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Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
On September 7, 1789, female citizens, wives and daughters of artists, delivered a discourse to the French National Assembly offering their jewels and ornaments as a voluntary contribution to discharge public debts. The Assembly accepted the sacrifice and considered their proposal for a patriotic contributions bank.
Merged-components note: This is a continuation of the foreign news article on the discourse at the National Assembly, including the full list of ladies who contributed jewels; the second component completes the list started in the first.
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MESSEIGNEURS.
The regeneration of the State is a work committed to the National Representatives.
The liberation of the State should be the care of every good citizen.
In order to enable the Senate to fulfil a vow that was made by Camillus to Apollo before the capture of Veii, the Roman ladies made a voluntary offering of their ornaments to the Republic.
But no vows can be more sacred than engagements contracted with the creditors of the State, the public debt should be scrupulously discharged, but the means should be rendered easy to the people.
It is in that view that several citizens, wives or daughters of artists, came to offer to this august National Assembly those ornaments, which they would blush to wear, when patriotism bids them sacrifice them to the public good. What woman is there, worthy of the title of citizen, who would not prefer to the insipid parade of vanity, the inexpressible pleasure of converting the ornaments of her person to so excellent a use?
Our offering is no doubt of small value; for among the votaries of the fine arts, glory rather than riches is the pursuit: our offering is in proportion to our means, but not to the sentiment that animates our breast.
May our example be followed by many citizens of either sex, whose circumstances are far more opulent than ours! and our example will, my Lords (Messieurs) be followed, if you will but deign graciously to accept, if you will procure the facility of making voluntary contributions, by establishing from this moment a bank, for the sole purpose of receiving patriotic gifts in money or jewels, to be invariably applied to the discharge of the national debt.
Reply of M. Le President of the National Assembly, to the female citizens who have made an offering of their personal ornaments towards the discharge of the public debt.
The National Assembly beholds, with infinite satisfaction, your generous sacrifice, which emanates from motives of true patriotism.
May the more noble example which you offer us at this present moment, communicate to all ranks of citizens the heroic sentiment from which it proceeds, and may it find as great a number of imitators as it does admirers!
You are far more adorned by your many virtues, than you could be by the precious ornaments which you sacrifice to the good of your country.
The National Assembly will take into consideration the plan which you propose, with all the warmth which it inspires.
A true copy.
Signed,
Henry DE LANGUeVE, Sec. Nat. A.
DESCHAMPS, Sec.
A correct list of the ladies (wives or daughters of celebrated artists) who, on Monday the 7th of September, 1789, delivered to the National Assembly, their jewels and other female ornaments, as a voluntary contribution towards the discharge of the public debt.
Married Ladies.
Moitte, president and first mover of the patriot
Scheema, Vien, De la Grenée the younger, Suvee, Berrager, Du Vivier, Belle, Fragonard, Vestier, Peron, David, Vernet the younger, Demarteaux, Beauvallet, Cornedecerf, the wife of a merchant.
Unmarried Ladies.
Vasseur de Borrecuil, Vestier, Gerard, Pithoud, De Viesville, Hautemps.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Paris
Event Date
1789 09 07
Key Persons
Outcome
the national assembly accepted the voluntary offering of jewels and ornaments from female citizens and agreed to consider establishing a bank for receiving patriotic contributions to discharge the public debt.
Event Details
Female citizens, wives and daughters of artists, delivered a discourse to the National Assembly offering their personal ornaments as a patriotic contribution to public debts, citing Roman precedent. They proposed a bank for such gifts. The President replied accepting the sacrifice and promising to consider the plan. A list of the ladies is provided.