autobiography-第20部分

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n　opinions；　compelled　to　deliver；　and　to　gloss　over　those　of　his　opponents；　and　even　to　keep　their　secrets；　he　could　not　come　forward　in　his　own　attitude。

　　　　　　　　The　composition　of　the　assembly；　altho'　equivalent　on　the　whole　to　what　had　been　expected；　was　something　different　in　it's　elements。　It　has　been　supposed　that　a　superior　education　would　carry　into　the　scale　of　the　Commons　a　respectable　portion　of　the　Noblesse。　　It　did　so　as　to　those　of　Paris；　of　it's　vicinity　and　of　the　other　considerable　cities；　whose　greater　intercourse　with　enlightened　society　had　liberalized　their　minds；　and　prepared　them　to　advance　up　to　the　measure　of　the　times。　　But　the　Noblesse　of　the　country；　which　constituted　two　thirds　of　that　body；　were　far　in　their　rear。　Residing　constantly　on　their　patrimonial　feuds；　and　familiarized　by　daily　habit　with　Seigneurial　powers　and　practices；　they　had　not　yet　learned　to　suspect　their　inconsistence　with　reason　and　right。　　They　were　willing　to　submit　to　equality　of　taxation；　but　not　to　descend　from　their　rank　and　prerogatives　to　be　incorporated　in　session　with　the　tiers　etat。　　Among　the　clergy；　on　the　other　hand；　it　had　been　apprehended　that　the　higher　orders　of　the　hierarchy；　by　their　wealth　and　connections；　would　have　carried　the　elections　generally。　　But　it　proved　that　in　most　cases　the　lower　clergy　had　obtained　the　popular　majorities。　　These　consisted　of　the　Cures；　sons　of　the　peasantry　who　had　been　employed　to　do　all　the　drudgery　of　parochial　services　for　10。　20。　or　30　Louis　a　year；　while　their　superiors　were　consuming　their　princely　revenues　in　palaces　of　luxury　&　indolence。

