3. Saint-Priest, Letter to Louis XVI., Without Place or Date.

SIRE,—Your Majesty deigned to ask me yesterday my opinion upon the project presented by M. Necker, and more especially upon the proposition to order the first two orders to unite with the third to vote by head upon matters that do not interest each order in particular, and upon some other reserved points. Your brothers were of a contrary opinion, and held that the constitution of the kingdom should not be altered in any way, a principle that they applied to the form of voting under discussion.... I will not conceal from Your Majesty the fear that I have that the third estate, aroused as it is, will reject, for the vote by head, these reservations, so just, that are placed upon it; I fear even that they will murmur at the sovereign interference of Your Majesty at this time, such appears to me to be the feeling of the third estate, which has already led it to exceed the limits of its instructions and of justice.... We are only four ministers of state, men of age and experience, trained in considering both the domestic and the foreign affairs of the kingdom, and our opinions are unanimous in favor of the proposition made by one of us.