The warrant expected from M. Necker, for the convocation of the Etats Généraux, had appeared. For the first time, a great nation, or a great kingdom, as M. Dampierre said, admitted all its members to political rights.
No sooner had the warrant appeared (which can be translated in these words:—“All will assemble to elect; all will write their grievances in the books given to them for that purpose”) than all France thrilled, as it were, with an electric shock, and the people leapt from darkness into light.
That cry, treasured up for two centuries, becomes stronger and stronger every day. They complain that the year 1788 was barren; that the winter was bitterly cold; that the famine in the following spring was terrible.
They went to the municipality of St. Menehould, to write in the books; and my capital penmanship procured me the office of secretary.
Afterwards, they went to election. MM. Drouet, Guillaume, and Billaud exercised enormous influence.
M. Dampierre was balloted with a poor parish priest. The priest prevailed over him.
The event deceived all. The Etats, which ought to have opened on the 27th of April, were adjourned to the 4th of May.
The Court was frightened, and delayed the matter as long as it could.
All France had its eyes turned to Paris. Every hour brought forth unexpected events.