Ourapprehensionswerenotwithoutfoundation.IntheCounciloftheFiveHundredagitationwasatitsheight.Themostseriousalarmmarkeditsdeliberations.IthadbeendeterminedtoannouncetotheDirectorytheinstallationoftheCouncils，andtoinquireoftheCounciloftheAncientstheirreasonsforresolvinguponanextraordinaryconvocation.
ButtheDirectorynolongerexisted.SieyesandRogerDucoshadjoinedBonaparte’sparty.GohierandMoulinswereprisonersintheLuxembourg，andinthecustodyofGeneralMoreau;andattheverymomentwhentheCounciloftheFiveHundredhaddrawnupamessagetotheDirectory，theCounciloftheAncientstransmittedtothemthefollowingletter，receivedfromBarras.Thisletter;whichwasaddressedtotheCounciloftheAncients，wasimmediatelyreadbyLucienBonaparte，whowasPresidentoftheCounciloftheFiveHundred.
CITIZENPRESIDENT——Havingenteredintopublicaffairssolelyfrommyloveofliberty，IconsentedtosharethefirstmagistracyoftheStateonlythatImightbeabletodefenditindanger;toprotectagainsttheirenemiesthepatriotscompromisedinitscause;andtoensuretothedefendersof，theircountrythatattentiontotheirinterestswhichnoonewasmorecalculatedtofeelthanacitizen，longthewitnessoftheirheroicvirtues，andalwayssensibletotheirwants.
TheglorywhichaccompaniesthereturnoftheillustriouswarriortowhomIhadthehonourofopeningthepathofglory，thestrikingmarksofconfidencegivenhimbythelegislativebody，andthedecreeoftheNationalConvention，convincemethat，towhateverposthemayhenceforthbecalled，thedangerstolibertywillbeaverted，andtheinterestsofthearmyensured.
Icheerfullyreturntotherankofaprivatecitizen：happy，aftersomanystorms，toresign，unimpaired，andevenmoregloriousthanever，thedestinyoftheRepublic，whichhasbeen，inpart，committedtomycare.
（Signed）BARRAS.
ThisletteroccasionedagreatsensationintheCounciloftheFiveHundred.Asecondreadingwascalledfar，andaquestionwasstarted，whethertheretirementwaslegal，orwastheresultofcollusion，andoftheinfluenceofBonaparte’sagents;whethertobelieveBarras，whodeclaredthedangersoflibertyaverted，orthedecreefortheremovalofthelegislativecorps，whichwaspassedandexecutedunderthepretextoftheexistenceofimminentperil？AtthatmomentBonaparteappeared，followedbyapartyofgrenadiers，whoremainedattheentranceofthehall.
IdidnotaccompanyhimtotheCounciloftheFiveHundred.HehaddirectedmetosendoffanexpresstoeasetheapprehensionsofJosephine，andtoassureherthateverythingwouldgowell.ItwassometimebeforeIjoinedhimagain.
However，withoutspeakingaspositivelyasifIhadmyselfbeenaneye—
witnessofthescene，Idonothesitatetodeclarethatallthathasbeensaidaboutassaultsandponiardsispureinvention.Irelyonwhatwastoldme，ontheverynight，bypersonswellworthyofcredit，andwhowerewitnessessofallthatpassed.
Astowhatpassedatthesitting，theaccounts，givenbothatthetimeandsince，havevariedaccordingtoopinions.Somehaveallegedthatunanimouscriesofindignationwereexcitedbytheappearanceofthemilitary.Fromallpartsofthehallresounded，\"Thesanctuaryofthelawsisviolated.Downwiththetyrant！——downwithCromwell！——downwiththeDictator！\"Bonapartestammeredoutafewwords，ashehaddonebeforetheCounciloftheAncients，buthisvoicewasimmediatelydrownedbycriesof\"VivelaRepublique！\"\"VivelaConstitution！\"\"OutlawtheDictator！\"Thegrenadiersarethensaidtohaverushedforward，exclaiming，\"LetussaveourGeneral！\"atwhichindignationreacheditsheight，andcries，evenmoreviolentthanever，wereraised;thatBonaparte，fallinginsensibleintothearmsofthegrenadiers，said，\"Theymeantoassassinateme！\"AllthatregardstheexclamationsandthreatsIbelievetobecorrect;butIrankwiththestoryoftheponiardstheassertionofthemembersoftheFiveHundredbeingprovidedwithfirearms，andthegrenadiersrushingintothehall;becauseBonapartenevermentionedawordofanythingofthesorttome，eitheronthewayhome，orwhenIwaswithhiminhischamber.Neitherdidhesayanythingonthesubjecttohiswife，whohadbeenextremelyagitatedbythedifferentreportswhichreachedher.
AfterBonapartelefttheCounciloftheFiveHundredthedeliberationswerecontinuedwithgreatviolence.TheexcitementcausedbytheappearanceofBonapartewasnothinglikesubsidedwhenpropositionsofthemostfuriousnatureweremade.ThePresident，Lucien，didallinhispowertorestoretranquillity.Assoonashecouldmakehimselfheardhesaid，\"ThescenewhichhasjusttakenplaceintheCouncilproveswhatarethesentimentsofall;sentimentswhichIdeclarearealsomine.Itwas，however，naturaltobelievethattheGeneralhadnootherobjectthantorenderanaccountofthesituationofaffairs，andofsomethinginterestingtothepublic.ButIthinknoneofyoucansupposehimcapableofprojectshostiletoliberty.\"
EachsentenceofLucien’saddresswasinterruptedbycriesof\"Bonapartehastarnishedhisglory！HeisadisgracetotheRepublic！\"
Lucien——[ThenextyoungerbrotherofNapoleon，PresidentoftheCounciloftheFiveHundredin1799;MinisteroftheInterior，1stDecember1799to1841;AmbassadorinSpain，1801toDecember1801;leftFranceindisgracein1804;retiredtoPapalStates;PrisonerinMaltaandEngland，1810to1814;createdbyPopein1814PrincedeCaninoandDucdeMusignano;marriedfirstly，1794，ChristineBoyer，whodied1800;marriedsecondly，1802or118，aMadameJonberthon.
Ofhispartinthe18thBrumaireNapoleonsaidtohimin1807，\"Iwellknowthatyouwereusefultomeenthe18thBrumaire，butitisnotsocleattomethatyousavedmethen\"（Iung’sLucien，tomeiii.p.89）.]——
madefresheffortstobeheard，andwishedtobeallowedtoaddresstheassemblyasamemberoftheCouncil，andforthatpurposeresignedthePresidentshiptoChasal.HebeggedthattheGeneralmightbeintroducedagainandheardwithcalmness.Butthisprepositionwasfuriouslyopposed.Exclamationsof\"OutlawBonaparte！outlawhim！\"rangthroughtheassembly，andweretheonlyreplygiventothePresident.Lucien，whohadreassumedthePresident’schair，leftitasecondtime，thathemightnotbeconstrainedtoputthequestionofoutlawrydemandedagainsthisbrother.Bravingthedispleasureoftheassembly，hemountedthetribune，resignedthePresidentship，renouncedhisseatasadeputy，andthrewasidehisrobes.
JustasLucienlefttheCouncilIentered.Bonaparte，whowaswellinformedofallthatwaspassing，——[Luciendistinctlystatesthathehimself，actingwithinhisrightasPresident，haddemandedanescortofthegrenadiersoftheCouncilsassoonashesawhiswithdrawalmightbeopposed.
ThenthefirstentryofthesoldierswithNapoleonwouldbeillegal.
Thesecond，towithdrawLucien，wasnominallylegal（seeIung’sLucien，tomei，pp，318—322）]——
hadsentinsoldierstotheassistanceofhisbrother;theycarriedhimofffromthemidstoftheCouncil，andBonapartethoughtitamatterofnolittleimportancetohavewithhimthePresidentofanassemblywhichhetreatedasrebellious.Lucienwasreinstalledinoffice;buthewasnowtodischargehisduties，notinthePresident’schair，butonhorseback，andattheheadofapartyoftroopsreadytoundertakeanything.Rousedbythedangertowhichbothhisbrotherandhimselfwereexposedhedeliveredonhorsebackthefollowingwords，whichcanneverbetoooftenremembered，asshowingwhatamanthendaredtosay，whoneverwasanythingexceptfromthereflectionofhisbrother’sglory：——
CITIZENS！SOLDIERS！——ThePresidentoftheCounciloftheFiveHundreddeclarestoyouthatthemajorityofthatCouncilisatthismomentheldinterrorbyafewrepresentativesofthepeople，whoarearmedwithstilettoes，andwhosurroundthetribune，threateningtheircolleagueswithdeath，andmaintainingmostatrociousdiscussions.
