TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, June 29, 1789.

Sir,

My letter of the 25th gave you the transactions of the States General to the afternoon of that day.  On the next, the Archbishop of Paris joined the Tiers, as did some others of the Clergy and Noblesse.  On the 27th, the question of the St. Domingo deputation came on, and it was decided that it should be received.  I have before mentioned to you the ferment into which the proceedings at the seance royale of the 23rd had thrown the people.  The soldiery also were affected by it.  It began in the French guards, extended to those of every other denomination (except the Swiss), and even to the body-guards of the King.  They began to quit their barracks, to assemble in squads, to declare they would defend the life of the King, but would not cut the throats of their fellow-citizens.  They were treated and caressed by the people, carried in triumph through the streets, called themselves the soldiers of the nation, and left no doubt on which side they would be, in case of a rupture.  Similar accounts came in from the troops in other parts of the kingdom, as well those which had not heard of the seance royale, as those which had, and gave good reason to apprehend that the soldiery, in general, would side with their fathers and brothers, rather than with their officers.  The operation of this medicine, at Versailles, was as sudden as it was powerful.  The alarm there was so complete, that in the afternoon of the 27th, the King wrote a letter to the President of the Clergy, the Cardinal de la Rochefoucault, in these words:  [* A translation is here given.]

* My Cousin, Wholly engaged in promoted the general good of my kingdom, and desirous, above all things, that the Assembly of the States General should apply themselves to objects of general interest, after the voluntary acceptance by your order of my declaration of the 23rd of the present month; I pass my word that my faithful Clergy will, without delay, unite themselves with the other two orders, to hasten the accomplishment of my paternal views.  Those whose powers are too limited, may decline voting until new powers are procured.  This will be a new mark of attachment which my Clergy will give me.  I pray God, my Cousin, to have you in his holy keeping.  LOUIS.’

A like letter was written to the Duke de Luxemburgh, President of the Noblesse.  The two chambers entered into debate on the question, whether they should obey the letter of the King.  There was a considerable opposition; when notes written by the Count d’Artois to sundry members, and handed about among the rest, decided the matter, and they went in a body and took their seats with the Tiers, and thus rendered the union of the orders in one chamber complete.  As soon as this was known to the people of Versailles, they assembled about the palace, demanded the King and Queen, who came and showed themselves