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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In Paris, April 1789, the French King intervened in a dispute between Parliament and assembled bishops over their residence and meetings. Parliament ordered bishops to return to dioceses, but the King annulled the order, forbidding assemblies while allowing stays for valid reasons, ahead of Easter.
Merged-components note: Sequential extracts from Paris letters continuing the story of the Bishops' assembly, Parliament's arret, and the King's response in France.
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In consequence of the steps taken by the six Bishops appointed to manage the affairs of the Clergy, the King has given leave to the Agents General to send letters of convocation to all the Bishops residing here to assemble themselves at the hotel of the Cardinal de Luynes. This meeting was denounced on Thursday morning to the Parliament, who immediately issued an arret, by which, conformable to the laws of the kingdom, they order all the Archbishops and Bishops to repair to their dioceses in three days after the signification of the arret, under pain of having their temporals seized, and the furniture of the houses which they inhabit in Paris sold off. This arret exempts only such Bishops as have places at court, or those who have private affairs in this capital, of which they must give notice to the Attorney General. It moreover forbids them to assemble, under pain of annulling their deliberations. The King's Attorney General has been charged to give an account to the Chambers assembled of the execution of this arret, on Tuesday next.
Extract of a letter from Paris, April 10.
The arret of Parliament of the 2d of this month was signified the same day to the Cardinal de Luynes, who read it to the Bishops, who were then assembled at his house for the first time. After having deliberated on that arret, the assembly chose some Cardinals and Archbishops to make representations to the King on that head; which was done the next day, at Versailles. When his Majesty had heard the representations, he immediately issued an arret by his Council, which breaks that of his Parliament, and forbids the Attorney General to inform himself of the motives which the Bishops have for remaining in this city. Saturday the assembly was informed of the success of their deputation; but they were told, at the same time, that the King desired that they would all repair to their respective dioceses, on account of the approaching solemnity of Easter.
On Sunday morning the King's Council were sent for to Versailles; his Majesty said to them, "You will tell my Parliament that I have broke their arret of Thursday, and that I forbid them to proceed in consequence thereof; that nevertheless I will not permit the Bishops to assemble, nor come to Paris, without the strongest reasons."
On Tuesday the King's Council informed the Chambers assembled that the arret had been signified to 39 Bishops, besides the privileged ones, and those in partibus, and made a report of all that passed concerning that affair; upon which it was resolved that the Attorney General should be charged to look to the execution of the arret of the Court, and Commissaries were appointed to make a report to the Chambers of the declarations and other laws of the Kingdom concerning the residence of Bishops, in order to make remonstrances to the King on that head.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Paris
Event Date
April 6 And April 10
Key Persons
Outcome
king annulled parliament's arret ordering bishops to dioceses, forbade assemblies but permitted stays for valid reasons; parliament to report on bishop residence laws for remonstrances.
Event Details
Bishops assembled at Cardinal de Luynes' hotel to manage clergy affairs. Parliament issued arret on April 2 ordering bishops to return to dioceses within three days, forbidding assemblies. Bishops represented to King at Versailles; King issued counter-arret breaking Parliament's order, forbidding inquiry into bishops' motives for staying in Paris, but desired they return for Easter. King instructed Parliament not to proceed but also restricted bishop assemblies and Paris visits without strong reasons. 39 bishops notified; Parliament resolved to enforce court arret and prepare remonstrances on bishop residence laws.