The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (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
They procured a committee to be held, consisting of the King and his
ministers, to which Monsieur and the Count d'Artois should be admitted. At
this committee, the latter attacked Mr. Neckar personally, arraigned his
plans, and proposed one which some of his engines had put into his hands.
Mr. Neckar, whose characteristic is the want of firmness, was browbeaten
and intimidated, and the King shaken. He determined that the two plans
should be deliberated on the next day, and the _seance royale_ put off a
day longer. This encouraged a fiercer attack on Mr. Neckar the next day;
his plan was totally dislocated, and that of the Count d'Artois inserted
into it. Himself and Monsieur de Montmorin offered their resignation,
which was refused; the Count d'Artois saying to Mr. Neckar, "No, Sir,
you must be kept as the hostage; we hold you responsible for all the ill
which shall happen." This change of plan was immediately whispered without
doors. The nobility were in triumph, the people in consternation. When
the King passed the next day through the lane they formed from the Chateau
to the Hotel des Etats (about half a mile), there was a dead silence. He
was about an hour in the House, delivering his speech and declaration,
copies of which I enclose you. On his coming out, a feeble cry of "_vive
le roy_" was raised by some children, but the people remained silent and
sullen. When the Duke d'Orleans followed, however, their applauses were
excessive. This must have been sensible to the King. He had ordered, in
the close of his speech, 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 twice to order
them out of the room, in the King's name, but they refused to obey. In
the afternoon, the people, uneasy, began to assemble in great numbers in
the courts and vicinities of the palace. The Queen was alarmed, and sent
for Mr. Neckar. 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 about three-quarters of an hour with
the King. Not a word has transpired of what passed at these interviews.
The King was just going to ride out. He passed through the crowd to his
carriage, and into it, without being in the least noticed. As Mr. Neckar
followed him, universal acclamations were raised of "Vive Monsieur Neckar,
vive la 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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