The moment of
crisis will be the meeting of the States; because their first act will
be, to decide whether they shall vote by persons or by orders. The
clergy will leave nothing unattempted to obtain the latter; for they see
that the spirit of reformation will not confine itself to the political,
but will extend to the ecclesiastical establishment also. With respect
to the nobles, the younger members are generally for the people, and the
middle aged are daily coming over to the same side: so that by the time
the States meet, we may hope there will be a majority of that body,
also, in favor of the people, and consequently for voting by persons,
and not by orders.
You will perceive, by the report of Mr. Necker (in the gazette of
France), 1. a renewal of the renunciation of the power of imposing a new
tax by the King, and a like renunciation of the power of continuing any
old one; 2. an acknowledgment that the States are to appropriate the
public monies, which will go to the binding the court to a civil list;
3. a consent to the periodical meeting of the States; 4. to consider of
the restrictions of which _lettres de cachet_ are susceptible; 5.
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