Ideclaretoyouthatthesebrigands，whoaredoubtlessinthepayofEngland，haveriseninrebellionagainsttheCounciloftheAncients，andhavedaredtotalkofoutlawingtheGeneral，whoischargedwiththeexecutionofitsdecree，asiftheword\"outlaw\"
wasstilltoberegardedasthedeath—warrantofpersonsmostbelovedbytheircountry.
IdeclaretoyouthatthesemadmenhaveoutlawedthemselvesbytheirattemptsuponthelibertyoftheCouncil.Inthenameofthatpeople，whichforsomanyyearshavebeenthesportofterrorism，Iconsigntoyouthechargeofrescuingthemajorityoftheirrepresentatives;sothat，deliveredfromstilettoesbybayonets，theymaydeliberateonthefateoftheRepublic.
General，andyou，soldiers，andyou，citizens，youwillnotacknowledge，aslegislatorsofFrance，anybutthosewhorallyroundme.Asforthosewhoremainintheorangery，letforceexpelthem.Theyarenottherepresentativesofthepeople，buttherepresentativesoftheponiard.Letthatbetheirtitle，andletitfollowthemeverywhere;andwhenevertheydareshowthemselvestothepeople，leteveryfingerpointatthem，andeverytonguedesignatethembythewell—meritedtitleofrepresentativesoftheponiard！
VivelaRepublique！
Notwithstandingthecriesof\"ViveBonaparte！\"whichfollowedthisharangue，thetroopsstillhesitated.Itwasevidentthattheywerenotfullypreparedtoturntheirswordsagainstthenationalrepresentatives.
Lucienthendrewhissword，exclaiming，\"IswearthatIwillstabmyownbrothertotheheartifheeverattemptanythingagainstthelibertyofFrenchmen.\"Thisdramaticactionwasperfectlysuccessful;hesitationvanished;andatasignalgivenbyBonaparte，Murat，attheheadofhisgrenadiers，rushedintothehall，anddroveouttherepresentatives.
Everyoneyieldedtothereasoningofbayonets，andthusterminatedtheemploymentofthearmedforceonthatmemorableday.
Atteno’clockatnightthepalaceofSt.Cloud，wheresomanytumultuoussceneshadoccurred，wasperfectlytranquil.Allthedeputieswerestillthere，pacingthehall，thecorridors，andthecourts.Mostofthemhadanairofconsternation;othersaffectedtohaveforeseentheevent，andtoappearsatisfiedwithit;butallwishedtoreturntoParis，whichtheycouldnotdountilaneworderrevokedtheorderfortheremovaloftheCouncilstoSt.Cloud.
Ateleveno’clockBonaparte，whohadeatennothingallday，butwhowasalmostinsensibletophysicalwantsinmomentsofgreatagitation，saidtome，\"Wemustgoandwrite，Bourrienne;IintendthisverynighttoaddressaproclamationtotheinhabitantsofParis.To—morrowmorningI
shallbealltheconversationofthecapital.\"Hethendictatedtomethefollowingproclamation，whichproves，nolessthansomeofhisreportsfromEgypt，howmuchBonaparteexcelledintheartoftwistingthetruthtoownadvantage：
TOTHEPEOPLE.
19thBrumaire，11o’clock，p.m.
Frenchmen！——OnmyreturntoFranceIfounddivisionreigningamongstalltheauthorities.Theyagreedonlyonthissinglepoint，thattheConstitutionwashalfdestroyed，andwasunabletoprotectliberty！
Eachpartyinturncametome，confidedtometheirdesigns，impartedtheirsecrets，andrequestedmysupport.Irefusedtobethemanofaparty.
TheCounciloftheAncientsappealedtome.Iansweredtheirappeal.Aplanofgeneralrestorationhadbeenconcertedbymenwhomthenationhasbeenaccustomedtoregardasthedefendersof，liberty，equality，andproperty.Thisplanrequiredcalmandfreedeliberation，exemptfromallinfluenceandallfear.TheAncients，therefore，resolvedupontheremovalofthelegislativebodiestoSt.Cloud.Theyplacedatmydisposaltheforcenecessarytosecuretheirindependence.Iwasbound，indutytomyfellow—citizens，tothesoldiersperishinginourarmies，andtothenationalglory，acquiredatthecostofsomuchblood，toacceptthecommand.
TheCouncilsassembledatSt.Cloud.Republicantroopsguaranteedtheirsafetyfromwithout，butassassinscreatedterrorwithin.
ManymembersoftheCounciloftheFiveHundred，armedwithstilettoesandpistols，spreadmenacesofdeatharoundthem.
Theplanswhichoughttohavebeendevelopedwerewithheld.ThemajorityoftheCouncilwasrenderedinefficient;theboldestoratorsweredisconcerted，andtheinutilityofsubmittinganysalutarypropositionwasquiteevident.
Iproceeded，filledwithindignationandgrief，totheCounciloftheAncients.Ibesoughtthemtocarrytheirnobledesignsintoexecution.Idirectedtheirattentiontotheevilsofthenation，whichweretheirmotivesforconceivingthosedesigns.Theyconcurredingivingmenewproofsoftheiruniformgoodwill，I
presentedmyselfbeforetheCounciloftheFiveHundred，alone，unarmed，myheaduncovered，justastheAncientshadreceivedandapplaudedme.Myobjectwastorestoretothemajoritytheexpressionofitswill，andtosecuretoititspower.
Thestilettoeswhichhadmenacedthedeputieswereinstantlyraisedagainsttheirdeliverer.Twentyassassinsrusheduponmeandaimedatmybreast.Thegrenadiersofthelegislativebody，whomIhadleftatthedoorofthehall，ranforward，andplacedthemselvesbetweenmeandtheassassins.Oneofthesebravegrenadiers（Thome）
hadhisclothespiercedbyastiletto.Theyboremeoff.
——[Thomemerelyhadasmallpartofhiscoattornbyadeputy，whotookhimbythecollar.Thisconstitutedthewholeoftheattemptedassassinationsofthe19thBrumaire.——Bourrienne]——
Atthesamemomentcriesof\"Outlawhim！\"wereraisedagainstthedefenderofthelaw.Itwasthehorridcryofassassinsagainstthepowerdestinedtorepressthem.
TheycrowdedroundthePresident，utteringthreats.Witharmsintheirhandstheycommandedhimtodeclare\"theoutlawry.\"Iwasinformedofthis.Iorderedhimtoberescuedfromtheirfury，andsixgrenadiersofthelegislativebodybroughthimout.Immediatelyafterwardssomegrenadiersofthelegislativebodychargedintothehallandclearedit.
Thefactions，intimidated，dispersedandfled.Themajority，freedfromtheirassaults，returnedfreelyandpeaceablyintothehall;
listenedtothepropositionsmadeforthepublicsafety，deliberated，anddrewupthesalutaryresolutionwhichwillbecomethenewandprovisionallawoftheRepublic.
Frenchmen，youdoubtlessrecogniseinthisconductthezealofasoldierofliberty，ofacitizendevotedtotheRepublic.
Conservative，tutelary，andliberalideasresumedtheirauthorityuponthedispersionofthefactions，whodomineeredintheCouncils，andwho，inrenderingthemselvesthemostodiousofmen，didnotceasetobethemostcontemptible.
（Signed）BONAPARTE，General，etc.
ThedayhadbeenpassedindestroyingaGovernment;itwasnecessarytodevotethenighttoframinganewone.Talleyrand，Raederer，andSieyeswereatSt.Cloud.TheCounciloftheAncientsassembled，andLuciensethimselfaboutfindingsomemembersoftheFiveHundredonwhomhecouldreckon.Hesucceededingettingtogetheronlythirty;who，withtheirPresident，representedthenumerousassemblyofwhichtheyformedpart.
Thisghostofrepresentationwasessential，forBonaparte，notwithstandinghisviolationofalllawontheprecedingday，wishedtomakeitappearthathewasactinglegally.TheCounciloftheAncientshad，however，alreadydecidedthataprovisionalexecutivecommissionshouldbeappointed，composedofthreemembers，andwasabouttonamethemembersofthecommission——ameasurewhichshouldhaveoriginatedwiththeFiveHundred——whenLuciencametoacquaintBonapartethathischamber’introuvable’wasassembled.
Thischamber，whichcalleditselftheCounciloftheFiveHundred，thoughthatCouncilwasnownothingbutaCouncilofThirty，hastilypassedadecree，thefirstarticleofwhichwasasfollows：
TheDirectoryexistsnolonger;andtheindividualshereafternamedarenolongermembersofthenationalrepresentation，onaccountoftheexcessesandillegalactswhichtheyhaveconstantlycommitted，andmoreparticularlythegreatestpartofthem，inthesittingofthismorning.
