eneration of all the established institutions. It was visible to
every body that this new generation had discarded all the traditions and
prejudices of the old order of things; and its very age was a guarantee
opposite to established rule, and which required that every statesman
should by his age give pledges for the past, whilst from these was
required guarantees for the future. Their inexperience was made a merit,
their youth an oath. Old men are needed in times of tranquillity, young
ones in times of revolutions.

Scarcely was the Assembly constituted, than the twofold feeling that was
destined to dispute and contest every act--the monarchical and
republican feeling--commenced upon a frivolous pretext, a struggle,
puerile in appearance, serious in reality, and in which each party in
the course of two days was alternately the conqueror and the conquered.
The deputation that had waited on the king to announce to him the
constitution of the Assembly, reported the result of its mission through
the medium of the _depute_ Ducastel, the president of this deputation.
"We deliberated," said he, "as to what form of words we should make use
of in addressing his majesty, as we feared to wound the national dignity
or the royal dignity, and we agreed to use these terms:--'Sire, the
Assembly is formed, and has deputed us to inform your majesty.' We
proceeded to the Tuileries; the minister of justice announced to us that
the king could not receive us before to-day at one o'clock. We, however,
thought that the public safety required that we should be instantly
admitted to the king's presence, and we therefore persisted. The king
then informed us he would give us audience at nine o'clock, at which
hour we again presented ourselves. At four paces distance from the king
I saluted him, and addressed him in the terms agreed upon; he inquired
the names of my colleagues, and I replied, 'I do not know them;' we were
about to withdraw, when he recalled us, saying, 'I cannot see you before
Friday.'"

An ill-repressed agitation, which had hitherto pervaded the ranks of the
Assembly, now broke forth at these last words. "I demand," cried a
deputy, "that this title of Majesty be no longer employed." "I demand,"
added another, "that this title of Sire be abolished; it is only an
abbreviation of Seigneur, which recognises a sovereignty in the man to
whom it is given." "I demand," said the deputy Bequet, "that we be no
longer treated as automata, o