The Parlement of Paris, an aristocratic advisory…
February 1789 CE
As one hundred and seventy-five years have gone by since then, it is clear the Estates are not a functional institution in French society.
By reviving them as much as possible like they had been, the King and the Parlement intend to control the authority of the people.
The previous Estates had voted by order; that is, the Nobles and the Clergy could together outvote the Commons by two to one.
If on the other hand, each delegate were to have one vote, the majority would prevail.
The issue had been widely discussed in the press during the autumn of 1788.
The people will nevertheless accept any national convention confident that enough members of the Nobility and the Clergy will be with them to sway the votes.
A National Party is formed.
It argues that France has never had a constitution and the proper function of the Convention is to establish one.
The royalist defenders, however, accept the absolute monarchy as the constitution.
The press, just to be certain, begins to demand that the Commons be allocated twice as many delegates as each of the other two Estates.
The King, in an attempt to bolster his failing popularity, accedes to this measure of "doubling the Third."
He is confident of his influence over the Nobility and Clergy.