Thenfollowthenamesofsixty—onemembersexpelled.
ByotherarticlesofthesamedecreetheCouncilinstitutedaprovisionalcommission，similartothatwhichtheAncientshadproposedtoappoint，resolvedthatthesaidcommissionshouldconsistofthreemembers，whoshouldassumethetitleofConsuls;andnominatedasConsulsSieyes，RogerDucos，andBonaparte.TheotherprovisionsofthenocturnaldecreeofSt.Cloudhadfortheirobjectmerelythecarryingintoeffectthosealreadydescribed.Thisnocturnalsittingwasverycalm，andindeeditwouldhavebeenstrangehaditbeenotherwise，fornooppositioncouldbefearedfromthemembersoftheFiveHundred，whowerepreparedtoconcurwithLucien.Allknewbeforehandwhattheywouldhavetodo.Everythingwasconcludedbythreeo’clockinthemorning;andthepalaceofSt.
Cloud，whichhadbeensoagitatedsincethepreviousevening，resumedinthemorningitswontedstillness，andpresentedtheappearanceofavastsolitude.
Allthehurryingabout，thebriefnoteswhichIhadtowritetomanyfriends，andtheconversationsinwhichIwascompelledtotakepart，preventedmefromdiningbeforeoneo’clockinthemorning.ItwasnottillthenthatBonaparte，havinggonetotaketheoathasConsulbeforetheFiveHundred，affordedmeanopportunityoftakingsomerefreshmentwithAdmiresBruixandsomeotherofficers.
Atthreeo’clockinthemorningIaccompaniedBonaparte，inhiscarriagetoParis.Hewasextremelyfatiguedaftersomanytrialsandfatigues.
Anewfuturewasopenedbeforehim.Hewascompletelyabsorbedinthought，anddidnotutterasinglewordduringthejourney.ButwhenhearrivedathishouseintheRuedelaVictoire，hehadnosoonerenteredhischamberandwishedgoodmorningtoJosephine，whowasinbed，andinastateofthegreatestanxietyonaccountofhisabsence，thanhesaidbeforeher，\"Bourrienne，Isaidmanyridiculousthings？\"——\"Notsoverybad，General\"——\"Ilikebettertospeaktosoldiersthantolawyers.
Thosefellowsdisconcertedme.Ihavenotbeenusedtopublicassemblies;butthatwillcomeintime.\"
Wethenbegan，allthree，toconverse.MadameBonapartebecamecalm，andBonaparteresumedhiswontedconfidence.Theeventsofthedaynaturallyformedthesubjectofourconversation.Josephine，whowasmuchattachedtotheGohierfamily，mentionedthenameofthatDirectorinatoneofkindness.\"Whatwouldyouhave，mydear？\"saidBonapartetoher.\"Itisnotmyfault.Heisarespectableman，butasimpleton.Hedoesnotunderstandme！——Iought，perhaps，tohavehimtransported.HewroteagainstmetotheCounciloftheAncients;butIhavehisletter，andtheyknownothingaboutit.Poorman！heexpectedmetodinneryesterday.Andthismanthinkshimselfastatesman！——Speaknomoreofhim.\"
DuringourdiscoursethenameofBernadottewasalsomentioned.\"Haveyouseenhim，Bourrienne？\"saidBonapartetome.——\"No，General\"——
\"NeitherhaveI.Ihavenotheardhimspokenof.Wouldyouimagineit？
Ihadintelligenceto—dayofmanyintriguesinwhichheisconcerned.
Wouldyoubelieveit？hewishednothinglessthantobeappointedmycolleagueinauthority.Hetalkedofmountinghishorseandmarchingwiththetroopsthatmightbeplacedunderhiscommand.Hewished，hesaid，tomaintaintheConstitution：nay，more;Iamassuredthathehadtheaudacitytoaddthat，ifitwerenecessarytooutlawme，theGovernmentmightcometohimandhewouldfindsoldierscapableofcarryingthedecreeintoexecution.\"——\"Allthis，General，shouldgiveyouanideahowinflexiblehisprinciplesare.\"——\"Yes，Iamwellawareofit;
thereissomethinginthat：heishonest.Butforhisobstinacy，mybrotherswouldhavebroughthimover.Theyarerelatedtohim.Hiswife，whoisJoseph’ssister—in—law，hasascendencyoverhim.Asforme，haveInot，Iaskyou，madesufficientadvancestohim？Youhavewitnessedthem.Moreau，whohasahighermilitaryreputationthanhe，cameovertomeatonce.However，IrepentofhavingcajoledBernadotte.
Iamthinkingofseparatinghimfromallhiscoterieswithoutanyonebeingabletofindfaultwiththeproceeding.Icannotrevengemyselfinanyothermanner.Josephlikeshim.Ishouldhaveeverybodyagainstme.
Thesefamilyconsiderationsarefollies！Goodnight，Bourrienne.——Bytheway，wewillsleepintheLuxembourgto—morrow.
IthenlefttheGeneral，whom，henceforth，IwillcalltheFirstConsul，afterhavingremainedwithhimconstantlyduringnearlytwenty—fourhours，withtheexceptionofthetimewhenhewasattheCounciloftheFiveHundred.Iretiredtomylodging，intheRueMartel，atfiveo’clockinthemorning.
ItiscertainthatifGohierhadcometobreakfastonthemorningofthe18thBrumaire，accordingtoMadameBonaparte’sinvitation，hewouldhavebeenoneofthemembersoftheGovernment.ButGohieractedthepartofthesternrepublican.Heplacedhimself，accordingtothecommonphraseofthetime，astrideoftheConstitutionoftheyearIII.;andashissteedmadeasadstumble，hefellwithit.
ItwasasingularcircumstancewhichpreventedthetwoDirectorsGohierandMoulinsfromdefendingtheirbelovedConstitution.ItwasfromtheirrespectfortheConstitutionthattheyallowedittoperish，becausetheywouldhavebeenobligedtoviolatethearticlewhichdidnotallowlessthanthreeDirectorstodeliberatetogether.ThusakingofCastilewasburnedtodeath，becausetheredidnothappentobeinhisapartmentmenofsuchrankasetiquettewouldpermittotouchthepersonofthemonarch.
CHAPTERXXVI.
1799.
Generalapprobationofthe18thBrumaire——Distressofthetreasury——
M.Collot’sgenerosity——Bonaparte’singratitude——GohiersetatLiberty——ConstitutionoftheyearVIII.——TheSenate，Tribunate，andCouncilofState——Notesrequiredonthecharacterofcandidates——
Bonaparte’sloveofintegrityandtalent——Influenceofhabitoverhim——HishatredoftheTribunate——Provisionalconcessions——ThefirstConsularMinistry——MediocrityofLaPlace——Proscriptionlists——
Cambaceresreport——M.MoreaudeWorms——CharacterofSieyes——
BonaparteattheLuxembourg——Distributionofthedayandvisits——
Lebrun’sopposition——Bonaparte’ssinging——Hisboyishtricks——
Assumptionofthetitles\"Madame\"and\"Monseigneur\"——ThemenoftheRevolutionandthepartisansoftheBourbons——Bonaparte’sfears——
Confidentialnotesoncandidatesforofficeandtheassemblies.
ItcannotbedeniedthatFrancehailed，almostwithunanimousvoice，Bonaparte’saccessiontotheConsulshipasablessingofProvidence.
Idonotspeaknowoftheulteriorconsequencesofthatevent;Ispeakonlyofthefactitself，anditsfirstresults，suchastherepealofthelawofhostages，andthecompulsoryloanofahundredmillions.
