Despair has seized
every mind, and they have passed from an extreme of joy to one of
discontent. The parliament, therefore, oppose the registering any new
tax, and insist on an Assembly of the States General. The object of
this is to limit expenses, and dictate a constitution. The edict for
the stamp tax has been the subject of reiterated orders and refusals to
register. At length, the King has summoned the parliament to Versailles
to hold a bed of justice, in which he will order them, in person,
to register the edict. At the moment of my writing, they are gone to
Versailles for this purpose. There will yet remain to them, to protest
against the register, as forced, and to issue orders against its
execution on pain of death. But as the King would have no peaceable mode
of opposition left, it remains to be seen, whether they will push the
matter to this extremity. It is evident, I think, that the spirit of
this country is advancing towards a revolution in their constitution.
There are not wanting persons at the helm, friends to the progress
of this spirit. The Provincial Assemblies will be the most probable
instrument of effecting it.
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