William Rotch
Memorandum, Continued...
part 10
our son Benjamin in health, and greatly rejoiced to receive his Wife
and Child, as well as to see us.
Early in the Year 1791 I was called upon with my Son to attend
the National Assembly at Paris -- We were joined by John Marsillac
in presenting a Petition to that Body for some privileges and
exemptions connected with our religions principles.
The Petition was drawn by John Marsillac before we reached
Paris, and notice given that it must be presented in the next day.
On perusing it, we found some material alterations necessary.
And in some instances it was difficult to express in French the alter-
ations we made in English, without losing their force. My not
understanding the French Language it was impossible to have such
expressions inserted as I thought necessary -- And the time was so
short, that we were obliged to let it pass with much fewer amend-
ments than we wished.
The hour was come for presenting it, and the previous notice
given of the Quaker Petition, I suppose drew every Member in
Town to his seat. The Galleries for Spectators were filled, and
many could not be accommodated, nor did we wonder at their
curiosity, considering the novelty of the Object.
We had been, with Brissot De Warville, Clavier, and some others
looking over the Petition until the latest moment, and must now
proceed to the Assembly. They with several others had come to
accompany us, and just as we were moving, One observed, "You
have no Cockades -- You must put them on? We told them we
could not -- It was a distinguishing Badge that we could not make
use of. "But," said they, "it is required by Law, to prevent dis-
tinction, that people may not be abused, for their lives are in danger
without them, and there is always a large Body of the lower classes
about the Assembly that we have to pass through."
Our answer was, that we could not do it, whatever might be the consequence --
That we were willing to go as far as we could, and if stopped, we
must submit to it -- We saw that our friends were full of fear for
our safety. We set out under no small apprehension, but trusting
to that Power that can turn the hearts of Men as a water course is
turned, we passed through this great Concourse without interrup-
tion, and reached the waiting room of the Assembly.
A Messenger informed the President of our arrival, and we were
immediately called to the Bar.
John Marsillac read the Petition, with Brissot at his elbow, to
correct him in his emphasis, which he frequently did, unperceived
I believe except by us. At the close of every subject, there was a
general clapping of hands, and the Officers whose business it was,
endeavoring to hush them that the reading might proceed, this
hushing I thought was hissing, from my ignorance of the language,
and apprehended all was going wrong, until better informed.
After the reading was concluded, the President Mirabeau read his
answer. The clapping was repeated at the end of every subject --.
at the close, the President said–"The Assembly invites you to stay
its Sitting."
As we were passing to the seats assigned us, a person touched
Benjamin, and said, "I rejoice to see something of your principles
brought before this Assembly." He did not know who it was. After
we were seated, several Members came to us for conversation on
the subject of our principles. We remained until the Assembly
rose, and then retired to our lodgings.
We next found that a visit to the influential Members, in their
private Hotels, was necessary, to impress them with the reasonable-
ness of our requests. We accordingly proceeded, John Marsillac,
Benjamin & myself, and met with polite reception from all except
two, and nothing more than a careless indifference from them. One
was Bernard, a young man of good talents, but great vanity -- At
our approach he offered us no seats, but threw himself on his Sofa
at great ease, which we were told was his common attitude, when
Applicants of much more consequence than we were came into his
presence. The other was Tallyrand. -- After endeavoring to impress
him with the foundation of our Petition, he made no reply, but let
us pass silently away.
We generally found a number of persons with the members we
visited, not of the Assembly, but Applicants, soliciting their inter-
est for the different Objects they were pursuing -- and the features
of our Petition always led to an opportunity of opening our prin-
ciples at large, particularly that respecting War. They invariably
enquired and listened with great attention, and seldom was any op-
position expressed. We had much conversation with Bishop Greg-
ory, who was a very catholic man, liberal in his sentiments, and
much esteemed -- and also with Rabant De St Etienne then Bishop
of Autun. He was a very valuable man, and I believe was a bless-
ing to many over whom he presided. He was one that fell a victim
to the Guillotine under the sanguinary Reign of Robespierre -- He
inclined to converse much on non-resistance, and finally, thus
summed up what he considered the view of its advocates, and of
pure Christianity --
"If an assassin comes, to take my life, and I conscientiously re
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