Doubtlessthelegalityoftheactsofthe18thBrumairemaybedisputed;
butwhowillventuretosaythattheimmediateresultofthatdayoughtnottoberegardedasagreatblessingtoFrance？Whoeverdeniesthiscanhavenoideaofthewretchedstateofeverybranchoftheadministrationatthatdeplorableepoch.Afewpersonsblamedthe18thBrumaire;butnooneregrettedtheDirectory，withtheexception，perhaps，ofthefiveDirectorsthemselves.ButwewillsaynomoreoftheDirectorialGovernment.Whatanadministration！InwhatastatewerethefinancesofFrance！Woulditbebelieved？ontheseconddayoftheConsulate，whenBonapartewishedtosendacouriertoGeneralChampionet，commander—in—chiefofthearmyofItaly，thetreasuryhadnot1200francsdisposabletogivetothecourier！
ItmaybesupposedthatinthefirstmomentsofanewGovernmentmoneywouldbewanted.M.Collot，whohadservedunderBonaparteinItaly，andwhoseconductandadministrationdeservednothingbutpraise，wasoneofthefirstwhocametotheConsul’sassistance.InthisinstanceM.Collotwasaszealousasdisinterested.HegavetheConsul500，000
francsingold，forwhichservice0—hewasbadlyrewarded.BonaparteafterwardsbehavedtoM.Collotasthoughhewasanxioustopunishhimforbeingrich.Thissum，whichatthetimemadesofineanappearanceintheConsulartreasury，wasnotrepaidforalongtimeafter，andthenwithoutinterest.Thiswasnot，indeed，theonlyinstanceinwhichM.CollothadcausetocomplainofBonaparte，whowasneverinclinedtoacknowledgehisimportantservices，noreventorenderjusticetohisconduct.
Onthemorningofthe20thBrumaireBonapartesenthisbrotherLouistoinformtheDirectorGohierthathewasfree.ThishasteinrelievingGohierwasnotwithoutareason，forBonapartewasanxioustoinstallhimselfintheLuxembourg，andwewenttherethatsameevening.
Everythingwastobecreated.Bonapartehadwithhimalmostthewholeofthearmy，andonthesoldiershecouldrely.Butthemilitaryforcewasnolongersufficientforhim.Wishingtopossessagreatcivilpowerestablishedbylegalforms，heimmediatelysetaboutthecompositionofaSenateandTribunate;aCouncilofStateandanewlegislativebody，and，finally，anewConstitution.
——[TheConstitutionoftheyearVIII.waspresentedanthe18thofDecember1799（22dFrimaire，yearVIII.），andacceptedbythepeopleonthe7thofFebruary1800（18thPluviose，yearVIII.）.ItestablishedaConsularGovernment，composedofBonaparte，FirstConsul，appointedfortenyears;Cambaceres，SecondConsol，alsofortenYears;andLebrun，ThirdConsulappointedforfiveyears.ItestablishedaconservativeSenate，alegislativebodyof800
members，andaTribunatecomposedof100members.TheestablishmentoftheCouncilofStatetookplaceonthe29thofDecember1799.
TheinstallationofthenewlegislativebodyandtheTribunatewasfixedforthe1stofJanuary1800.——Bourrienne.Lanfrey（tomei.
p.329）seesthisConstitutionforeshadowedinthatproposedbyNapoleonin1797fortheCisalpineRepublic.]——
AsBonapartehadnottimetomakehimselfacquaintedwiththepersonsbywhomhewasabouttobesurrounded;herequestedfromthemostdistinguishedmenoftheperiod，wellacquaintedwithFranceandtheRevolution，notesrespectingtheindividualsworthyandcapableofenteringtheSenate，theTribunate，andtheCouncilofState.FromthemannerinwhichallthesenotesweredrawnupitwasevidentthatthewritersofthemstudiedtomaketheirrecommendationcorrespondwithwhattheyconceivedtobeBonaparte’sviews，andthattheyimaginedheparticipatedintheopinionswhichwereatthattimepopular.
Accordinglytheystated，asgroundsforpreferringparticularcandidates，theirpatriotism，theirrepublicanism，andtheirhavinghadseatsinprecedingassemblies.
Ofallqualities，thatwhichmostinfluencedthechoiceoftheFirstConsulwasinflexibleintegrity;anditisbutjusttosaythatinthisparticularhewasrarelydeceived.Hesoughtearnestlyfortalent;andalthoughhedidnotlikethemenoftheRevolution，hewasconvincedthathecouldnotdowithoutthem.Hehadconceivedanextremeaversionformediocrity，andgenerallyrejectedamanofthatcharacterwhenrecommendedtohim;butifhehadknownsuchamanlong，heyieldedtotheinfluenceofhabit，dreadingnothingsomuchaschange，or，ashewasaccustomedtosayhimself，newfaces.’
——[Napoleonlovedonlymenwithstrongpassionsandgreatweakness\";
hejudgedthemostoppositequalitiesinmenbythesedefects（Metternich，tomeiii.p.589）]——
BonapartethenproceededtoorganiseacomplaisantSenate，amutelegislativebody，andaTribunalswhichwastohavethesemblanceofbeingindependent，bytheaidofsomefinespeechesandhigh—soundingphrases.HeeasilyappointedtheSenators，butitwasdifferentwiththeTribunats.Hehesitatedlongbeforehefixeduponthecandidatesforthatbody，whichinspiredhimwithananticipatoryfear.However，onarrivingatpowerhedarednotopposehimselftotheexigenciesofthemoment，andheconsentedforatimetodeludetheambitiousdupeswhokeptupabuzzoffinesentimentsoflibertyaroundhim.HesawthatcircumstanceswerenotyetfavourableforrefusingashareintheConstitutiontothisthirdportionofpower，destinedapparentlytoadvocatetheinterestsofthepeoplebeforethelegislativebody.Butinyieldingtonecessity，themereideaoftheTribunatefilledhimwiththeutmostuneasiness;and，inaword，Bonapartecouldnotendurethepublicdiscussionsonhisprojects.’
——[TheTribunateunderthisConstitutionoftheyearVIII.wastheonlybodyallowedtodebateinpubliconproposedlaws，thelegislativebodysimplyhearinginsilencetheoratorssentbytheCouncilofStateandbytheTribunalstostatereasonsfororagainstpropositions，andthenvotinginsilence.ItsoratorswereconstantlygivingumbragetoNapoleon.ItwasatfirstPurified，earlyin1802，bytheSenatenamingthememberstogooutinrotationthenreducedtofrom100to50memberslaterin1802，andsuppressedin1807;itsdisappearancebeingregardedbyNapoleonashislastbreakwiththeRevolution.]——
BonapartecomposedthefirstConsularMinistryasfollows：BerthierwasMinisterofWar;Gaudin，formerlyemployedintheadministrationofthePostOffice，wasappointedMinisterofFinance;CambaceresremainedMinisterofJustice;ForfaitwasMinisterofMarine;LaPlaceoftheInterior;FoucheofPolice;andReinhardofForeignAffairs.
ReinhardandLaPlaceweresoonreplaced，theformerbytheableM.
Talleyrand，thelatterbyLucienBonaparte.
——[WhenIquittedtheserviceoftheFirstConsulTalleyrandwasstillattheheadoftheForeignDepartment.Ihavefrequentlybeenpresentatthisgreatstatesman’sconferenceswithNapoleon，andI
candeclarethatIneversawhimflatterhisdreamsofambition;
but，onthecontrary，healwaysendeavouredtomakehimsensibleofhistrueinterests.——Bourrienne.]——
ItmaybesaidthatLucienmerelypassedthroughtheMinistryonhiswaytoalucrativeembassyinSpain.AstoLaPlace，Bonapartealwaysentertainedahighopinionofhistalents.HisappointmenttotheMinistryoftheInteriorwasacomplimentpaidtoscience;butitwasnotlongbeforetheFirstConsulrepentedofhischoice.LaPlace，sohappilycalculatedforscience，displayedthemostinconceivablemediocrityinadministration.Hewasincompetenttothemosttriflingmatters;asifhismind，formedtoembracethesystemoftheworld，andtointerpretthelawsofNewtonandKepler，couldnotdescendtothelevelofsubjectsofdetail，orapplyitselftothedutiesofthedepartmentwithwhichhewasentrustedforashort，butyet，withregardtohim，toolongatime.
Onthe26thBrumaire（17thNovember1799）theConsulsissuedadecree，inwhichtheystatedthat，conformablywithArticleIII.ofthelawofthe19thofthesamemonth，whichespeciallychargedthemwiththereestablishmentofpublictranquillity，theydecreedthatthirty—eightindividuals，whowerenamed，shouldquitthecontinentalterritoryoftheRepublic，andforthatpurposeshouldproceedtoRochefort，tobeafterwardsconductedto，anddetainedin，thedepartmentofFrenchGuiana.Theylikewisedecreedthattwenty—threeotherindividuals，whowerenamed，shouldproceedtothecommuneofRochelle，inthedepartmentofthelowerCharente，inordertobeafterwardsfiledanddetainedinsuchpartofthatdepartmentasshouldbepointedoutbytheMinisterofGeneralPolice.IwasfortunateenoughtokeepmyfriendM.MoreaudeWorms，deputyfromtheYoune，outofthefiatofexiles.Thisproducedamischievouseffect.ItboreacharacterofwantonseverityquiteinconsistentwiththeassurancesofmildnessandmoderationgivenatSt.
