bly. A contribution of plate in the time of Louis XV.
is said to have carried about eight millions to the treasury. Plate is
much more common now, and therefore, if the example prevail now in
the same degree it did then, it will produce more. The contribution of
jewels will hardly be general, and will be unproductive. Mr. Necker
is, on the 25th, to go to the Assembly, to make some proposition. The
hundreth penny is talked of.

The Assembly proceeds slowly in the forming their constitution. The
original vice of their numbers causes this, as well as a tumultuous
manner of doing business. They have voted that the elections of the
legislature shall be biennial; that it shall be of a single body; but
they have not yet decided what shall be its number, or whether they
shall be all in one room, or in two (which they call a division into
sections). They have determined that the King shall have a suspensive
and iterative veto: that is, that after negativing a law, it cannot be
presented again till after a new election. If he negatives it then, it
cannot be presented a third time till after another new election. If
it be then presented, he is obliged to pass it. This is perhaps justly
considered as a more useful negative than an absolute one, which a King
would be afraid to use. Mr. Necker's influence with the Assembly is
nothing at all. Having written to them, by order of the King, on the
subject of the veto, before it was decided, they refused to let his
letter be read. Again, lately, when they desired the sanction of the
King to their proceedings of the fourth of August, he wrote in the
King's name a letter to them, remonstrating against an immediate sanction
to the whole; but they persisted, and the sanction was given. His
disgust at this want of influence, together with the great difficulties
of his situation, make it believed that he is desirous of resigning. The
public stocks were extremely low the day before yesterday. The _caisse
d'escompte_ at three thousand six hundred and forty, and the loan of
one hundred and twenty-five millions, of 1784, was at fifteen per
cent. loss. Yesterday they rose a little. The sloth of the assembly
(unavoidable from their number) has done the most sensible injury to the
public cause. The patience of a people, who have less of that quality
than any other nation in the world, is worn thread-bare. Time has been
given to the aristocrats to recover from their panic, to cabal, to
sow dissensions