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this time, 1. Freedom of the person by Habeas corpus : 2. Free dom of conscience : 3. Freedom of the press : 4. Trial by jury : 5. A representative Legislature : 6. Annual meetings : 7. The origination of laws : 8. The exclusive right of taxation and ap propriation : and 9. The responsibility of Ministers : and with the exercise of these powers they could obtain, in future, whatever might be further necessary to improve and preserve their constitu tion. They thought otherwise, however, and events have proved their lamentable error. For, after thirty years of war, foreign and domestic, the loss of millions of lives, the prostration of private hap piness, and the foreign subjugation of their own country for a time, they have obtained no more, nor even that securely. They were unconscious of, (for who could foresee ?) the melancholy sequel of their well-meant perseverance ; that their physical force would be usurped by a first tyrant to trample on the independence, and even the existence, of other nations : that this would afford a fatal example for the atrocious conspiracy of Kings against their people ; would generate their unholy and homicide alliance to make common cause among themselves, and to crush, by the power of the whole, the efforts of any part, to moderate their abuses and oppressions.
When the King passed, the next day, through the lane formed from the Chateau to the Hotel des etats, there was a dead si lence. He was about an hour in the House, delivering his speech and declaration. On his coming out, a feeble cry of vive le roy was raised by some children, but the people remained silent and sullen. In the close of his speech, he had ordered that the mem bers should follow him, and resume their deliberations the next day. The Noblesse followed him, and so did the Clergy, except about thirty, who, with the Tiers, remained in the room, and enter ed into deliberation. They protested against what the King had done, adhered to all their former proceedings, and resolved the inviolability of their own persons. An officer came, to order them out of the room in the King s name. Tell those who sent you, said Mirabeau, l that we shall not move hence but at our own will, or the point of the bayonet. In the afternoon, the people, uneasy, began to assemble in great numbers in the courts, and vicinities of the palace. This produced alarm. The Queen sent for Mr. Necker. He was conducted, amidst the shouts and acclamations of the multitude, who filled all the apartments of the palace. He was a few minutes only with the Queen, and what passed between them did not transpire. The King went out to ride. He passed through the crowd to his carriage, and into it, without being in the least noticed. As Mr. Necker followed him, universal acclama tions were raised of vive Monsieur Necker, vive le sauveur de la