　　　　　　　　The　objects　for　which　this　body　was　convened　being　of　the　first　order　of　importance；　I　felt　it　very　interesting　to　understand　the　views　of　the　parties　of　which　it　was　composed；　and　especially　the　ideas　prevalent　as　to　the　organization　contemplated　for　their　government。　　I　went　therefore　daily　from　Paris　to　Versailles；　and　attended　their　debates；　generally　till　the　hour　of　adjournment。　Those　of　the　Noblesse　were　impassioned　and　tempestuous。　　They　had　some　able　men　on　both　sides；　and　actuated　by　equal　zeal。　　The　debates　of　the　Commons　were　temperate；　rational　and　inflexibly　firm。　　As　preliminary　to　all　other　business；　the　awful　questions　came　on；　Shall　the　States　sit　in　one；　or　in　distinct　apartments？　　And　shall　they　vote　by　heads　or　houses？　　The　opposition　was　soon　found　to　consist　of　the　Episcopal　order　among　the　clergy；　and　two　thirds　of　the　Noblesse；　while　the　tiers　etat　were；　to　a　man；　united　and　determined。　　After　various　propositions　of　compromise　had　failed；　the　Commons　undertook　to　cut　the　Gordian　knot。　　The　Abbe　Sieyes；　the　most　logical　head　of　the　nation；　（author　of　the　pamphlet　Qu'est　ce　que　le　tiers　etat？　which　had　electrified　that　country；　as　Paine's　Common　sense　did　us）　after　an　impressive　speech　on　the　10th　of　June；　moved　that　a　last　invitation　should　be　sent　to　the　Nobles　and　Clergy；　to　attend　in　the　Hall　of　the　States；　collectively　or　individually　for　the　verification　of　powers；　to　which　the　commons　would　proceed　immediately；　either　in　their　presence　or　absence。　　This　verification　being　finished；　a　motion　was　made；　on　the　15th。　that　they　should　constitute　themselves　a　National　assembly；　which　was　decided　on　the　17th。　by　a　majority　of　four　fifths。　　During　the　debates　on　this　question；　about　twenty　of　the　Cures　had　joined　them；　and　a　proposition　was　made　in　the　chamber　of　the　clergy　that　their　whole　body　should　join　them。　　This　was　rejected　at　first　by　a　small　majority　only；　but；　being　afterwards　somewhat　modified；　it　was　decided　affirmatively；　by　a　majority　of　eleven。　　While　this　was　under　debate　and　unknown　to　the　court；　to　wit；　on　the　19th。　a　council　was　held　in　the　afternoon　at　Marly；　wherein　it　was　proposed　that　the　King　should　interpose　by　a　declaration　of　his　sentiments；　in　a　_seance　royale。_　A　form　of　declaration　was　proposed　by　Necker；　which；　while　it　censured　in　general　the　proceedings　both　of　the　Nobles　and　Commons；　announced　the　King's　views；　such　as　substantially　to　coincide　with　the　Commons。　　It　was　agreed　to　in　council；　the　_seance_　was　fixed　for　the　22d。　the　meetings　of　the　States　were　till　then　to　be　suspended；　and　everything；　in　the　meantime；　kept　secret。　　The　members　the　next　morning　（20th。）　repairing　to　their　house　as　usual；　found　the　doors　shut　and　guarded；　a　proclamation　posted　up　for　a　seance　royale　on　the　22d。　and　a　suspension　of　their　meetings　in　the　meantime。　　Concluding　that　their　dissolution　was　now　to　take　place；　they　repaired　to　a　building　called　the　〃Jeu　de　paume〃　（or　Tennis　court）　and　there　bound　themselves　by　oath　to　each　other；　never　to　separate　of　their　own　accord；　till　they　had　settled　a　constitution　for　the　nation；　on　a　solid　basis；　and　if　separated　by　force；　that　they　would　reassemble　in　some　other　place。　　The　next　day　they　met　in　the　church　of　St。　Louis；　and　were　joined　by　a　majority　of　the　clergy。　　The　heads　of　the　Aristocracy　saw　that　all　was　lost　without　some　bold　exertion。　　The　King　was　still　at　Marly。　　Nobody　was　permitted　to　approach　him　but　their　friends。　　He　was　assailed　by　falsehoods　in　all　shapes。　　He　was　made　to　believe　that　the　Commons　were　about　to　absolve　the　army　from　their　oath　of　fidelity　to　him；　and　to　raise　their　pay。　　The　court　party　were　now　all　rage　and　desperate。　　They　procured　a　committee　to　be　held　consisting　of　the　King　and　his　ministers；　to　which　Monsieur　&　the　Count　d'Artois　should　be　admitted。　　At　this　committee　the　latter　attacked　Mr。　Necker　personally；　arraigned　his　declaration；　and　proposed　one　which　some　of　his　prompters　had　put　into　his　hands。　　Mr。　Necker　was　brow…beaten　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。　Necker　the　next　day。　　His　draught　of　a　declaration　was　entirely　broken　up；　&　that　of　the　Count　d'Artois　inserted　into　it。　　Himself　and　Montmorin　offered　their　resignation；　which　was　refused；　the　Count　d'Artois　saying　to　Mr。　Necker　〃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　Noblesse　were　in　triumph；　the　people　in　consternation。　　I　was　quite　alarmed　at　this　state　of　things。　　The　soldiery　had　not　yet　indicated　which　side　they　should　take；　and　that　which　they　should　support　would　be　sure　to　prevail。　　I　considered　a　successful　reformation　of　government　in　France；　as　ensuring　a　general　reformation　thro　Europe；　and　the　resurrection；　to　a　new　life；　of　their　people；　now　ground　to　dust　by　the　abuses　of　the　governing　powers。　　I　was　much　acquainted　with　the　leading　patriots　of　the　assembly。　　Being　from　a　country　which　had　successfully　passed　thro'　a　similar　reformation；　they　were　disposed　to　my　acquaintance；　and　had　some　confidence　in　me。　　I　urged　most　strenuously　an　immediate　compromise；　to　secure　what　the　government　was　now　ready　to　yield；　and　trust　to　future　occasions　for　what　might　still　be　wanting。　　It　was　well　understood　that　the　King　would　grant　at　this　time　1。　　Freedom　of　the　person　by　Habeas　corpus。　　2。　Freedom　of　conscience。　　3。　Freedom　of　the　press。　　4。　Trial　by　jury。　　5。　A　representative　legislature。　6。　Annual　meetings。　　7。　The　origination　of　laws。　　8。　The　exclusive　right　of　taxation　and　appropriation。　　And　9。　The　responsibility　of　ministers；　and　with　the　exercise　of　these　powers　they　would　obtain　in　future　whatever　might　be　further　necessary　to　improve　and　preserve　their　constitution。　　They　thought　otherwise　however；　and　events　have　proved　their　lamentable　error。　　For　after　30。　years　of　war；　foreign　and　domestic；　the　loss　of　millions　of　lives；　the　prostration　of　private　happiness；　and　foreign　subjugation　of　their　own　country　for　a　time；　they　have　obtained　no　more；　nor　even　that　securely。　　They　were　unconscious　of　（for　who　could　foresee？）　the　melancholy　sequel　of　their　well…meant　perseverance；　that　their　physical　force　would　be　usurped　by　a　first　tyrant　to　trample　on　the　independance；　and　even　the　existence；　of　other　nations：　that　this　would　afford　fatal　example　for　the　atrocious　conspiracy　of　Kings　against　their　people；　would　generate　their　unholy　and　homicide　alliance　to　make　common　cause　among　themselves；　and　to　crush；　by　the　power　of　the　whole；　the　efforts　of　any　part；　to　moderate　their　abuses　and　oppressions。

　　　　　　　　When　the　King　passed；　the　next　day；　thro'　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　&　declaration。　　On　his　coming　out　a　feeble　cry　of　〃Vive　le　Roy〃　was　raised　by　some　children；　but　the　people　remained　silent　&　sullen。　　In　the　close　of　his　speech　he　had　ordered　that　the　members　should　follow　him；　&　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　Mr。　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　thro'　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　Monsr。　Neckar；　vive　le　sauveur　de　la　France　opprimee。〃　He　was　conducted　back　to　his　house　with　the　same　demonstrations　of　affection　and　anxiety。　　About　200。　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。　48。　of　the　Nobles　joined　the　tiers；　&　among　them　the　D。　of　Orleans。　　There　were　then　wi