Then inquiring what had become of the sovereignty, they found it not in the mass of the people, but in the representative body, which actually personated the people.

The estates of the different provinces--consisting of the knights, nobles, and burgesses of each--sent, accordingly, their deputies to the general assembly at the Hague; and by this congress the decree of abjuration was issued.

It did, not occur to any one to summon the people in their primary assemblies, nor would the people of that day, have comprehended the objects of such a summons.

They were accustomed to the action of the estates, and those bodies represented as large a number of political capacities as could be expected of assemblies chosen then upon general principles.

The hour had not arrived for more profound analysis of the social compact.