4360. LAFAYETTE (Marquis de), Hampered by instructions.—[continued].
I am in great pain for
the Marquis de Lafayette. His principles, you
know, are clearly with the people; but having
been elected for the Noblesse of Auvergne,
they have laid him under express instructions
to vote for the decision by orders and not persons.
This would ruin him with the Tiers Etat,
and it is not possible he could continue long
to give satisfaction to the Noblesse. I have not
hesitated to press on him to burn his instructions,
and follow his conscience as the only
sure clue, which will eternally guide a man
clear of all doubts and inconsistencies. If he
cannot effect a conciliatory plan, he will surely
take his stand manfully at once with the Tiers
Etat. He will in that case be what he pleases
with them, and I am in hopes that base is now
too solid to render it dangerous to be mounted
on it.—
To General Washington. Washington ed. iii, 31.
Ford ed., v, 96.
(P.
1789)
