A complete revolution in this government,
has, within the space of two years (for it began with the _Notables_
of 1787), been effected merely by the force of public opinion, aided,
indeed, by the want of money, which the dissipations of the court had
brought on. And this revolution has not cost a single life, unless we
charge to it a little riot lately in Bretagne, which began about the
price of bread, became afterwards political, and ended in the loss of
four or five lives. The assembly of the States General begins the 27th
of April. The representation of the people will be perfect. But they
will be alloyed by an equal number of nobility and clergy. The first
great question they will have to decide, will be, whether they shall
vote by orders or persons. And I have hopes, that the majority of the
Nobles are already disposed to join the _Tiers-Etat_, in deciding
that the vote shall be by persons. This is the opinion _a la mode_ at
present, and mode has acted a wonderful part in the present instance.
All the handsome young women, for example, are for the _Tiers-Etat_ and
this is an army more powerful in France, than the two hundred thousand
men of the King.
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