moved faster than that of the two great conservative
bodies. It became urgent that the Government should
come to an early and resolute decision, and should occupy
ground that might be held against the surging democracy.
Necker judged that the position would be impregnable if
he stood upon the lines drawn by the Notables, and he
decided that the Commons should be equal to either order
singly, and not jointly to the two. In consultation with
a statesmanlike prelate, the Archbishop of Bordeaux, he
drew up and printed a report, refusing the desired increase. But as he sat anxiously watching the winds and the tide,
he began to doubt; and when letters came, warning him
that the nobles would be butchered if the decision went
in their favour, he took alarm. He said to his friends,
"If we do not multiply the Commons by two, they will
multiply themselves by ten." When the Archbishop saw
him again at Christmas, Necker assured him that the
Government was no longer strong enough to resist the
popular demand. But he was also determined that the
three houses should vote separately, that the Commons
should enjoy no advantage from their numbers in any
discussion where privilege was at stake, or the interest of classes was not identical. He hoped that the nobles
would submit to equal taxation of their own accord, and
that he would stand between them and any exorbitant
claim of equal political power.
On December 27 Necker's scheme was adopted by the Council. There was some division of opinion; but the king overruled it, and the queen, who was present, showed, without speaking, that she was there to support the measure. By this momentous act Lewis XVI., without being conscious of its significance, went over to the democracy. He said, in plain terms, to the French people: "Afford me the aid I require, so far as we have a common interest, and for that definite and appropriated assistance you shall have a princely reward. For you shall at once have a constitution of your own making, which shall limit the power of the Crown, leaving untouched the power and the dignity and the property of
