had fo long 
panted after was at length arrived, in which he beheld 
himfelf furrounded by the reprefentatives of a nation, 
N C E. 759 
which it was his glory to reign over. Thafr; though a 
long interval had elapfed fince the ftates-general had been 
afiembled, and though thofe aflemblies had appeared to 
have funk into difufe, yet he had not hefitated to re-efta- 
blifh them again, as a fource from whence the kingdom 
might derive additional ftrength, and which might open 
to the nation a new profpeCtof happinefs. The national 
debt, (he added,) fo confiderable at his acceflion to the 
throne, had been augmented during his reign ; this was 
to be attributed to a war expenfive indeed, but honour¬ 
able ; the increafe of taxes had been the neceflary confe- 
quence, and had rendered ftill more apparent the inequa¬ 
lity with which they were levied. A general difcontent, 
an eager thirft for innovation, had (he obferved) pervaded 
the minds of the people, and might finally tend to delude 
them from their duty, if their opinions were not recalled 
by coitnfels at once wife, moderate, and united. It was 
in that confidence, that lie had afiembled the ftates-gene¬ 
ral ; and he beheld with pleafure his expectations jufti- 
fied by the difpofition which the nobility and clergy had 
already (hewn to renounce all high and lofty advantages; 
and he flattered himfelf that the hope he had conceived 
of beholding all the orders unanimoufly concur with him¬ 
felf in purfuing the public good, would not be difap¬ 
pointed. I know (he faid) the authority and power of a 
juft king in the midft of a people, faithful, and ever de¬ 
voted to the principles of the monarchy ; that authority 
and power have conftituted the glory and grandeur of 
France : and it is my duty, and I ever will firmly main¬ 
tain them. But whatever can be expected for the pub¬ 
lic welfare, whatever can be demanded of a fovereign, 
the friend of his people, you may, you ought, to hope 
from my fentiments. That a perfeCt unanimity may 
reign through this alfembly ; that this period may be¬ 
come for ever memorable for the happinefs and the prof- 
perity of the kingdom, is the wifli of my heart, is the 
moft fervent of my prayers ; it is the reward that I ex¬ 
pert for the uprightnefs of my intentions, and my love 
for my people.” 
Such was the language delivered from the throne on 
the firft meeting of the ftates-general. The patriotic fen¬ 
timents of the fovereign were followed by an infipid ha¬ 
rangue from the keeper of the feals, which was received 
without attention, and immediately configned to oblivion. 
But far different was the reception of the fpeech of M. 
Necker; every word was ftrongly imprinted in the minds 
of the auditors, and every fentiment expofed to the fe¬ 
vered: fcrutiny. He ftated, That the fame power which 
had thought proper to fummon, might alfo have pre¬ 
vented, the meeting of the ftates-general ; that though, 
in refpeCt to the finances, the public deficit was confide¬ 
rable, that various refources remained, without having 
recourfe to this extraordinary expedient. He then touched 
upon the difficulties that had occurred in convening the 
aflembly ; he reprefented the facility with which a king 
of France could always render himfelf matter of their 
determinations, fhould thefe depend upon a plurality of 
voices; and he finithed by ftrongly infinuating the pro¬ 
priety of deciding every queftion by a majority of the 
orders taken feparately. 
It was the misfortune of Necker, on this occafion, to 
be defirous of pleafing both parties, and of confequence 
he obtained the permanent confidence of neither ; the ac¬ 
clamations of the giddy multitude ftill indeed attended 
him, but feveral deputies.of the third efiate regarded al¬ 
ready with fufpicion the minifter who reprefented the 
meeting of the ftates-general merely as the eff’eCt of royal 
compliance, inftead of a conftitutional right. They were 
ftill lefs fatisfied with the fyftem he recommended, of de¬ 
ciding every queftion by a majority of orders, inftead of 
voices ; while the clergy and nobility recollected with in¬ 
dignation, that his counfels had fliaken their former fu- 
periority, and had fwelled the commons to equal in num¬ 
ber the other two eftates. But neither the unanimity re¬ 
commended by the king, nor the fyftem of policy incul¬ 
cated 
