612 
sired. to effect, it;in concert with) him, 
even the. leaders) of the, Manége.| 
Bernadotte, Augereau, Jourdan, Mar- 
bot, &c./ who were at the head of the 
plotters of this society, offered a military 
dictatorship to Napoleon, and proposed 
to acknowledge him as chief, and to 
confide the foriunes of the Republic to 
him, if he) would but second the princi- 
ples of the Société du Manége. 
Sieyes, who commanded the vote of 
Roger-Ducos in the Directory, swayed 
the majority of the Council of Ancients, 
and influenced only a small minority in 
the Council of Five Hundred, proposed 
to place Napoleon at the head of the 
government, changing the constitution 
‘of the year LI. which he deemed de- 
fective, and that Napoleon should adopt 
the institutions and the constitution 
which he had ;projected, and which he 
had.by him in manuscript. 
Regnier, Boulay, a numerous party of 
the Council of Ancients, and many of 
the members. of that of Five Hundred, 
were-also desirous to place the fate of 
the Republio in Napolcon’s hands. 
This party was composed of the most 
moderate and wisest men of the le- 
gislature; it was the same that joined 
Lucien, Bonaparte in opposing’ the 
declaration that the country was in 
danger, 
The directors Barras, Moulins, and 
Gohier, hinted to Napoleon his  re- 
suming the command of the army of 
Ttaly, his re-establishment of the Cisal- 
pine Republic and the glory of the 
French arms. Moulins and Gohier had 
no seeret plan in reserve: they were 
sincere inthe scheme they proposed: 
they trusted that all would go well from 
the moment that Napoleon should lead 
our armies to new successes. Barras 
was far from partaking of this security ; 
he knew that every thing went wrong, 
that the Republic was sinking ; but whe- 
ther he had made engagements with the 
Pretender to the throne, as was asserted 
ati the time, or whether he deceived him- 
self as) to his personal ‘situation—for 
what errors may, not! spring from the 
vanity and self-love of an ignorant man? 
—he imagined he could keep himself at 
the head of affairs... Barras made the 
same. proposals as were made by 
Moulins and Gohier, , 
On. the) 8th of Brumaire (30th. of 
October), Napoleon dined with Barras ; 
only a few persons were there. | A con- 
versution took place after dinner: “SPhe 
Republic is falling,” said the director, 
Napoleon’s History of France, 
‘things can go no’ farther ; the govern- 
ment is powerless; a change must: take 
place, and. Hedouville must/be named 
President of the: Republic. \.As:to you, 
General, you intend to rcjoin the army 5 
and for my (part, ill as. Iam, unpopular, 
and worn out, I am fit only toreturn: to 
private life.” mata 
Napoleon looked steadfastly-at him 
without replying a word, Barras cast 
down his. eyes, and. remained “silent. 
Thus the conversation ended, General 
Hedouville was a man ofthe most or- 
dinary character. Barras: did not give 
utterance to his thoughts; but. his 
countenance betrayed his seeret. 9! 
This conversation was decisive: A 
few minutes afterwards, Napoléon called 
upon Sieyes: he gave him to understand 
that. for ‘ten days all parties had )ad- 
dressed themselves to: him; that)-he 
was resolved to act with Sieyés and the 
majority of the Council of Aneientspand 
that he came for the purpose of giving 
him a_ positive assurance) of this... Lt 
was agreed. that the change might be 
effected between the 15th and) 20th of 
Brumaire. 
On his return to ‘his own house, 
Napoleon ‘found there, Talleyrand, 
Fouché, Roederer, and {Réal. Heré+ 
lated to. them unaffectedly, plainly; and 
simply, without any indicationvof couti+ 
tenance which could betray his opinioti, 
what Barras had just said to «him. 
Réal and Fouché, who had: a ‘regard 
for the director, were sensible how ill- 
timed his dissimulation was. >: They 
went to him on purpose-to upbraid him 
with it. The following day, : at» eight 
o’clock, Barras came to Napoleon; who 
had not risen: he insisted on wsecing 
him, entered, and told him he feared: hie 
had explained himself very imperfectly 
the preceding evening ; that) Napoleon 
alone could save the Republics: that-he 
came to! place himsclf at: his disposal, 
to do whatever he wished, and to act 
whatever part) he chose to assign ‘him. 
He intreated Napoleon to-give bimean 
assurance that, if he had! any’ projeet in 
agitation, he would rely upom him.) » 
But Napoleon had already:made up 
his mind: he replied thathehad nothing 
in view; that he ‘was: fatigued; indis+ 
posed; that he could) not accustom him- 
self to the moisture of the’ atmosphere 
of the capital, just ‘arrived, ashe was, 
from the. dry cliniate of the sands) of 
Arabia; and he put an end. 4o) ‘the 
interview. by similar common-place: ob- 
servations. ir at 
Meanwhile 
Puuroys 