Cloudonthe19thBrumaire.Cambaceresafterwardsmadeareport，inwhichherepresentedthatitwasunnecessaryforthemaintenanceoftranquillitytosubjecttheproscribedtobanishment，consideringitsufficienttoplacethemunderthesupervisionofthesuperiorpolice.
UponreceivingthereporttheConsulsissuedadecree，inwhichtheydirectedalltheindividualsincludedintheproscriptiontoretirerespectivelyintothedifferentcommuneswhichshouldbefixeduponbytheMinisterofJustice，andtoremainthereuntilfurtherorders.
AttheperiodoftheissuingofthesedecreesSieyeswasstilloneoftheConsuls;conjointlywithBonaparteandRogerDucos;andalthoughBonapartehad，fromthefirstmoment，possessedthewholepowerofthegovernment，asortofapparentequalitywas，nevertheless，observedamongstthem.Itwasnotuntilthe25thofDecemberthatBonaparteassumedthetitleofFirstConsul，CambaceresandLebrunbeingthenjoinedintheofficewithhim.Hehadfixedhiseyesonthempreviouslytothe18thBrumaire，andhehadnocausetoreproachthemwithgivinghimmuchembarrassmentinhisrapidprogresstowardstheimperialthrone.
IhavestatedthatIwassofortunateastorescueM.MoreaudeWormsfromthelistofproscription.SomedaysafterSieyesenteredBonaparte’scabinetandsaidtohim，\"Well，thisM.MoreaudeWorms，whomM.Bourrienneinducedyoutosavefrombanishment，isactingveryfinely！
Itoldyouhowitwouldbe！IhavereceivedfromSens，hisnativeplace，aletterwhichinformsmethatMoreauisinthattown，wherehehasassembledthepeopleinthemarket—place，andindulgedinthemostviolentdeclamationsagainstthe18thBrumaire，\"——\"Canyou，relyuponyouragent\"askedBonaparte.——\"Perfectly.Icananswerforthetruthofhiscommunication.\"BonaparteshowedmethebulletinofSieyes’agent，andreproachedmebitterly.\"Whatwouldyousay，General，\"Iobserved，\"ifIshouldpresentthissameM.MoreaudeWorms，whoisdeclaimingatSensagainstthe18thBrumaire，toyouwithinanhour？\"——\"Idefyyoutodoit.\"——\"Ihavemademyselfresponsibleforhim，andIknowwhatIamabout.Heisviolentinhispolitics;butheisamanofhonour，incapableoffailinginhisword.\"——\"Well，weshallsee.Goandfindhim.\"IwasverysureofdoingwhatIhadpromised，forwithinanhourbeforeIhadseenM.MoreaudeWorms.Hehadbeenconcealedsincethe13thBrumaire，andhadnotquittedParis.Nothingwaseasierthantofindhim，andinthree—quartersofanhourhewasattheLuxembourg.I
presentedhimtoBonaparte，whoconversedwithhimalongtimeconcerningthe18thBrumaire.WhenM.MoreaudepartedBonapartesaidtome，\"Youareright.ThatfoolSieyesisasinventiveasaCassandra.Thisprovesthatoneshouldnotbetooreadytobelievethereportsofthewretcheswhomweareobligedtoemployinthepolice.\"Afterwardsheadded，\"Bourrienne，Moreauisanicefellow：Iamsatisfiedwithhim;Iwilldosomethingforhim.\"ItwasnotlongbeforeM.MoreauexperiencedtheeffectoftheConsul’sgoodopinion.Somedaysafter，whilstframingthecouncilofprizes，he，atmymeresuggestion，appointedM.Moreauoneofthemembers，withasalaryof10，000francs.Onwhatextraordinarycircumstancesthefortunesofmenfrequentlydepend！AstoSieyes，intheintercourse，notveryfrequentcertainly，whichIhadwithhim，heappearedtobefarbeneaththereputationwhichhethen——enjoyed.’
——[M.deTalleyrand，whoissocapableofestimatingmen，andwhoseadmirablesayingswelldeservetooccupyaplaceinhistory，hadlongentertainedasimilaropinionofSieyes.Oneday，whenhewasconversingwiththeSecondConsulconcerningSieyes，Cambaceressaidtohim.\"Sieyes，however，isaveryprofoundman.\"——\"Profound？\"
saidTalleyrand.\"Yes，heis，acavity，aperfectcavity，asyouwouldsay.——Bourrienne.]——
Hereposedablindconfidenceinamultitudeofagents，whomhesentintoallpartsofFrance.Whenithappened，onotheroccasions，thatIprovedtohim，byevidenceassufficientasthatinthecaseofM.Moreau，thefalsenessofthereportshehadreceived，hereplied，withaconfidencetrulyridiculous，\"Icanrelyonmymen.\"Sieyeshadwritteninhiscountenance，\"Givememoney！\"IrecollectthatIonedayalludedtothisexpressionintheanxiousfaceofSieyestotheFirstConsul.\"Youareright，\"observedhetome，smiling;\"whenmoneyisinquestion，Sieyesisquiteamatter—of—factman.Hesendshisideologytotherightaboutandthusbecomeseasilymanageable.Hereadilyabandonshisconstitutionaldreamsforagoodroundsum，andthatisveryconvenient.\"
——[Everybodyknows，infact，thatSieyesrefusedtoresignhisconsulardignitiesunlesshereceivedinexchangeabeautifulfarmsituatedintheparkofVersailles，andworthabout15，000livresayear.ThegoodabbeconsoledhimselffornolongerformingathirdoftherepublicansovereigntybymakinghimselfathomeintheancientdomainofthekingsofFrance.——Bourrienne.]——
Bonaparteoccupied，attheLittleLuxembourg，theapartmentsonthegroundfloorwhichlietotherightonenteringfromtheRuedeVaugirard.Hiscabinetwasclosetoaprivatestaircase，whichconductedmetothefirstfloor，whereJosephinedwelt.Myapartmentwasabove.
Afterbreakfast，whichwasservedatteno’clock，Bonapartewouldconverseforafewmomentswithhisusualguests，thatistosay，his’aidesdecamp’，thepersonsheinvited，andmyself，whoneverlefthim.
HewasalsovisitedveryoftenbyDeferment，Regnault（ofthetownofSt.
Jeand’Angely），Boulay（delaMeurthe），Monge，andBerber，whowere，withhisbrothers，JosephandLucien，thosewhomhemostdelightedtosee;heconversedfamiliarlywiththem.Cambaceresgenerallycameatmid—day，andstayedsometimewithhim，oftenawholehour.Lebrunvisitedbutseldom.Notwithstandinghiselevation，hischaracterremainedunaltered;
andBonaparteconsideredhimtoomoderate，becausehealwaysopposedhisambitiousviewsandhisplanstousurppower.WhenBonaparteleftthebreakfast—tableitwasseldomthathedidnotadd，afterbiddingJosephineandherdaughterHortensegood—day，\"Come，Bourrienne，come，letustowork.\"
AfterthemorningaudiencesIstayedwithBonapartealltheday，eitherreadingtohim，orwritingtohisdictation.ThreeorfourtimesintheweekhewouldgototheCouncil.OnhiswaytothehallofdeliberationhewasobligedtocrossthecourtyardoftheLittleLuxembourgandascendthegrandstaircase.Thisalwaysvexedhim，andthemoresoastheweatherwasverybadatthetime.Thisannoyancecontinueduntilthe25thofDecember，anditwaswithmuchsatisfactionthathesawhimselfquitofit.AfterleavingtheCouncilheusedtoenterhiscabinetsinging，andGodknowshowwretchedlyhesung！Heexaminedwhateverworkhehadorderedtobedone，signeddocuments，stretchedhimselfinhisarm—chair，andreadthelettersoftheprecedingdayandthepublicationsofthemorning.WhentherewasnoCouncilheremainedinhiscabinet，conversedwithme，alwayssang，andcut，accordingtocustom，thearmofhischair，givinghimselfsometimesquitetheairofagreatboy.Then，allatoncestartingup，hewoulddescribeaplanfortheerectionofamonument，ordictatesomeofthoseextraordinaryproductionswhichastonishedanddismayedtheworld.Heoftenbecameagainthesameman，who，underthewallsofSt.Jeand’Acre，haddreamedofanempireworthyhisambition.
