The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
When the King passed, the next day, through the lane formed from the
Chateau to the "Hotel des etats," there was a dead silence. He was
about an hour in the House, delivering his speech and declaration.
On his coming out, a feeble cry of "vive le Roi" was raised by some
children, but the people remained silent and sullen. In the close of
his speech, he had ordered that the members should follow him, and
resume their deliberations the next day. The Noblesse followed him, and
so did the Clergy, except about thirty, who, with the Tiers, remained
in the room, and entered into deliberation. They protested against
what the King had done, adhered to all their former proceedings, and
resolved the inviolability of their own persons. An officer came, to
order them out of the room in the King's name. "Tell those who sent
you," said Mirabeau, "that we shall not move hence but at our own will,
or the point of the bayonet." In the afternoon, the people, uneasy,
began to assemble in great numbers in the courts, and vicinities of
the palace. This produced alarm. The Queen sent for M. Necker. He was
conducted, amidst the shouts and acclamations of the multitude, who
filled all the apartments of the palace. He was a few minutes only
with the Queen, and what passed between them did not transpire. The
King went out to ride. He passed through the crowd to his carriage, and
into it, without being in the least noticed. As M. Necker followed him,
universal acclamations were raised of "vive Monsieur Necker, vive le
sauveur de la France opprimée." He was conducted back to his house with
the same demonstrations of affection and anxiety. About two hundred
deputies of the Tiers, catching the enthusiasm of the moment, went to
his house, and extorted from him a promise that he would not resign.
On the 25th, forty-eight of the Nobles joined the Tiers, and among
them the Duke of Orleans. There were then with them one hundred and
sixty-four members of the Clergy, although the minority of that body
still sat apart, and called themselves the Chamber of the Clergy. On
the 26th, the Archbishop of Paris joined the Tiers, as did some others
of the Clergy and of the Noblesse.
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