STATES-GENERAL

In French History, a emUiei which were first called A.D. 1302, and were held occasionally from that period to the year 1614, when they were dis continued, till they were summoned again at an interesting period, viz., in the year 1789. These states-general, however, were very difFerent from the ancient a emblies of tile French nation under the kings of the first and second race. There is no point with respect to which the French antiquaries are more generally agreed than in maintaining that the states-general had no suffrage in the pa ing of laws, and po e ed no proper jurisdiction. The whole tenor of the French history confirms this opinion. See A embly, Directory. [s. 1168]