Atfiveo’clockdinnerwasservedup.WhenthatwasovertheFirstConsulwentupstairstoJosephine’sapartments，wherehecommonlyreceivedthevisitsoftheMinisters.HewasalwayspleasedtoseeamongthenumbertheMinisterofForeignAffairs，especiallysincetheportfolioofthatdepartmenthadbeenentrustedtothehandsofM.deTalleyrand.Atmidnight，andoftensooner，hegavethesignalforretiringbysayinginahastymanner，\"Allonsnouscoucher.\"
ItwasattheLuxembourg，inthesalonsofwhichtheadorableJosephinesowellperformedthehonours，thattheword’Madame’cameagainintouse.ThisfirstreturntowardstheoldFrenchpolitenesswasstartlingtosomesusceptibleRepublicans;butthingsweresooncarriedfartherattheTuileriesbytheintroductionof’VotreAltesse’onoccasionsofstateceremony，andMonseigneurinthefamilycircle.
If，ontheonehand，BonapartedidnotlikethemenoftheRevolution，ontheotherhedreadedstillmorethepartisansoftheBourbons.Onthemerementionofthenameofthoseprincesheexperiencedakindofinwardalarm;andheoftenspokeofthenecessityofraisingawallofbrassbetweenFranceandthem.Tothisfeeling，nodoubt，mustbeattributedcertainnominations，andthespiritofsomerecommendationscontainedinthenoteswithwhichhewassuppliedonthecharactersofcandidates，andwhichforreadyreferencewerearrangedalphabetically.SomeofthenotesjustmentionedwereinthehandwritingofRegnaultdeSt.Jeand’Angely，andsomeinLucienBonaparte’s.
——[Amongthemwasthefollowing，underthetitleof\"GeneralObservations\"：\"InchoosingamongthemenwhoweremembersoftheConstituentAssemblyitisnecessarytobeonguardagainsttheOrleans’party，whichisnotaltogetherachimera，andmayonedayorotherprovedangerous.
\"Thereisnodoubtthatthepartisansofthatfamilyareintriguingsecretly;andamongmanyotherproofsofthisfactthefollowingisastrikingone：thejournalcalledthe’Aristargue’，whichundisguisedlysupportsroyalism，isconductedbyamanofthenameofVoidel，oneofthehottestpatriotsoftheRevolution.HewasforseveralmonthspresidentofthecommitteeofinquirywhichcausedtheMarquisdeFavrastobearrestedandhanged，andgavesomuchuneasinesstotheCourt.TherewasnooneintheConstituentAssemblymorehatefultotheCourtthanVoidel，somuchonaccountofhisviolenceasforhisconnectionwiththeDukeofOrleans，whoseadvocateandcounselhewas.WhentheDukeofOrleanswasarrested，Voidel，bravingthefuryoftherevolutionarytribunals，hadthecouragetodefendhim，andplacardedallthewallsofPariswithanapologyfortheDukeandhistwosons.Thisman，writingnowinfavourofroyalism，canhavenootherobjectthantoadvanceamemberoftheOrleansfamilytothethrone.\"——Bourrienne.]——
AtthecommencementoftheFirstConsul’sadministration，thoughhealwaysconsultedthenoteshehadcollected，heyetreceivedwithattentiontherecommendationsofpersonswithwhomhewaswellacquainted;butitwasnotsafeforthemtorecommendarogueorafool.
Themenwhomhemostdislikedwerethosewhomhecalledbabblers，whoarecontinuallypratingofeverythingandoneverything.Heoftensaid，——I
wantmoreheadandlesstongue.\"Whathethoughtoftheregicideswillbeseenfartheron，butatfirstthemoreamanhadgivenagagetotheRevolution，themoreheconsideredhimasofferingaguaranteeagainstthereturnoftheformerorderofthings.Besides，Bonapartewasnotthemantoattendtoanyconsiderationwhenoncehispolicywasconcerned.
AsIhavesaidafewpagesback，ontakingthegovernmentintohisownhandsBonaparteknewsolittleoftheRevolutionandofthemenengagedincivilemploymentsthatitwasindispensablynecessaryforhimtocollectinformationfromeveryquarterrespectingmenandthings.Butwhentheconflictingpassionsofthemomentbecamemorecalmandthespiritofpartymoreprudent，andwhenorderhadbeen，byhissevereinvestigations，introducedwherehithertounbridledconfusionhadreigned，hebecamegraduallymorescrupulousingrantingplaces，whetherarisingfromnewly—createdoffices，orfromthosechangeswhichthedifferentdepartmentsoftenexperienced.Hethensaidtome，\"Bourrienne，Igiveupyourdepartmenttoyou.Namewhomyoupleasefortheappointments;butrememberyoumustberesponsibletome.\"
Whatalistwouldhavebeenwhichshouldcontainthenamesofalltheprefects，sub—prefects，receivers—general，andothercivilofficerstowhomIgaveplaces！Ihavekeptnomemorandaoftheirnames;andindeed，whatadvantagewouldtherehavebeenindoingso？Itwasimpossibleformetohaveapersonalknowledgeofallthefortunatecandidates;butI
reliedonrecommendationsinwhichIhadconfidence.
IhavelittletocomplainofinthoseIobliged;thoughitistruethat，sincemyseparationfromBonaparte，IhaveseenmanyofthemtaketheoppositesideofthestreetinwhichIwaswalking，andbythatdelicateattentionsavemethetroubleofraisingmyhat.
EndofTheMemoirsofNapoleon，V3，1799
byLouisAntoineFauveletdeBourrienneMemoirsofNapoleonBonaparte，V4
byLouisAntoineFauveletdeBourrienneHisPrivateSecretaryEditedbyR.W.PhippsColonel，LateRoyalArtillery1891
CONTENTS：
ChapterXXVII.toChapterXXXV.
CHAPTERXXVII.
1799—1800.
DifficultiesofanewGovernment——StateofEurope——Bonaparte’swishforpeace——M.deTalleyrandMinisterforForeignAffairs——
NegotiationswithEnglandandAustria——Theirfailure——Bonaparte’sviewsontheEast——Hissacrificestopolicy——GeneralBonapartedenouncedtotheFirstConsul——Kleber’slettertotheDirectory——
AccountsoftheEgyptianexpeditionpublishedintheMoniteur——
ProclamationtothearmyoftheEast——Favouranddisgraceofcertainindividualsaccountedfor.
WhenanewGovernmentrisesontheruinsofonethathasbeenoverthrown，itsbestchanceofconciliatingthefavourofthenation，ifthatnationbeatwar，istoholdouttheprospectofpeace;forpeaceisalwaysdeartoapeople.Bonapartewaswellawareofthis;andifinhishearthewishedotherwise，heknewhowimportantitwastoseemtodesirepeace.
Accordingly，immediatelyafterhisinstallationattheLuxembourghenotifiedtoalltheforeignpowershisaccessiontotheConsulate，and，forthesamepurpose，addressedletterstoallthediplomaticagentsoftheFrenchGovernmentabroad.
Thedayafterhegotridofhisfirsttwocolleagues，SieyesandRogerDucos，hepreparedtoopennegotiationswiththeCabinetofLondon.AtthattimewewereatwarwithalmostthewholeofEurope.WehadalsolostItaly.TheEmperorofGermanywasruledbyhisMinisters，whointheirturnweregovernedbyEngland.ItwasnoeasymattertomanageequallytheorganizationoftheConsularGovernmentandthenolessimportantaffairsabroad;anditwasveryimportanttotheinterestsoftheFirstConsultointimatetoforeignpowers，whileatthesametimeheassuredhimselfagainstthereturnoftheBourbons，thatthesystemwhichheproposedtoadoptwasasystemoforderandregeneration，unlikeeitherthedemagogicviolenceoftheConventionortheimbecileartificeoftheDirectory.InfulfilmentofthisobjectBonapartedirectedM.deTalleyrand，thenewMinisterforForeignAffairs，tomakethefirstfriendlyoverturestotheEnglishCabinet：Acorrespondenceensued，whichwaspublishedatthetime，andwhichshowedatoncetheconciliatorypolicyofBonaparteandthearrogantpolicyofEngland.
Theexchangeofnoteswhichtookplacewasattendedbynoimmediateresult.However，theFirstConsulhadpartlyattainedhisobject：iftheBritishGovernmentwouldnotenterintonegotiationsforpeace，therewasatleastreasontopresumethatsubsequentoverturesoftheConsularGovernmentmightbelistenedto.ThecorrespondencehadatalleventsaffordedBonapartetheopportunityofdeclaringhisprinciples，andaboveall，ithadenabledhimtoascertainthatthereturnoftheBourbonstoFrance（mentionedintheofficialreplyofLordGrenville）wouldnotbeasinequanonconditionfortherestorationofpeacebetweenthetwopowers.
