Committees of conciliation having failed in their endeavors to bring together the three chambers of the States General, the King proposed a specific mode of verifying their powers; for that having been the first question which presented itself to them, was the one in which the question of voting by persons or orders was first brought on.  The clergy accepted unconditionally.  The Noblesse accepted on conditions which reduced the acceptance to nothing at all.  The Commons considered this as a refusal on the part of the Nobles, and thereupon took their definitive resolution, to invite the other two orders to come and verify their powers in common, and to notify them they should proceed with or without them to verify, and to do the business of the nation.  This was on the 10th.  On the 15th, they moved to declare themselves the National Assembly.  The debates on this were finished yesterday, when the proposition was agreed to, by four hundred and odd, against eighty odd.  The minority agreed in substance, but wished some particular amendment.  They then immediately made the proposition relative to taxes, which I enclose you, as this moment stated to me, by memory, by a member who left the Assembly a little before the question, because there was no opposition to the matter, but only to the form.  He assures me, on the information of another member who was present, that Target’s motion passed.  We shall know, I think, within a day or two, whether the government will risk a bankruptcy and civil war, rather than see all distinction of orders done way, which is what the Commons will push for.  If the fear of the former alternative prevails, they will spin the matter into negotiation.  The Commons have in their chamber almost all the talents of the nation; they are firm and bold, yet moderate.  There is indeed, among them, a number of very hot-headed members; but those of most influence are cool, temperate, and sagacious.  Every step of this House has been marked with caution and wisdom.  The Noblesse, on the contrary, are absolutely out of their senses.  They are so furious, they can seldom debate at all.  They have few men of moderate talents, and not one of great, in the majority.  Their proceedings have been very injudicious.  The Clergy are waiting to profit of every incident to secure themselves, and have no other object in view.  Among the Commons, there is an entire unanimity on the great question of voting by persons.  Among the Noblesse, there are about sixty for the Commons, and about three times that number against them.  Among the Clergy, about twenty have already come over and joined the Commons, and in the course of a few days, they will be joined by many more, not indeed making the majority of that House, but very near it.  The Bishops and Archbishops have been very successful by bribes and intrigues, in detaching the Cures from the Commons, to whom they were at first attached to a man.  The Commons are about, five hundred and fifty-four in number,