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is obliged to tolerate them when they become mere sham and
buffoonery。 At this vast national banquet； over which it meant to
preside； and to which； throwing the doors wide open； it invited all
France； its first intoxication was due to wine of a noble quality；
but it has touched glasses with the populace； and by degrees； under
the pressure of its associates； it has descended to adulterated and
burning drinks； to a grotesque unwholesome inebriety which is all
the more grotesque and unwholesome； because it persists in believing
itself to be reason。
II。
Inadequacy of its information … Its composition … The social
standing and culture of the larger number … Their incapacity。
Their presumption … Fruitless advice of competent men。… Deductive
politics … Parties … The minority； its faults … The majority； its
dogmatism。
If reason could only resume its empire during the lucid intervals！
But reason must exist before it can govern； and in no French
Assembly； except the two following this； have there ever been fewer
political intellects。 … Strictly speaking； with careful search；
there could undoubtedly be found in France； in 1789； five or six
hundred experienced men； such as the intendants and military
commanders of every province； next to these the prelates；
administrators of large dioceses the members of the local
〃parlements；〃 whose courts gave them influence； and who； besides
judicial functions； possessed a portion of administrative power； and
finally； the principal members of the Provincial Assemblies； all of
them influential and sensible people who had exercised control over
men and affairs； at once humane； liberal； moderate； and capable of
understanding the difficulty； as well as the necessity； of a great
reform； indeed； their correspondence； full of facts； stated with
precision and judgment； when compared with the doctrinaire rubbish
of the Assembly； presents the strongest possible contrast。 … But
most of these lights remain under a bushel； only a few of them get
into the Assembly； these burn without illuminating； and are soon
extinguished in the tempest。' I。 The venerable Machault is not there；
nor Malesherbes； there are none of the old ministers or the marshals
of France。 Not one of the intendants is there； except Malouet； and
by the superiority of this man； the most judicious of the Assembly；
one can judge the services which his colleagues would have rendered。
Out of two hundred and ninety…one members of the clergy；＇17＇ there
are indeed forty…eight bishops or archbishops and thirty…five abbots
or canons； but； being prelates and with large endowments； they
excite the envy of their order； and are generals without any
soldiers。 We have the same spectacle among the nobles。 Most of
them； the gentry of the provinces； have been elected in opposition
to the grandees of the Court。 Moreover； neither the grandees of
the Court； devoted to worldly pursuits； nor the gentry of the
provinces； confined to private life； are practically familiar with
public affairs。 A small group among them； twenty…eight magistrates
and about thirty superior officials who have held command or have
been connected with the administration； probably have some idea of
the peril of society； but it is precisely for this reason that they
seem to be behind the age and remain without influence。 … In the
Third…Estate； out of five hundred and seventy…seven members； only
ten have exercised any important functions； those of intendant；
councillor of state； receiver…general； lieutenant of police；
director of the mint； and others of the same category。 The great
majority is composed of unknown lawyers and people occupying
inferior positions in the profession； notaries； royal attorneys；
register commissaries； judges and assessors of； the présidial；
bailiffs and lieutenants of the bailiwick； simple practitioners
confined from their youth to the narrow circle of an inferior
jurisdiction or to a routine of scribbling； with no escape but
philosophical excursions in imaginary space under the guidance of
Rousseau and Raynal。 There are three hundred and seventy…three of
this class； to whom may be added thirty…eight farmers and
husbandmen； fifteen physicians； and； among the manufacturers；
merchants； and capitalists； some fifty or sixty who are their equals
in education and in political capacity。 Scarcely one hundred and
fifty proprietors are here from the middle class。＇18＇ To these four
hundred and fifty deputies； whose condition； education； instruction；
and mental range qualified them for being good clerks； prominent men
in a commune； honorable fathers of a family； or； at best；
provincial academicians； add two hundred and eight curés； their
equals； this makes six hundred and fifty out of eleven hundred and
eighteen deputies； forming a positive majority； which； again； is
augmented by about fifty philosophical nobles； leaving out the weak
who follow the current； and the ambitious who range themselves on
the strong side。 … We may divine what a chamber thus made up can
do； and those who are familiar with such matters prophesy what it
will do。＇19＇
〃There are some able men in the National Assembly；〃 writes the
American minister； 〃yet the best heads among them would not be
injured by experience； and； unfortunately； there are great numbers
who； with much imagination； have little knowledge； judgment； or
reflection。〃
It would be just as sensible to select eleven hundred notables from
an inland province and entrust them to the repair of an old frigate。
They would conscientiously break the vessel up； and the frigate they
would construct in its place would founder before it left port。
If they would only consult the pilots and professional shipbuilders！
There are several of such to be found around them； whom they
cannot suspect； for most of them are foreigners； born in free
countries； impartial； sympathetic； and； what is more； unanimous。
The Minister of the United States writes； two months before the
convocation of the States…General：＇20＇
〃I； a republican； and just； as it were； emerged from that Assembly
which has formed one of the most republican of republican
constitutions； … I preach incessantly respect for the prince；
attention to the rights of the nobility； and moderation； not only in
the object； but also in the pursuit of it。〃
Jefferson； a democrat and radical； expresses himself no
differently。 At the time of the oath of the Tennis Court； he
redoubles his efforts to induce Lafayette and other patriots to make
some arrangement with the King to secure freedom of the press；
religious； liberty； trial by jury； the habeas corpus； and a national
legislature； … things which he could certainly be made to adopt； …
and then to retire into private life； and let these institutions act
upon the condition of the people until they had rendered it capable
of further progress； with the assurance that there would be no lack
of opp