SinceM.deTalleyrandhadbeenMinisterforForeignAffairsthebusinessofthatdepartmenthadproceededwithgreatactivity.ItwasanimportantadvantagetoBonapartetofindanoblemanoftheoldregimeamongtherepublicans.ThechoiceofM.deTalleyrandwasinsomesortanactofcourtesytotheforeignCourts.ItwasadelicateattentiontothediplomacyofEuropetointroducetoitsmembers，forthepurposeoftreatingwiththem，amanwhoserankwasatleastequaltotheirown，andwhowasuniversallydistinguishedforapolishedeleganceofmannercombinedwithsolidgoodqualitiesandrealtalents.
ItwasnotonlywithEnglandthatBonaparteandhisMinisterendeavouredtoopennegotiations;theConsularCabinetalsoofferedpeacetotheHouseofAustria;butnotatthesametime.Theobjectofthisofferwastosowdiscordbetweenthetwopowers.SpeakingtomeonedayofhisearnestwishtoobtainpeaceBonapartesaid，\"Yousee，Bourrienne，Ihavetwogreatenemiestocopewith.IwillconcludepeacewiththeoneI
findmosteasytodealwith.Thatwillenablemeimmediatelytoassailtheother.IfranklyconfessthatIshouldlikebesttobeatpeacewithEngland.NothingwouldthenbemoreeasythantocrushAustria.ShehasnomoneyexceptwhatshegetsthroughEngland.\"
Foralongtimeallnegotiationsprovedabortive.NoneoftheEuropeanpowerswouldacknowledgethenewGovernment，ofwhichBonapartewasthehead;andthebattleofMarengowasrequiredbeforethepeaceofAmienscouldbeobtained.
ThoughtheaffairsofthenewGovernmentaffordedabundantoccupationtoBonaparte，heyetfoundleisuretodirectattentiontotheEast——tothatlandofdespotismwhence，judgingfromhissubsequentconduct，itmightbepresumedhederivedhisfirstprinciplesofgovernment.OnbecomingtheheadoftheStatehewishedtoturnEgypt，whichhehadconqueredasageneral，totheadvantageofhispolicyasConsul.IfBonapartetriumphedoverafeelingofdislikeinconsigningthecommandofthearmytoKleber，itwasbecauseheknewKlebertobemorecapablethananyotherofexecutingtheplanshehadformed;andBonapartewasnotthemantosacrificetheinterestsofpolicytopersonalresentment.ItiscertainlytruethathethenputintopracticethatcharmingphraseofMoliere’s——\"Ipardonyou，butyoushallpaymeforthis！\"
WithrespecttoallwhomhehadleftinEgyptBonapartestoodinaverysingularsituation.OnbecomingChiefoftheGovernmenthewasnotonlythedepositaryofallcommunicationsmadetotheDirectory;butletterssenttooneaddressweredeliveredtoanother，andtheFirstConsulreceivedthecomplaintsmadeagainsttheGeneralwhohadsoabruptlyquittedEgypt.Inalmostallthelettersthatweredeliveredtoushewastheobjectofseriousaccusation.Accordingtosomehehadnotavowedhisdepartureuntiltheverydayofhisembarkation;andhehaddeceivedeverybodybymeansoffalseanddissemblingproclamations.
OtherscanvassedhisconductwhileinEgypt：thearmywhichhadtriumphedunderhiscommandhehadabandonedwhenreducedtotwo—thirdsofitsoriginalforceandapreytoallthehorrorsofsicknessandwant：Itmustbeconfessedthatthesecomplaintsandaccusationswerebuttoowellfounded，andonecanneverceasewonderingatthechainoffortunatecircumstanceswhichsorapidlyraisedBonapartetotheConsularseat.
Inthenaturalorderofthings，andinfulfilmentofthedesignwhichhehimselfhadformed，heshouldhavedisembarkedatToulon，wherethequarantinelawswouldnodoubthavebeenobserved;insteadofwhich，thefearoftheEnglishandtheuncertaintyofthepilotscausedhimtogotoFrejus，wherethequarantinelawswereviolatedbytheverypersonsmostinterestedinrespectingthem.LetussupposethatBonapartehadbeenforcedtoperformquarantineatToulon.Whatwouldhaveensued？ThechargesagainsthimwouldhavefallenintothehandsoftheDirectory，andhewouldprobablyhavebeensuspended，andputuponhistrial.
AmongtheletterswhichfellintoBonaparte’shands，byreasonoftheabruptchangeofgovernment，wasanofficialdespatch（ofthe4thVendemiaire，yearVIII.）fromGeneralKleberatCairototheExecutiveDirectory，inwhichthatgeneralspokeinverystringenttermsofthesuddendepartureofBonaparteandofthestateinwhichthearmyinEgypthadbeenleft.GeneralKleberfurtheraccusedhimofhavingevaded，byhisflight，thedifficultieswhichhethustransferredtohissuccessor’sshoulders，andalsoofleavingthearmy\"withoutasouinthechest，\"
withpayinarrear，andverylittlesupplyofmunitionsorclothing.
TheotherlettersfromEgyptwerenotlessaccusatorythanKleber’s;anditcannotbedoubtedthatchargesofsopreciseanature，broughtbythegeneralwhohadnowbecomecommander—in—chiefagainsthispredecessor，wouldhavehadgreatweight，especiallybackedastheywerebysimilarcomplaintsfromotherquarters.Atrialwouldhavebeeninevitable;andthen，no18thBrumaire，noConsulate，noEmpire，noconquestofEurope—
butalso，itmaybeadded，noSt.Helena.Noneofthese，eventswouldhaveensuedhadnottheEnglishsquadron，whenitappearedoffCorsica，obligedtheHuirontoscudaboutathazard，andtotouchatthefirstlandshecouldreach.
TheEgyptianexpeditionfilledtooimportantaplaceinthelifeofBonaparteforhimtoneglectfrequentlyrevivinginthepublicmindtherecollectionofhisconquestsintheEast.ItwasnottobeforgottenthattheheadoftheRepublicwasthefirstofhergenerals.WhileMoreaureceivedthecommandofthearmiesoftheRhine，whileMassena，asarewardforthevictoryofZurich，wasmadeCommander—in—ChiefinItaly，andwhileBrunewasattheheadofthearmyofBatavia，Bonaparte，whosesoulwasinthecamps，consoledhimselfforhistemporaryinactivitybyaretrospectiveglanceonhispasttriumphs.HewasunwillingthatFameshouldforamomentceasetoblazonhisname.Accordingly，assoonashewasestablishedattheheadoftheGovernment，hecausedaccountsofhisEgyptianexpeditiontobefromtimetotimepublishedintheMoniteur.
Hefrequentlyexpressedhissatisfactionthattheaccusatorycorrespondence，and，aboveall，Kleber’sletter，hadfallenintohisownhands.’SuchwasBonaparte’sperfectself—commandthatimmediatelyafterperusingthatletterhedictatedtomethefollowingproclamation，addressedtothearmyoftheEast：
SOLDIERS！——TheConsulsoftheFrenchRepublicfrequentlydirecttheirattentiontothearmyoftheEast.
Franceacknowledgesalltheinfluenceofyourconquestsontherestorationofhertradeandthecivilisationoftheworld.
TheeyesofallEuropeareuponyou，andinthoughtIamoftenwithyou.
Inwhateversituationthechancesofwarmayplaceyou，proveyourselvesstillthesoldiersofRivoliandAboukir——youwillbeinvincible.
PlaceinKlebertheboundlessconfidencewhichyoureposedinme.
Hedeservesit.
Soldiers，thinkofthedaywhenyouwillreturnvictorioustothesacredterritoryofFrance.Thatwillbeagloriousdayforthewholenation.
NothingcanmoreforciblyshowthecharacterofBonapartethantheaboveallusiontoKleber，afterhehadseenthewayinwhichKleberspokeofhimtotheDirectory.Coulditeverhavebeenimaginedthatthecorrespondenceofthearmy，towhomheaddressedthisproclamation，teemedwithaccusationsagainsthim？Thoughthemajorityoftheseaccusationswerestrictlyjust，yetitisbutfairtostatethatthelettersfromEgyptcontainedsomecalumnies.Inanswertothewell—
foundedportionofthechargesBonapartesaidlittle;butheseemedtofeeldeeplythefalsehoodsthatwerestatedagainsthim，oneofwhichwas，thathehadcarriedawaymillionsfromEgypt.Icannotconceivewhatcouldhavegivenrisetothisfalseandimpudentassertion.Sofarfromhavingtouchedthearmychest，Bonapartehadnotevenreceivedallhisownpay.BeforeheconstitutedhimselftheGovernmenttheGovernmentwashisdebtor.
