3972. INSTRUCTIONS, Principles and.—
I am in great pain for the Marquis de
Lafayette. His principles * * * 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 one sure clew,
which will eternally guide a man clear of
all doubts and inconsistencies.—
To General Washington. Washington ed. iii, 31.
Ford ed., v, 96.
(1789)
