On the 24th January 1789, he prescribes the procedure and method of the meetings.

After the 7th of February writs of summons are sent out one after the other.

Eight days after, each parish assembly begins to draw up its memorial of grievances, and becomes excited over the detailed enumeration of all the miseries which it sets down in writing .-- All these appeals and all these acts are so many strokes, which reverberate, in the popular imagination.

"It is the desire of His Majesty," says the order issued, "that every one, from the extremities of his kingdom, and from the most obscure of its hamlets, should be certain of his wishes and protests reaching him." Thus, it is all quite true: there can be no mistake about it, the thing is sure.

The people are invited to speak out, they are summoned, and they are consulted.