ThoughheknewwellallthatwastobeexpectedfromtheEgyptianexpedition，yetthosewholaudedthataffairwereregardedwithafavourableeyebyBonaparte.Thecorrespondencewhichhadfallenintohishandswastohimofthehighestimportanceinenablinghimtoascertaintheopinionswhichparticularindividualsentertainedofhim.
Itwasthesourceoffavoursanddisgraceswhichthosewhowerenotinthesecretcouldnotaccountfor.Itservestoexplainwhymanymenofmediocritywereelevatedtothehighestdignitiesandhonours，whileothermenofrealmeritfellintodisgraceorwereutterlyneglected.
CHAPTERXXVIII.
1800.
Greatandcommonmen——PortraitofBonaparte——Thevariedexpressionofhiscountenance——Hisconvulsiveshrug——Presentimentofhiscorpulency——Partialityforbathing——Histemperance——Hisallegedcapabilityofdispensingwithsleep——Goodandbadnews——Shaving，andreadingthejournals——Morning，business——Breakfast——Coffeeandsnuff——Bonaparte’sideaofhisownsituation—Hisillopinionofmankind——Hisdislikeofa’tete—a—tete’——HishatredoftheRevolutionists——Ladiesinwhite——Anecdotes——Bonaparte’stokensofkindness，andhisdrollcompliments——Hisfitsofillhumour——Soundofbells——
GardensofMalmaison——Hisopinionofmedicine——Hismemory——
Hispoeticinsensibility——Hiswantofgallantry——Cardsandconversation——Thedress—coatandblackcravat——Bonaparte’spayments——Hisreligiousideas——Hisobstinacy.
Inperusingthehistoryofthedistinguishedcharactersofpastages，howoftendoweregretthatthehistorianshouldhaveportrayedtheheroratherthantheman！Wewishtoknoweventhemosttrivialhabitsofthosewhomgreat，talentsandvastreputationhaveelevatedabovetheirfellow—creatures.Isthistheeffectofmerecuriosity，orratherisitnotaninvoluntaryfeelingofvanitywhichpromptsustoconsoleourselvesforthesuperiorityofgreatmenbyreflectingontheirfaults，theirweaknesses，theirabsurdities;inshort，allthepointsofresemblancebetweenthemandcommonmen？Forthesatisfactionofthosewhoarecuriousindetailsofthissort，IwillhereendeavourtopaintBonaparte，asIsawhim，inpersonandinmind，todescribewhatwerehistastesandhabits，andevenhiswhimsandcaprices.
Bonapartewasnowintheprimeoflife，andaboutthirty.ThepersonofBonapartehasservedasamodelforthemostskilfulpaintersandsculptors;manyableFrenchartistshavesuccessfullydelineatedhisfeatures，andyetitmaybesaidthatnoperfectlyfaithfulportraitofhimexists.Hisfinely—shapedhead，hissuperbforehead，hispalecountenance，andhisusualmeditativelook，havebeentransferredtothecanvas;buttheversatilityofhisexpressionwasbeyondthereachofimitation：Allthevariousworkingsofhismindwereinstantaneouslydepictedinhiscountenance;andhisglancechangedfrommildtosevere，andfromangrytogood—humoured，almostwiththerapidityoflightning.
Itmaytrulybesaidthathehadaparticularlookforeverythoughtthataroseinhismind.
Bonapartehadbeautifulhands，andhewasveryproudofthem;whileconversinghewouldoftenlookatthemwithanairofself—complacency.
Healsofanciedhehadfineteeth，buthispretensiontothatadvantagewasnotsowellfoundedashisvanityonthescoreofhishands.
Whenwalking，eitheraloneorincompanywithanyone，inhisapartmentsorinhisgardens，hehadthehabitofstoopingalittle，andcrossinghishandsbehindhisback.Hefrequentlygaveaninvoluntaryshrugofhisrightshoulder，whichwasaccompaniedbyamovementofhismouthfromlefttoright.Thishabitwasalwaysmostremarkablewhenhismindwasabsorbedintheconsiderationofanyprofoundsubject.Itwasoftenwhilewalkingthathedictatedtomehismostimportantnotes.Hecouldenduregreatfatigue，notonlyonhorsebackbutonfoot;hewouldsometimeswalkforfiveorsixhoursinsuccessionwithoutbeingawareofit.
Whenwalkingwithanypersonwhomhetreatedwithfamiliarityhewouldlinkhisarmintothatofhiscompanion，andleanonit.
Heusedoftentosaytome，\"Yousee，Bourrienne，howtemperate，andhowthinIam;but，inspiteofthat，IcannothelpthinkingthatatfortyI
shallbecomeagreateater，andgetveryfat.Iforeseethatmyconstitutionwillundergoachange.Itakeagreatdealofexercise;butyetIfeelassuredthatmypresentimentwillbefulfilled.\"Thisideagavehimgreatuneasiness，andasIobservednothingwhichseemedtowarranthisapprehensions，Iomittednoopportunityofassuringhimthattheyweregroundless.Buthewouldnotlistentome，andallthetimeI
wasabouthim，hewashauntedbythispresentiment，which，intheend，wasbuttoowellverified.
Hispartialityforthebathhemistookforanecessity.Hewouldusuallyremaininthebathtwohours，duringwhichtimeIusedtoreadtohimextractsfromthejournalsandpamphletsoftheday，forhewasanxioustohearandknowallthatwasgoingon.Whileinthebathhewascontinuallyturningonthewarmwatertoraisethetemperature，sothatI
wassometimesenvelopedinsuchadensevapourthatIcouldnotseetoread，andwasobligedtoopenthedoor.
Bonapartewasexceedinglytemperate，andaversetoallexcess.Heknewtheabsurdstoriesthatwerecirculatedabouthim，andhewassometimesvexedatthemeIthasbeenrepeated，overandoveragain，thathewassubjecttoattacksofepilepsy;butduringtheelevenyearsthatIwasalmostconstantlywithhimIneverobservedanysymptomwhichintheleastdegreedenotedthatmalady.Hishealthwasgoodandhisconstitutionsound.Ifhisenemies，bywayofreproach，haveattributedtohimaseriousperiodicaldisease，hisflatterers，probablyundertheideathatsleepisincompatiblewithgreatness，haveevincedanequaldisregardoftruthinspeakingofhisnight—watching.Bonapartemadeotherswatch，buthehimselfslept，andsleptwell.HisorderswerethatIshouldcallhimeverymorningatseven.Iwasthereforethefirsttoenterhischamber;butveryfrequentlywhenIawokehimhewouldturnhimself，andsay，\"Ah，Bourrienne！letmeliealittlelonger.\"WhentherewasnoverypressingbusinessIdidnotdisturbhimagaintilleighto’clock.Heingeneralsleptsevenhoursoutofthetwenty—four，besidestakingashortnapintheafternoon.
AmongtheprivateinstructionswhichBonapartegaveme，onewasverycurious.\"Duringthenight，\"saidhe，\"entermychamberasseldomaspossible.Donotawakemewhenyouhaveanygoodnewstocommunicate：
withthatthereisnohurry.Butwhenyoubringbadnews，rousemeinstantly;forthenthereisnotamomenttobelost.\"
Thiswasawiseregulation，andBonapartefoundhisadvantageinit.
Assoonasherosehis’valetdechambre’shavedhimanddressedhishair.WhilehewasbeingshavedIreadtohimthenewspapers，beginningalwayswiththe’Moniteur.’HepaidlittleattentiontoanybuttheGermanandEnglishpapers.\"Passoverallthat，\"hewouldsay，whileI
wasperusingtheFrenchpapers;\"Iknowitalready.Theysayonlywhattheythinkwillpleaseme.\"IwasoftensurprisedthathisvaletdidnotcuthimwhileIwasreading;forwheneverhaheardanythinginterestingheturnedquicklyroundtowardsme.
WhenBonapartehadfinished：histoilet，whichhedidwithgreatattention，forhewasscrupulouslyneatinhisperson，wewentdowntohiscabinet.Therehesignedtheordersonimportantpetitionswhichhadbeenanalysedbymeontheprecedingevening.Onreceptionandparadedayshewasparticularlyexactinsigningtheseorders，becauseIusedtoremindhimthathewouldbe，likelytoseemostofthepetitioners，andthattheywouldaskhimforanswers.TosparehimthisannoyanceIusedoftentoacquaintthembeforehandofwhathadbeengrantedorrefused，andwhathadbeenthedecisionoftheFirstConsul.HenextperusedtheletterswhichIhadopenedandlaidonhistable，rangingthemaccordingtotheirimportance.Hedirectedmetoanswertheminhisname;heoccasionallywrotetheanswershimself，butnotoften.