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de Montlosier ironically proposes 〃to give the galleries a voice in
the deliberations。〃＇2＇ Another member wishes to know whether the
representatives are so many actors； whom the nation sends there to
endure the hisses of the Paris public。 Interruptions； in fact； take
place as in a theater； and； frequently； if the members do not give
satisfaction； they are forced to desist。 On the other hand； the
deputies who are popular with this energetic audience； on which they
keep and eye； are actors before the footlights： they involuntarily
yield to its influence； and exaggerate their ideas as well as their
words to be in unison with it。 Tumult and violence； under such
circumstances； become a matter of course； and the chances of an
Assembly acting wisely are diminished by one…half； on becoming a
club of agitators； it ceases to be a conclave of legislators。
Let us enter and see how this one proceeds。 Thus encumbered； thus
surrounded and agitated； does it take at least those precautions
without which no assembly of men can govern itself。 When several
hundred persons assemble together for deliberation； it is evident
that some sort of an internal police is necessary； first of all；
some code of accepted usage； some written precedents； by which its
acts may be prepared and defined； considered in detail； and properly
passed。 The best of these codes it ready to hand： at the request
of Mirabeau； Romilly has sent over the standing orders of the
English House of Commons。＇3｝ But with the presumption of novices；
they pay no attention to this code； they imagine it is needless for
them； they will borrow nothing from foreigners； they accord no
authority to experience； and； not content with rejecting the forms
it prescribes； 〃it is with difficulty they can be made to follow any
rule whatever。〃 They leave the field open to the impulsiveness of
individuals； any kind of influence； even that of a deputy； even of
one elected by themselves； is suspected by them； hence their choice
of a new president every fortnight。 … They submit to no constraint
or control； neither to the legal authority of a parliamentary code；
nor to the moral authority of parliamentary chiefs。 They are
without any such； they are not organized in parties； neither on one
side nor on the other is a recognized leader found who fixes the
time； arranges the debate； draws up the motion； assigns parts； and
gives the rein to or restrains his supporters。 Mirabeau is the
only one capable of obtaining this ascendancy； but； on the opening
of the Assembly； he is discredited by the notoriety of his vices；
and； towards the last； is compromised by his connections with the
Court。 No other is of sufficient eminence to have any influence；
there is too much of average and too little of superior talent。 …
Their self…esteem is； moreover； as yet too strong to allow any
concessions。 Each of these improvised legislators has come
satisfied with his own system； and to submit to a leader to whom he
would entrust his political conscience； to make of him what three
out of four of these deputies should be； a voting machine； would
require an apprehension of danger； some painful experience； an
enforced surrender which he is far from realizing。＇4＇ For this
reason； save in the violent party； each acts as his own chief；
according to the impulse of the moment； and the confusion may be
imagined。 Strangers who witness it； lift their hands in pity and
astonishment。 〃They discuss nothing in their Assembly；〃 writes
Gouverneur Morris；＇5＇ 〃One large half of the time is spent in
hallowing and bawling。。。。 Each Man permitted to speak delivers the
Result of his Lubrications；〃 amidst this noise； taking his turn as
inscribed； without replying to his predecessor； or being replied to
by his successor； without ever meeting argument by argument； so
that while the firing is interminable； 〃all their shots are fired in
the air。〃 Before this 〃frightful clatter〃 can be reported； the
papers of the day are obliged to make all sorts of excisions； to
prune away 〃nonsense；〃 and reduce the 〃inflated and bombastic
style。〃 Chatter and clamor； that is the whole substance of most of
these famous sittings。
〃You would hear；〃 says a journalist； 〃more yells than speeches； the
sittings seemed more likely to end in fights than in decrees。 。 。 。
Twenty times I said to myself； on leaving； that if anything could
arrest and turn the tide of the Revolution； it would be a picture of
these meetings traced without caution or adaptation。 。 。 All my
efforts were therefore directed to represent the truth； without
rendering it repulsive。 Out of what had been merely a row； I
concocted a scene。 。 。 I gave all the sentiments； but not always in
the same words。 I translated their yells into words； their furious
gestures into attitudes； and when I could not inspire esteem； I
endeavored to rouse the emotions。〃
There is no remedy for this evil； for； besides the absence of
discipline； there is an inward and fundamental cause for the
disorder。 These people are too susceptible。 They are Frenchmen；
and Frenchmen of the eighteenth century； brought up in the amenities
of the utmost refinement； accustomed to deferential manners； to
constant kind attentions and mutual obligations； so thoroughly
imbued with the instinct of good breeding that their conversation
seems almost insipid to strangers。＇6＇ And suddenly they find
themselves on the thorny soil of politics； exposed to insulting
debates； flat contradictions； venomous denunciation； constant
detraction and open invective； engaged in a battle in which every
species of weapon peculiar to a parliamentary life is employed； and
in which the hardiest veterans are scarcely able to keep cool。
Judge of the effect of all this on inexperienced； highly strung
nerves； on men of the world accustomed to the accommodations and
amiabilities of universal urbanity。 They are at once beside
themselves。 … And all the more so because they never anticipated a
battle； but； on the contrary； a festival； a grand and charming
idyll； in which everybody； hand in hand； would assemble in tears
around the throne and save the country amid mutual embraces。
Necker himself arranges； like a theater； the chamber in which the
sessions of the Assembly are to be held。＇7＇ 〃He was not disposed to
regard the Assemblies of the States…General as anything but a
peaceful； imposing； solemn； august spectacle； which the people would
enjoy；〃 and when the idyll suddenly changes into a drama； he is so
frightened that it seems to him as if a landslide had occurred that
threatened； during the night； to break down the framework of the
building。 … At the time of the meeting of the States…General；
everybody is delighted； all imagine that they are about to enter the
promised land。 During the procession of the 4thof May；
〃tears of joy；〃 says the Marquis de Ferrières； 〃filled my eyes。 。 。
。 In a state of sweet rapture